Hi, I’m Susan Brandt and welcome to my new blog site.  The title pretty much says it all.  I am eclectic in my thinking, have lived an eclectic life and pretty much am interested in almost everything.

In future blogs, I will explore cross-cultural communications, travel adventures, growing up as a third culture kid, international politics and policies and a slew of other serious and not so serious issues, ideas or events that spark my interest.

Who Am I?

I was born in Brazil of U.S. parents.  My father was a businessman and we ended up moving around a lot.   As a child and teen I spent time in Brazil, Guatemala, Cuba, the U.S. and one most unhappy year at a boarding school in Switzerland.  After studying Russian and World History at Wellesley, I learned to be a secretary, ended up moving to New York and working briefly at the UN then for the U.S. Mission before surrendering to my destiny which was to join the U.S. Foreign Service. 

As an adult I have lived in Washington, D.C., Kinshasa (Zaire aka Republic of the Congo), Capetown (South Africa), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Nairobi (Kenya) and Montreal (Quebec, Canada). 

And What About My Life Now?

I  retired blessedly early and settled in Miami, which feels like I’ve gone back home.   I continue to travel and stay involved as much as I can in international affairs.  I also volunteer as a Guardian ad Litem (court appointed advocate) for children in the foster care system.   And I indulge my inner techie geek messing around with my computer and my maternal side doting on my two (rescue) dogs.