Ashli AkinsJun 18, 20213 minOde to the Comma-CareeristToday is the final day of the National Geographic Explorers Fest (the first festival to be held virtually). As I reflected on why I felt...
Ashli AkinsMay 9, 20212 minThe role of the Andean motherI have conducted over 100 interviews in the past couple of years with Andean mothers. One of the most heartbreaking parts of each...
Ashli AkinsNov 15, 20203 minBreaking News. Vacancy: President of Peru.“Get out, rats.” “Merino isn’t my President.” “I’d rather die of COVID than an overdose of indifference.” These are just a few of the...
Ashli AkinsJul 17, 20207 minSelfishness is the deadliest illness. Compassion is the cure.The dangers of traveling to remote Quechua communities in the time of COVID-19. It has taken me awhile to write this story, because I...
Ashli AkinsMay 14, 20203 minWhat is "essential" and "essential to whom"?NOTE: This was initially written as a letter to the Victoria City Council, in favour of the motion “Supporting the Recovery of the Arts &...
Ashli AkinsMar 31, 20202 minTo unfragment myself, by saying no to flyingWell, today marked the end of “my year.” I had made a promise to myself a year ago that, no matter the reason, I wouldn’t leave Peru for...
Ashli AkinsMar 23, 20203 minDon't worry. I'm not dying.Holy moly. I've received a few urgent panicked messages from friends and family telling me to "come home immediately," thinking I am...
Ashli AkinsFeb 3, 20202 minSo, the halftime show, eh?No, I’m not going to talk about hips and lip-syncing and pole-dancing, or the quality of their performances. Or football. I’ll let the...
Ashli AkinsJan 3, 20202 minReflections on 2020 (or "Conversations on Rust")New. New year. New decade. New you. “Starting over” seems to be everyone’s dangerously quick fix nowadays. And yet, the beauty that I...
Ashli AkinsDec 23, 20192 minA reflection on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against WomenMy Instagram post from November 25, 2019, which is relevant to share here. Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence...
Ashli AkinsDec 10, 20192 minValentina weaves so that her kids "don't end up like her"The three of us sat on the sloped grass, beside the propagation garden – Valentina, Mishjaky, and I. I asked her the usual questions -...