Work & Love: A Novel (Lydia)

By Geraldine Bachman

When young idealists Lydia Blegen and Nat Reece wed, they begin a new life together in Morocco. For dedicated, ambitious Lydia, there are both challenges and rewards awaiting her as a newlywed Peace Corps volunteer serving in a Muslim country. Lydia loves Nat, but her goals begin to clash with his when he decides to join the US Foreign Service. They encounter family problems, language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and unhappy compromises. Lydia realizes she can't just think about herself anymore, but finds it problematic to give up her identity to support Nat's career as a diplomat. Author and returned Peace Corps volunteer, Geraldine Bachman uses her own experiences to expertly illustrate Lydia's journey as an American woman endeavoring to function professionally in a foreign culture. Lydia encounters distress and frustration during her time in North Africa, but her willingness to connect with the Muslim world and her respect for people of all cultures open her mind to new possibilities. Inspired by President Kennedy's inaugural address, she wants to break down the idea of the Ugly American. She will soon realize, however, that life in the foreign service is not as safe and stable as she would like.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1534983589
• ISBN13: 9781534983588
• Release Date: December 2016
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 306 Pages
• Weight: 1.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"