Foreign Correspondences

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He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry the wealth of the Indies with him. – Spanish proverb Lesley Krueger began her travels as soon as she could navigate planes, trains, and buses alone, motivated by the realization that her immigrant grandmothers never felt at home in the New World. Curious about the experience of being a foreigner, she intertwines her own travel narratives with those of her grandmothers, delving into the concepts of home, expatriation, and community. Her journeys take her through India, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, and North America, where she encounters both humor and danger—like a night spent in a small-town brothel or facing jaguar poachers in Brazil. A memorable flight in a Twin Otter through a storm in Labrador reveals unexpected truths about her surroundings. The act of displacing oneself often leads to self-discovery, prompting reflections on the visceral nature of travel. The language of journeying—words like push, pull, and take—evokes deep emotions, paralleling the instinctive push of birth. This exploration resonates with the New World’s fascination with rebirth, a theme her grandmothers may not have experienced, except perhaps through her poignant reflections.