Awkward Stumbles and Fuzzy Memories by Kathy Ivchenko

A detailed recollection of the author’s formative journey in the Peace Corps, Awkward Stumbles and Fuzzy Memories: Memoir of a Peace Corps Volunteer by Kathy Ivchenko is a heartfelt and vividly told memoir of self-discovery.

Beginning with her uncertain arrival in Ukraine and months of training on the other side of the world, this intense exploration of cultural immersion will be eye-opening to readers who have never upended their lives for an international adventure. Her work as a teacher trainer is fascinating and complex, including the challenge of having students only a few years younger than herself. Between language gaps, cultural misfires, fumbling friendships, and cyclical bouts of boredom and loneliness, this travelogue is brutally honest and beautifully told.

The style is generally informal, conversational, and authentic, which makes it easy to read, and Ivchenko has a subtle streak of humor that keeps things light. At times, the writing feels torn directly from a diary, with tangential anecdotes and self-reflective musings that can make the memoir feel somewhat unpolished. There are also occasional references or “hot takes” that feel a bit tone-deaf in terms of cultural sensitivity, along with quite a few sections that could be trimmed to eliminate redundant revelations and descriptions, which would go a long way towards making this book more broadly appealing, especially to those who enjoy travel writing.

As a whole, this memoir is rich and detailed, the writing is engaging, and Ivchenko’s insights are inspiring, even three decades later.