The Fig | Brain Tabs

Part 5 of Live Mas: Subtropical critters and how I learned to love (or at least live with) the monsoon.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicfigment.substack.com/subscribe

Live Mas: Part 4: Deep diving into Indian bureaucracy. What to dooooo?  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicfigment.substack.com/subscribe

Part 3: Get in the van, y'all, we're going to The Shark Store. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicfigment.substack.com/subscribe

In Part 2 of this newsletter series, Jake wants to know what’s up with everyone in America saying “Welcome in!” and Nora goes to war with a claw machine.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicfigment.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you for your patience during my newsletter hiatus as my family moved from Kyrgyzstan to India! We spent the summer doing the usual grand tour of hugging necks (seven states in six weeks), and I’ve spent these early weeks in New Delhi writing about our summer, as well as about how we are settling in in our new home. This has turned into a long collection of vignettes, which I’ll be sending out a few at a time over the next several weeks. So here is Part 1 of “LIVE MAS”: Lantern Fly, Jumanji, Robot Teeth, & Big Speakers.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicfigment.substack.com/subscribe

One last trip to Lake Issyk Kul to round out our time in Kyrgyzstan. Spoiler: it's not cool. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicfigment.substack.com/subscribe

We're down to two months left before our move, and my brain has too many tabs open. Please pardon the jumble. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicfigment.substack.com/subscribe

SHENANIGANS! How to DoorDash in Kyrgyzstan, what Nora’s looking forward to about India (pools), and thoughts on leaving government work for freelancing.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicfigment.substack.com/subscribe

First newsletter of the year—let’s kick off with WHERE WE ARE MOVING THIS SUMMER! And also my 2026 word for the year, because I know you’re dying to know.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicfigment.substack.com/subscribe

Come with me to Korea, land of tigers and magpies, Instagram temples, and so many demands for ice cream! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicfigment.substack.com/subscribe