mariahgoesabroad

Services

I offer services in research design, museum exhibit curation, and humanities and arts curriculum design and teacher trainings. I offer a free 15 minute consultation and goal-setting session for interested clients. If interested please see the “Contact” page. Research Design As a research assistant with the library and digital services, historical research, and in teacherContinueContinue reading “Services”

CV

BenderAKMariahCV2025Download Image from Troppenmuseum 2020 exhibit

Origins

Mariah A-K Bender, our founder, began this WordPress account in 2013 to document her first time living abroad in Tanzania. Since then, the page has also grown to reflect the medium and spaces required to describe and narrate the experiences of people whose histories are not always fully expressed in the mainstream media. “My globalContinueContinue reading “Origins”

What comes with..

What comes with introversion is regret and confusionWhat comes with attempts at verbalising all the fleeing thoughts in my mind is silenceWhat comes with making sure to dot all the i, and cross all the t’s is I have some how lost the I in teamI realize after all the sessions and sightseeing I stillContinueContinue reading “What comes with..”

Distance

When I held you near my heart only seeing the rising and falling of your chest I felt a rush of calmLegs and thighs intertwined only seeing my deep ebony shade as a backdrop to your caramely dewy skinScared to shift sides and lose our heart to heart connectionWatch your eyelids flicker debating rising toContinueContinue reading “Distance”

Oddities

There is an odd feeling.Encompassed and suffocated by one’s infliction of their feelings on youWhile you attempt to sift through your own self-loathing and self-deprecating thoughts, you find yourself blocked. You must make two separate piles – one for yourself, which you treasure and hold for your own space, and one inflicted on you byContinueContinue reading “Oddities”

Uninvited Battle

You come unannounced raging with vulgarity and hatred crushing any thoughts or confidence I once had Intruding happy ideas and dreams with shrunken realitiesParanoia circles around my head like flies circle around a dead carcassWhat’s dead is me – what’s been eaten alive is my soul, wishes, goals and thoughts Right when I feel asContinueContinue reading “Uninvited Battle”

Untitled

What did it mean to fall, to grieve, to weepHe never moved towards weakness, he knew it meant he could no longer call himself a manTrapped between a tsunami of emotions and a rhythm that produced a chorus humming “release, release, release’But, releasing would mean relinquishing power he faintly held ontoStrength was noble, praised, honorableHeContinueContinue reading “Untitled”

Loss

All things tangible and wrought with feelingNow numb, distant, surrealIn an instant, I held you was your courier on the hunt for giftsNow, unemployed and confusedStolen from me, your smile and laugh no longer shake the walls of this houseOnly the echos of my wails melt into these wallsThe innumerable usies you demanded to ensureContinueContinue reading “Loss”

Float

All my thoughts, plans, and ideas seem to melt on the sight of you.Floating on my hammock dreaming of your smile and what I wouldn’t do to see itAll seem in vain when I see you in the terminalTripping over my floor length dress I melt into your arms and try to speakIn my headContinueContinue reading “Float”