Surviving the Unknown: A Pandemic Refugee's Journey with Author Joel David Bond

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Joel David Bond, author of the book As Large As Your Spirit: A Reverse Refugee Memoir. A born explorer, Joel has spent over two decades living and working around the world, from farm work in Italian vineyards to jet-setting as a London-based flight attendant.His recent work in Iraqi Kurdistan built bridges between some of the region’s most elite students and the locally marginalized refugee community through service-learning.

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I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Joel David Bond, author of the fascinating memoir As Large As Your Spirit: A Reverse Refugee Memoir. In his book, Joel shares his experience of being unexpectedly quarantined on a remote Greek island for five months during the early days of the pandemic.

Cut off from his life in Iraq, struggling with isolation and uncertainty, Joel found himself crossing paths with Middle Eastern refugees seeking to resettle in the West. Through these encounters, Joel discovered profound truths about the universal human need to find a place to call home, both geographically and within one's own identity. As he forged connections with refugees and locals alike, Joel gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be a "reverse refugee" - someone privileged yet still yearning for belonging.

A few key takeaways that resonated with me:

• We all share common emotions and experiences, regardless of our circumstances. Feeling isolated, struggling to connect, being separated from loved ones - these are universal human challenges.
• Stepping outside your comfort zone and engaging with those different from you can shatter stereotypes and open your eyes to our shared humanity. The more "exceptions" you meet, the more your preconceived "rules" fall apart.
• While global migration presents complex issues, getting to know refugees as individuals reveals their immense value, skills and potential to contribute to society. Many are highly educated professionals displaced by conflict.
• When facing big life changes, it's important to balance the "what ifs" - not just focusing on what could go wrong, but imagining how the experience could be amazing and transformative.

Joel's journey of growth is still unfolding as he advocates for refugees, lends his voice to the displaced, and seeks ways to empower communities through education. His next memoir (cheekily titled Between Iraq and a Hard Place) promises a love letter to Iraq juxtaposed with his dramatic evacuation from the country.

I highly recommend giving As Large As Your Spirit a read and following Joel's ongoing story. It's a poignant reminder to open ourselves up to the richness of human connection, especially with those we perceive as different. 

Want to hear more from Joel David Bond? You can also connect with Joel and explore his work on his website. If you know someone who would appreciate Joel's story of finding home amidst displacement, please feel free to share this post. And I'm always eager to hear your thoughts - just comment to share what resonated with you.

Purchase a copy of As Large As Your Spirit:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4cydETn

eBook: https://amzn.to/4cwarDJ

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Joel David Bond