Hi there. I'm Rachel, and I feel like an idiot writing about myself in third person... so if you don't mind, I won't. I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A. I left home at the age of 17 to go to Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where I graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts. This sounds pretty boring except that during this time, I also had the opportunity to go to L.A. and Austin to work in shelters for Central American refugees. Working with immigrants from these countries taught me important lessons about life and gave me an elementary understanding of the Spanish language, which would prove essential later on.

After college, I moved to Austin, Texas, where I began my career as a stand-up comic. For the next eight years, I refined my comedy skills at clubs and independent theaters in New York and Los Angeles, while making ends meet as a secretary, legal proofreader, television transcriber, waitress, and TeeVee and movie actress.

In 2004, I moved from Hollywood to Spain, where I continue to write, perform, and organize two live shows: Anti-Karaoke, and my Spanish-language stand-up comedy show, Cómo ser feliz todo el tiempo. You can find more information about me and my shows at rachelarieff.com and antikaraoke.com.

Why this column?  

After I immigrated in 2004 to the opposite side of the world, my life split into two parts: before, in the old country, and after, in the new. Having my life split into Past U.S.A. / Present Spain has been at turns stressful, exhiliarating, depressing, confusing, hilarious, demoralizing, terrifying, ridiculous, overwhelming, and inspiring. Sometimes I feel like the first three decades of my life were just a dream. This column is my attempt to somehow reconcile the past and the present. Some columns will be funny; others may be disturbing or even horrifying. In any case, I hope you find them interesting.

Vaya con Dios.

Rachel

P.S. Oh, and the people in the picture are me (on the right) with my mom and my brothers on our front porch in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.