Vashti Kanahele's Passports and Parasites is an enthralling memoir about a life of travel, building a family, and overcoming difficult obstacles. In the early part of the book, we see Vashti becoming a part of the first Eligible Family Members (EFMs) at the US ​Embassy in Baghdad in 2009. With an indomitable and highly adventurous spirit, she went about her duties in an active war zone, risking getting blown up in deadly explosions. Vashti's story is filled with many instances of surviving dangers, including health challenges, miscarriages, Covid-19, and more. In her journey of adventure and captivating challenges, Vashti got to travel to various countries and make lasting memories, from watching a World Cup football match with her daughters in Greece, enjoying a stroll in South Africa, and experiencing slow traffic in Lagos.

The memoir reflects the sort of intelligent observations that only someone who is well-traveled and observant about the world around them would have. As a Nigerian, I found it interesting to see the challenges that living in Lagos poses for a foreigner who is not used to the heavy traffic and having to drive everywhere. Also, the author's detailed descriptions of the physical environments and the living conditions are a joy to read and picture. Apart from its vivid travel stories, Passports and Parasites offers an excellent insight into what being conscious about naturopathic care and the type of food one eats could do to one's body. I enjoyed every bit of Vashti Kanahele's adventure-packed book: a blend of narrow escapes, memorable travels, wholesome moments, and an inspiring display of resilience. This is a book every traveler, especially parents, would love.

Marriage, parenthood, and careers often sweep our lives into a flurry of change, marking stages in our lives that we will forever be grateful for, or perhaps resent. Whichever the case, we must draw the lessons learned from each experience and use these to become the best we can be and even find our purpose in life. Vashti Kanahele takes us on her incredible journey as the wife of foreign service personnel, from being childless to becoming the mother of two, and finding her calling in medicine as a Functional Medicine Practitioner. Her memoir Passports and Parasites: An Extraordinary Journey of Adventure, Resilience, and Healing spares no detail about her unique experiences working in unstable corners of the world such as Baghdad, Beirut, Phnom Penh, and many other places. Grab a copy to learn more.

Vashti Kanahele has lived a very enthralling and exciting life, rich with culture, depth, and diversity. The evocative depictions colorfully bring the various locations to life. Vashti captures the moods and settings, making me feel like I was right there experiencing everything with her. The down-to-earth way Vashti depicts her encounters made me connect with and appreciate her collective journey, especially her struggle with pregnancies and the illnesses and conditions she battled. Some moments were heart-warming, some hilarious, while others were heart-wrenching and almost brought me to tears. I learned a lot historically, and very importantly, gained more insight into life. Vashti Kanahele’s Passports and Parasites is a must-read for lovers of nonfiction, cultural, adventure, and travel books, and accounts of wives or mothers struggling with illnesses, conditions, and even careers.