Walking around Washington DC for seven days, I forced myself to see the city as Lincoln saw it. It was a bit of a challenge as 2017 BMW's raced down Penn Ave. Nevertheless, I tried. It wasn't until I strolled the grounds of Lincoln's Cottage for our teacher's fellowship that...
I don't know what started it but while I was in Japan and South Korea last summer, I just started taking pictures of random flowers that caught my eye. Since my focus of the trip was to see these cultures through the arts, I guess these beautiful creations didn't...
Charlie 'Bird' Parker once said, "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Award-winning educator, Cassie Cox, cleverly connected this statement to the importance of educators "experiencing for ourselves what we hope to inspire." As Cassie headed to New York to study Duke Ellignton's contribution to...
That title was from a phrase an college friend would always say when talking about their dream of visiting South Korea. It's only fitting and proper that I label my final travel blog with it. Seoul, (which actually isn't pronouced 'soul' but 'se-uul') is a bubbling metropolitan sprinkled with art establishments,...
If Tokyo is the epicenter of the modern Orient, then Kyoto is like the #TBT (throwback Thursday) of Japan. Holding on to its distinct heritage, Kyoto is must see, with its cobblestone stone streets and temples galore, especially if you are on a educational cultural trek like I am.Surrounded...
Our last two days in Tokyo were completely filled. After many mentions from friends who have visited Japan (thanks Adam!), at the last minute I decided to visit the famous Tsukijo Fish Market in Tokyo. One must rise with the morning sun to be able to watch the exciting...
After many trains and subways, we finally reached Tokyo. My Hilton Ambassador, Chikoto, did a wonderful job showing us the cultural aspects of Japan but we really valued her showing us the train/subway systems! Valuable information I tell you. Valuable. Going through the Tokyo station was like going through a...
Last minute packing and moved our house sitters in. Then the alert email came in from the US Embassy: Alert typhoon headed toward Japan! Great. But even with that news, our flight wasn't delayed and we both usually reside on the optimistic side of it all. After a decent 10 hour flight...
DING! I turned my head to see the email pop up. Heart quickened, eyes focused. My first response letter from the NEH Summer Fellowship is in. I quickly scanned it just to see, ‘We regret to inform you that we cannot offer you a place for this year’s program.’ As my...