Creativity | Educational Travel | Mentorship | My Thoughts | Posted on May 28, 2025 at 8:34 pm by geneinletford
Yesterday, as Shawn went on his Arizona Science Center field trip for #602 today in Phoenix, I challenged myself to have a “Brain Growth” trip. To ward off dementia, it’s just as important for me to stretch my mind and brain capacity as it is for him to experience new things, so I look at [...]
Yes! The Arts Are for YOU Too (Even If You Can’t Draw a Stick Figure)
Arts Integration | Brain Capital | Creativity | Educational Travel | Lyrics 'N Leadership | Personal Development | Posted on October 20, 2024 at 4:19 pm by geneinletford
Let’s get this out of the way: not being able to paint like Picasso or play piano like Chopin does not mean you aren’t creative. Too many people believe that unless they’re holding a paintbrush or pirouetting across a stage, creativity just isn’t their thing. This, friends, is a tragic (and frankly, very costly) misconception—and [...]
Mr. Lincoln and The Benefits of a Difficult Life
Educational Travel | My Thoughts | Posted on February 12, 2017 at 3:46 pm by geneinletford
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 was immediately catapulted into [...]My Flowers of Asia
Creativity | Educational Travel | My Thoughts | Posted on June 12, 2015 at 7:34 pm by geneinletford
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 want to be left out. My […]
Creativity: To Be or Not To Be (in PD)
Arts Integration | Blog | Creativity | Educational Travel | Posted on March 5, 2015 at 3:26 pm by geneinletford
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 pop culture, other educators […]
We’ll Take You to Your Seoul!
Blog | Educational Travel | Posted on July 21, 2014 at 11:37 pm by geneinletford
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, food and fun. With […]
Kyoto: A Step Back in Time
Blog | Educational Travel | Posted on July 12, 2014 at 6:15 am by geneinletford
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 by mountains on three sides, Kyoto […]
Our Last Days in Tokyo
Blog | Educational Travel | Posted on July 10, 2014 at 3:23 pm by geneinletford
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 auction of large tuna and salmon […]
Tokyo Traditions
Blog | Educational Travel | Posted on July 9, 2014 at 2:48 pm by geneinletford
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 well lit, crowed yet impressively clean […]
Konnichiwa Japan!
Educational Travel | Posted on July 8, 2014 at 5:04 pm by geneinletford
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 (Shayne was very impressed […]
