I just joined a group called "Dining for Women," thanks to my Peace Corps friend, Mary Broude. A new chapter was started in Orange County by Elizabeth Boretz, and the concept is: We get together, dine in, catch up with friends, expand our knowledge of the world, and donate to projects that reduce poverty and promote gender equity. What Continue Reading
Orchestrating Life
I believe in orchestrating life. I don't wait for things to happen; I try to make them happen. Sometimes I'm all over the place, spreading seeds in many locations hoping they will germinate, and show me the "right" direction for me. Do you do that? It doesn't matter whether I'm in Africa, Belize or in the U.S., I take charge, plan ahead, hoping Continue Reading
I’m Going Crazy Getting Ready For the Peace Corps
I'm Going Crazy Getting Ready For the Peace Corps as I only have three weeks left before I board a plane to Philadelphia for "staging." Staging is the word the Peace Corps uses for "meeting and training" prior to boarding our flight to our host country. I'm getting nervous, not because of leaving the U.S. for 27-months, but more to do with Continue Reading
Getting Rid of My “Stuff” For the Peace Corps
I never thought it would be this difficult to decide what to keep, what to donate, and what to throw away, before I leave for the Peace Corps. I only have one month before I leave for Lesotho, in southern Africa, and I've debated whether or not to rent a storage unit. The cheapest storage unit I found was a 5'x5' unit for $1, 950 for 28 Continue Reading
Differences Between Teaching a Thai and a U.S. Kindergarten
What a difference between my volunteer teaching in Thailand, and what I'm observing and learning in a U.S. Kindergarten. I'm sure I shall be in for another surprise in Lesotho, southern Africa, where I am co-teaching in January 2016. Sometimes I wonder how I can use the skills I learned from teaching elementary school in Koh Samui, Thailand, Continue Reading