leararhodes

Zagreb, Croatia, Day One

After a long day, 9-1/2 hour flight from Atlanta to Paris, 3 hour layover, and 2 hour flight from Paris to Zagreb, I arrived in the rain, descending steps from the plane to the tarmac and loading onto a bus with other passengers to reach the terminal. I was in back of the plane thusContinue reading “Zagreb, Croatia, Day One”

Travel to Croatia

The journey began months ago when I proposed a travel journalism course in Zagreb, Croatia with my former master student, Alex Crevar. The course was accepted and we have planned a 3 week writing course for 12 students beginning May 16th. Alex lives in Sarajevo and has been in the Balkans for some 15 yearsContinue reading “Travel to Croatia”

My Ah-Ha Moment

Ron and Becky were in the exercise room at the “Y” practicing the East Coast Swing when I entered for my lesson. I love watching them dance, Ron with his polished positive way of guiding and Becky with her determination to do it right. I sit there and smile, enjoying the process. Soon it isContinue reading “My Ah-Ha Moment”

Dancing Twice in a Day

I met Ron at the “Y” for our dance lesson. I had practiced the “twinkle” and he was able to correct some of what I was doing wrong. Whew! I had practiced between panic attacks over repairs in my “wreck” room where water had ruined the carpet and the restoration company came to clean upContinue reading “Dancing Twice in a Day”

Dance Lesson No. 1

I had my first dance lesson. Ron Putnam, who has been a long time dance instructor with Dancing with the Athens Stars, has agreed to take me on. We met at the “Y.” He’s taller than I, three years older, and has wheat blond hair. He moves like someone who knows how to dance. HeContinue reading “Dance Lesson No. 1”

Travels include Dancing

In June I learned that I was nominated for the People’s Choice Award for Dancing with the Athens Stars, a fundraiser for Project Safe to assist abused women and children. I was delighted and began to plan on how to raise money to win–for every vote cast was a dollar to help Project Safe. ToContinue reading “Travels include Dancing”

Prepare for Summer Travel

Semester teaching is slowing down. Today is the last day of classes for me. I finish up grading and then tidying up a bit, not much, I like a lived in look office. The computer has been serviced and all viruses have been eliminated. I am ready to write and to travel. My first tripContinue reading “Prepare for Summer Travel”

Thanksgiving and Family

My uncle died last week. Mama died a year ago on Thanksgiving Day. My daddy died 29 years ago on Halloween. The holidays are not a merry time for the family; yet, as I sit and think, I have to admire my aunt’s method of coping. She says whenever she gets weepy over losing herContinue reading “Thanksgiving and Family”

Holidays Approaching

There are fully decorated Christmas trees in the stores with lit angels and Santas “ho ho hoing” as I pass. I am not ready for Christmas, I want Thanksgiving first. Thanksgiving is when I visit my family in New York. Thanksgiving is when I poke around fabric shops in the garment district, visit the StrandContinue reading “Holidays Approaching”

Night Before

The summer is over. The students had their last exam. We met up at the Trout Pub in Wolvercote for dinner. Tonight the graduate students and a couple of us faculty are going to an Italian restaurant to end the term. I will meet 3 of my students for cream tea at 3:30 for oneContinue reading “Night Before”