The Boulder Flatirons: A Winter Playground!

On our way from Winterpark to Julie & Dan's (my sister & fiance) home in Loveland, Colorado my brother & I made a stop at the lovely Flatiron mountains in Boulder, our old stomping grounds. It had snowed the day before, so the mountains were stunning under the blue sky. After it snows, the Flatirons, Chautauqua Park, becomes a winter playground with sledders, snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and trail runners. Even though we did not have our winter gear to enjoy the winter wonderland, we did have a camera and lens...which turned into an "action" photo shoot!

Weimers Christmas Retreat in Winterpark

The Weimers Christmas tradition goes like this: pack up the cars with ski gear, Santa hats, food, lots of wine, a few $5 gifts from the second-hand store, and drive up to the Rocky Mountains, Winterpark, for a good 'ol mountain retreat. Skiing, laughter, snow, joy, and traditions. A few years ago, we decided as a family, to forgo gift giving. I know we are not being good little American capitalists, especially during this economic downturn when the general sentiment on the street is to spend, spend, spend to stimulate the economy. After too many years of giving and receiving gifts that eventually showed up at second-hand stores, we decided it was time to stop consuming and find the true meaning of Christmas. Yes, almost as good as the Grinch's ah-ha moment in How the Grinch Stole Christmas:

"Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!"

So, through the years of no gift-giving we have implemented some fun traditions including an annual wine-tasting (complete with at least one cheap BOX of wine), a night of charades and spoons, and of course an

epic Christmas dinner. This year we added a few more traditions including a "rap-off" which consisted of writing lyrics and performing the "rap" for the family. Yes, we did agree to stimulate the economy a little bit with a frugal gift exchange: we had to buy a second-hand gift under $5 that the receiver could don with glee (see top photo). This year we also had a special guest appearance by Santa, himself (see bottom photo). He is one funny dude.

Divas' Ski Weekend!

The sassy and forever entertaining Ann Sullivan was my co-conspirator in taking care of that ski fix. In the a.m. I woke up to one of my favorite morning rituals: dressing in layers of ski gear, a stop off at Moes Bagels and Vic's Coffeehouse for ski grub, a 2-hour drive out of the front range and into the beautiful snowy mountains, mustering up energy to squeeze my large feet into the snug ski boots...celebrating with every micro-movement, throwing the skis over the shoulder and walking to catch the shuttle to the base of the mountain. Ah yeah! The ritual, in itself, is a beautiful waste of time. Being surrounded with like-minded, active, outdoorsy mountain freaks just adds to the beauty of the experience. Not to mention how amazing it feels to fly down the mountain.

We skied two days at Copper Mountain. Our friend, Christine, from Boulder county joined us for the overnight in Dillon and the second day of skiing. Good girlfriend fun all around...laughing as Ann got taken out (from the back end) twice, catching up on life, and revisiting past adventures.

Thanks Sully & Christine...for a lovely girls' weekend!

A Happy Hour in Boulder

My older sister is the BEST! She hosted a happy hour in Boulder at the posh St. Julien T-Zero bar with many of my favorite Colorado pals. Ah, hanging out with those friends that I have shared so many adventures with filled the soul with much love and positive vibes. I was quite honored that the Denver crew drove up and Christy & Jay, who just returned from three months on the Semester at Sea ship, joined us. The conversation jumped from memories of traveling in Peru, to re-living a few of our emergency search and rescue mountain hut trips, to wedding plans and yoga postures (see Lion's breath photo at bottom...go Brent!)


I love all of you mountain divas and dudes...and no matter how far away I am you are always in my heart!

Jingle Bell Run!

The day after I arrived in Colorado I was recruited to run the 5k Jingle Bell race in the beautifulwinter wonderland of Washington Park. My sea-level lungs got the best of me as I attempted to run a mile-high (5,280 ft.) Luckily, my little kid cousin, Schanell, inspired me to not only wear goofy reindeer antlers, but also sprint across the finish line. We were not the only crazy runners dressed up...we also saw Santa, a Christmas tree, a few elves, and Santa's reindeers.

A Week in Georgia to Adjust Back to the Motherland

Well, I have bittersweet feelings about being back in Georgia. Sweet, because I got to hang out with my man-friend, Charlie, and eat Ratatouille, watch movies, and just settle back into reality. Bitter, because I am back in Georgia...enough said.

And, of course I have another epic traveling tale that added to the bittersweet arrival. I know, SHOCKER! Originally, I was supposed to fly to Atlanta for a layover and then connect straight through to Colorado, but decided to stay one week in Georgia. I asked the airline if I could extend the stopover in Atlanta or cancel the leg to Colorado and they said it would cost $250. WTF?! Considering that I am parsimonious, I decided not to make changes to the original flight plan and simply jump off in Atlanta, grab my luggage, and forgo the leg to Colorado. However, Delta airlines had other plans for me. After going through customs, due to special security details in Atlanta, they re-collect all luggage...and my luggage had a tag to Colorado. I begged and pleaded with the Delta attendants and they were adamant about the airline "contract" I had bought...no luggage with Colorado tags can be claimed in Atlanta. Awesome, so my two 50-pound bags headed to Colorado without me. Luckily, I have all of my stuff stored in Athens...so, I was not completely "baggage-free". And, my parents were wonderful enough to collect my luggage in Colorado.

Inspiring Oxford Women

As I reflect on my time in Oxford, there were three women that made my visit even more enjoyable. I had the pleasure of being in the presence of three inspirational women. Each one of them is at a different places in their life, yet each one of them made a significant impact on me.

Meet Barbara. She is the "house mama" of the UGA Victorian house. She brightened my mornings everyday with her wise words and sharp British humor. You know she is friends with the Queen (in her dreams!) When either of us were traveling, she would send me sweet little text messages that were uplifting and thoughtful. The heart-to-heart conversations were the topping on the cake. Thanks Barbara for being a wonderful surrogate mom and friend. WOWSERS!

Meet Ingrid, my Oxford faculty don who I was fortunate enough to meet with every week in a graduate tutorial. She comes from a psychology background and is now interested in dimensions of academic mobility, specifically in the psychology field. Her mutual interest and strong support of my research agenda put a little extra wind in my sails. During my time working with her, we turned a paper I wrote into a publishable article. Lets see where it goes from here! Her direct, yet gentle, academic style made me realize that a woman can be a successful academic, while maintaining personal passions and caring relationships. Thanks Ingrid, for investing in my academic growth and encouraging me to keep going.

Meet Vassiliki. She is a young professor at the University of Sheffield and has been a great friend and mentor. I met her in 2006 in Oslo and have kept in touch since then. She invited me to speak in Dublin and was instrumental to my University of Sheffield visit, all the while challenging me to present my research ideas to others. Thanks Vassiliki, for giving me these opportunities and for all of your support.

Back to the Motherland Tomorrow...

Bittersweet.

It is hard to leave Oxford...and Europe. (A sick feeling in the stomach and all that.)

Yet, excited to see those that I love and adore.

Gluttony in Brussels: Chocolate, Glühwein, and Waffles!

I do love Brussels! And, this trip was a great way to spend my last weekend in Europe soaking up all the things I love about living here: public transportation, good food, good international conversation, and constant international stimulation. I met my Belgian friend, Marijke, for a night in the city centre where the Christmas markets brought the streets to life. The Grand Place, one of the stunning European squares named an UNESCO World Heritage Site, was all lit-up. The Town Hall was exceptionally spectacular as the lights changed colors with the fast-paced, hip music that the guest DJ spun. Over 200 wooden stalls decorated the streets as vendors sold handmade crafts, food, and drinks. It was a rainy evening, but we braved the wetness and enjoyed Glühwein (hot, mulled, spice wine), french fries, fried bread, and liquor. Oh, the gluttony of Brussels! The evening was a perfect chance to catch up with each other's life, as we had not seen each other for 1 1/2 years. That is what makes having international friends so bittersweet, you do not see each other for a long time and then when you see each other it is normally short and sweet. Before I knew it, the evening had come to an end and we did the typical Belgium farewell...a kiss on each side of the cheek and wished each other well.

EMA Meeting in Brussels: A table full of people from around the globe!

The European Commission has once again "hooked" me up with some free travel and international excitement. I was invited to represent the North American chapter of Erasmus Mundus alumni at an annual meeting in Brussels this past weekend. The meeting was for the Erasmus Mundus Student & Alumni Association (EMA) and we discussed everything from Chapter development to the goals and mission of the Association. Friday we met in the Madou Tower of the European Commission and I even had the pleasure of meeting the man, Vito Borrelli, a European Commission staff member who has been instrumental in the development of the Erasmus Mundus program. Here are a few moments to remember:

On Friday, I was in a packed elevator in the EC building and a European said, "The capacity says 16 people." Then, another European replied, "That means 16 Europeans and only 5 Americans." I tried to think of something witty on the spot and failed miserably as all I could muster up was a small laugh. Stereotypes are everywhere and unfortunately, there is some truth to this particular stereotype.

But, on a positive note as I was eating the delicious chocolate mousse at the Saturday dinner I looked around the dinner table and realized these are the moments I miss the most about living back in the U.S.: a table full of people from around the globe. I sat with my friends from Australia, Portugal, Pakistan, China, and Thailand. Dinner conversation just does not get any better than that!

Bath: The Spa City.

My last day trip! I wanted to experience the UNESCO World Heritage City where 2,000 years ago the Romans bathed themselves in natural hot thermal waters. I decided to make it an academic trip, so I scheduled an interview with a professor at the University of Bath and spent an additional three hours exploring the beautiful city of Bath. Built on hills, in the horizon you can see the countryside and the unique architecture of Bath. The Neo-classical circular buildings you see in the photo are houses and quite the trend in Bath property with the famous Circus and the Royal Crescent. The biggest score of the day was the 5pound vegetarian lunch, mushroom and lentil madras, and hot tea that I ate at the local pub, the Porter Pub. That is the one of the things I do love about the UK, you are always guaranteed a hearty, hot meal at the local pub and little did I know that this particular pub was voted one of the top 100 veggie eats in the UK.

Even though it was rainy and windy, Bath was definitely one of my favorite day trips outside of Oxford...the city, unique architecture, the hilly landscape all captured my heart.

Christmas in London & a Movie Ticket for $16.50.

Ahhhh, London is all lit-up and looking glamorous for the holiday season. I decided to take a 2-day trip to London before my English adventure quickly becomes a memory of yesterday. The first night, besides getting busted at Whole Foods, I walked from Notting Hill to Oxford Circus while sugar plum fairies danced in my head. The streets were vibrant with people, decorations, lights, Christmas markets, and Belgium waffles (yes, I admit to eating one). I came home that night to the Bayswater Inn with quite the Christmas buzz... The next day I enjoyed my morning in Kensington and Hyde Park and then met Kristen, a fellow HEEM alumna, for tea at the posh Liberty department store. After a long catch-up we saw Christmas Carol, the 3D movie, in Leicester Square. It was an expensive movie, but worth it, a student ticket was £9 ($16.50)...youch.

I have come to love London...it always feels so alive! Plus, I simply take pleasure in the fact that you can find peace and tranquility in the numerous parks intuitively set right smack in the middle of the city life. What brilliant city planners!

HOLY Whole Foods!

After my last visit to London and the pure excitement I shared with everyone concerning my visit to the small SOHO Whole Foods, I received many comments from friends that I needed to visit the "mack-daddy" Whole Foods in London. So, the first destination on my list was the Kensington Whole Foods.

All I have to say is WOW!

An escalator. Three stories. A bread department to die for. Wine. Incredible produce section.

I only bought two things, but I was there for roughly two hours walking the aisles and soaking in the sights and smells. I heard a lot of North American accents. Not surprising. And, there were numerous Thanksgiving reminders posted throughout the store. Not surprising. Oh, yeah and I got BUSTED for taking these photos. Not surprising.

Living abroad...or even living in a different region of your own country...you get homesick for those little things that remind you of home. Whole Foods is one of those visceral experiences that takes me "Home" to Boulder, Colorado. I guess you could say I am missing home...it has been 7 months.

UGA House in Oxford!

Stocked, locked, and blinged! I live in a POSH three-story Victorian house in Oxford. The rugs alone cost more than the car I drive. The house has all the amenities (and more): computers, chandeliers (to swing from), a big screen TV, a movie collection, travel books, a library with over 2,000 books, a beautiful garden that is tended to every week, games, and even a towel rack warmer in my bathroom. Yeah, pretty posh! So, it is no wonder I get sucked into the house and sometimes do not leave until lunch. Everything I need is here!

The house was bought by the UGA Foundation (a private company that raises money for the University) and the University of Georgia leases the house from the Foundation. The 9,987 square foot house was originally built in the late 1800's and while most of it was renovated there are a few things that have been preserved such as some of the wallpaper, the fireplace mantels, and some of the wood floor in the kitchen.

Faculty Don's Party

Everyone loves a good party! On Thursday, we hosted a reception for the Oxford faculty dons who work with the University of Georgia study abroad program. This meant that the alcohol ban in the common areas of the house were temporarily lifted and there was a lot of preparation to be done. This was the one big party that James and I was responsible for planning. The students helped buy, prepare, and of course eat the food. I must say the smorgasbord of American and British food was a great success...we prepared fruit trays, veggie trays, meat trays, a cheese platter, an antipasti platter, and we made banana bread, zucchini bread, guacamole, deviled eggs. A few extra special items were added to the mix: Belgium chocolates, fancy English biscuits, and a birthday cake for Katie. The mood was quite festive!

Dinner for Royalty!

There are benefits to this Oxford gig. Sure, I have to live with 31 undergraduate students, but I also get to live for free in a beautiful Victorian house, meet weekly with a faculty don while working on my research agenda, and eat for free at Keble College. This blog entry is dedicated to my daily routine surrounding FOOD.




B-fast: I don't know the time...because normally I am still asleep.
Lunch: 12:30-1:45 p.m.
Dinner: 7 p.m. (prompt)
Saturday/Sundays brunch is served: 11:45-12:15

B-fast/Lunch: I work within the confines of the food schedule as much as I can. I normally skip breakfast because I LOVE lazy mornings, do not particularly enjoy fried eggs and baked beans for breakfast, and normally do not eat until 10 a.m. Hence, the reason I over stack my lunch tray with the pre-packaged breakfast cereal and bananas that usually make their way into my bag, not my stomach. While lunch is an informal buffet-style meal, dinner is always a big "to-do" and you must book ahead on-line for every dinner you attend.

Dinner: Everyone wears a special black gown to the dining hall that is unique to Oxford. Then, you are seated at the long tables according to how many courses you have booked. Usually, I choose three courses (soup, entree, and dessert/fruit). Once the students are seated, the faculty dons parade to the front of the dining hall wherein they sit at the high table (it is actually on a platform). Then, the head don slams down the gavel and everyone stands for Latin grace. Again, the gavel slams down and we all sit, awkwardly working with our neighbors to scoot the long bench in closer to the table. Soup and a roll is served and always delicious...I have not had a bad soup yet! A large dish of potatoes and some sort of veggie is placed in the middle of the tables for all to enjoy. Entrees are served and everyone digs in. Dessert follows closely behind which is either the menu dessert or fruit, you choose. While the ritual of dinner is unique, it can get a little monotonous. I feel like I may be on my way to gaining a "freshmen fifteen" with the amount of food I am eating, but I am a "starving student" and free food is free food. Here is a sampling of the Sunday (formal) dinners:

Citrus and celeriac timbale with a walnut dressing
Roast supreme of chicken,
sage and onion stuffing, bacon roll and chipolata
v. Chunky lentil, onion and chestnut loaf
Roast potatoes
Assorted root vegetables
Caramelised mandarin cheesecake or fresh fruit

Char grilled vegetable terrine with a
black olive and tarragon dressing
Roast pork with an apple compote
v. Stilton, apple and sage crepes with a redcurrant and juniper sauce
Roasted potatoes
Chervil glazed carrots and broccoli
Cherry pie with vanilla cream or fresh fruit

Where I Study!

In Oxford, the libraries are amazing, with the Gothic architecture, low lighting, high ceilings, stained glass windows, and stacks upon stacks of books. It feels special to read/study in one of the Oxford libraries, as not everyone has access. Libraries are not open to the public and you must show a Bodleian student card (a student ID) to gain entrance. I have access to the Keble College library (first two photos), the Education library (middle phot0), and the Bodleian libraries.

Of course, I have my favorite reading spots: (1) in the Education library in a comfy modern chair next to a big picture window overlooking a quaint courtyard garden in the Education Department complex, and (2) in the Radcliffe Camera (last two photos) I like to sit in one of the old wooden chairs next to the picture window looking out to the spectacular University Church of St. Marys. Don't be surprised by the enormous cow bell they ring 15 minutes before closing...it can be a real scare! As I am sure you can imagine, these two study spots are prime real estate and in order to secure them I must arrive early. Most libraries are "reader" libraries, meaning you cannot check out books you must read the book inside the library. Luckily, I can check out books from the Education and Keble library.



The Bodleian library is one of the most famous libraries in the world, known for both its expansive book collection and the spectacular medieval buildings. Since 1602, scholars have been reading in the Bodleian. Over 12 million books make up the collection and you can only imagine how storing the book is quite the challenge. Most of the books are stored underneath the Bodleian complex in the "stacks", hence the reason it may take up to four hours to retrieve a book. To request a book, you make an online request and a confirmation gives you an approximate time when you can pick up your book from a "reading room"...normally it will take anywhere from 2-4 hours. Now, for those books that are not frequently used it may take longer to retrieve, as those books are not located in the "stacks" they are stored in an old salt mine in Cheshire, approximately 150 miles northwest of Oxford.

The Social Network: A Friend of a Friend!

When I lived in Colorado, my friend Jessie was the queen of the hip Denver social scene...she was always planning parties, outings, and introducing people to each other. Well, the other day I received an email:

"Hello, I am a friend of Jessie's from Denver and she suggested that we connect. I've just started on a Walkabout around the world and it sounds like you are also on an international adventure! I'm currently in the UK, staying with a friend up in the country, but I think that we're going to head into Oxford this weekend. Any chance you will be around and available to meet up for tea or a cocktail? Any friend of Jessie's has got to be super fun, plus I'd love to hear about your adventures!"

It is true...any friend of Jessie's is worth meeting. So, we met up last Sunday and enjoyed an afternoon in Oxford, sipping tea, eating scones, and touring the City of Spires. There is something to be said about the power of a social network, the Colorado connection, and meeting others who possess the same adventurous thirst. These natural networks make for good conversation! We talked about traveling and how each of us have ended up living/traveling internationally. These connections with like-minded adventurous women always inspire me to keep adventuring, keep my eyes open, and continue taking a BIG bite out of life. Happy Sojourns, Annie & Ashley!

A Trip to Sheffield, England.

I have had the great fortune of meeting a great group of higher education professors from the University of Sheffield. The connection stems from when I lived in Oslo. I met a researcher, Vassiliki, who was conducting research in Oslo for her Oxford postgrad and we have kept in touch ever since. When I knew I was living in Oxford I contacted her again, we met for a delicious Lebanese lunch, and she asked me to present to Dublin. While in Dublin I mentioned that I would like to tour the University of Sheffield campus and before I knew it I had an invitation to visit, an interview set up for the hedda blog, and I was asked to make another presentation on "Some Transatlantic Observations on English/European Higher Education." The amazing world of international connections!



The trip to Sheffield was another great academic opportunity and the professors were the most gracious hosts. They put me up at the Rutland Hotel *see photo below* and the room was rather funky with the panoramic black and white photo of the couple laying on the beach. The post-industrial city of Sheffield has a real university feel to it, as there are three universities in the city, including a medical school. Very different from the posh Oxford.

Beads of Sweat Trickle Down My Face...Now, THIS is Traveling!

With all of my travels, you would think that I double check all travel plans and logistics to ensure a smooth voyage. Well, I must admit there are still times when I just take my travel skills for granted and/or my mind is elsewhere. The rationalization for this shameful, yet hilarious, travel story is probably a combination of not paying attention to the details and being entrenched with academic endeavors. But, before you read on, just know these types of travel stories make me feel alive. Crazy, but true! Here is the context of this story: I was invited to the University of Sheffield to make a presentation, conduct an interview for the hedda blog, and tour the campus. So, here is the story of catching the train to Sheffield:

12:05 All is good! Leave the UGA House and hop on the bus to the town centre.
12:11 Arrive in town centre. Walk in the drizzle, stop in at Taylor’s to buy a takeaway chicken pesto Panini.
12:16 Walk leisurely to train station.
12:28 Arrive at the train station, sit down, put my umbrella away, take out my train tickets. Read the tickets and realize I never printed out the e-ticket…all I printed out was the lousy itinerary. “An email containing your e-ticket will be sent to your email address.” Oh, bloody hell!
12:30 Begin freaking out! Get in ticket line.
12:35 I ask the woman if I can ride the train with just the itinerary. I know the answer, but think that if I put on the naive foreigner act, she may help me out. NOPE! She says I MUST print out the e-ticket and there is no where to print in the train station.
12:37 I run to the tourist office and she tells me the closest Internet café is about 10 minutes away. AHHHHH!
12:40 I RUN!!! Here is the visual: one hand dragging my little roller behind me, the other hand tightly holding onto the umbrella while my backpack bounces up and down on my back.
12:45 I arrive at Coffee Republic and artfully cut line to ask if I can jump on the Internet and print something quickly. She sees the sweat on my brows and proclaims, “30 minutes is 1 pound 50 pence.” I pay the lady, run up the stairs, and sit at the computer closest to the printer. As my email inbox slowly loads, I try to catch my breath as beads of sweat trickle down my face.
12:46 The magical e-ticket prints, as the angels in my head sing a sweet melody. I tell the gentlemen next to me to feel free to use the remaining time on my computer and then I bolt down the stairs!
12:48 I RUNNNNNNNNNNNN and think to myself..."damn, I am out of aerobic shape!" I have less than 20 minutes to catch the train.
12:53 Arrive at the train station…and navigate my way to platform 2.
12:55 AHHHHH, with 10 minutes to spare, I sit down on a bench, take off my coat, wipe the sweat from my head, and begin laughing. Now, this is traveling!!
13:02 The train arrives. I board, find my seat, highly consider stripping down to fully Monty, and let out a sigh of relief.
13:05 Train leaves, to Sheffield I go!
15:46 Arrive Sheffield, climb into a black cabbie *see top 3 photos*.

A Dental Experience in the U.K.

Unlike the U.S., the U.K. offers a publicly funded health care option for all human beings residing or even visiting the U.K. Woohoo, for human rights! The National Health Service (NHS) also offers dental care, Studental. Being a U.S. graduate student, I do not have dental insurance and therefore pay an arm and a leg (and sometimes a tooth) to visit the dentist every six months. Yes, every six months, the American culture values teeth...hence the reason we are vain when it comes to dental care. So, I jumped at the chance to get my teeth cleaned for a cheaper rate, despite the stereotypes about British having bad teeth. Of course, it turns out I needed a cavity filled too. Here is what I paid:

x-ray/check-up-£16.50 ($27)
teeth cleaning- £33.00 ($55)

cavity filling- £29.00 ($48)

So, for less than what I would have paid in the U.S. for a check-up/cleaning, I even got a cavity filled. Lucky me! Now, I can say I have bad dental work in the UK, Belgium, and Finland. I am going to have an international grill before I know it.

My review: The clinic was high-tech, sparkling clean, with no wait. The dentist and hygienist were very professional, knowledgeable (because I asked them about 20 questions out of curiosity), and skilled with drills and such. They even gave me a few samples of sensitive toothpaste. Highly recommended!

Summertown Wine Café

Throughout my travels and living abroad, I have discovered one thing that makes me feel at home: finding a special little place that caters to my thirst (tea and wine) while offering a warm environment with natural lighting. In Tampere, Finland this was Wayne's Coffee and Mercado Negro in Aveiro, Portugal. In Oxford, I have found the perfect little spot...the Summertown Wine Café:

• Free wifi.
• £2 happy hour glasses of wine (5-7 p.m.)
• A hearty teapot of Earl Grey tea with a little ginger biscuit.
• Comfy seating.
• Plenty of natural lighting.
• Candles in the evening.
  

Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

In 1605, a Roman Catholic dude, named Guy Fawkes, tried to blow up Parliament while all of the Protestant aristocracy and nobility were wining and dining. However, the "Gunpowder Plot" was foiled as he was arrested before the 36 barrels of gunpowder exploded. In commemoration of this foiled plot to kill the King, Guy Fawkes day is celebrated November 5 with fireworks and a large effigies of Fawkes burned by bonfire.

The students decided to throw a party in the garden to celebrate Guy Fawkes day. As the rain spit on the party *see photo of "wellies" (plastic rain boots)* it did not stop us from grilling meat and smore's *see photo* (an American tradition with graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate), and watching fireworks. Oh, and the most exciting part of the evening was when one of my students lit a firecracker and it nearly took off my head (a near death experience I tell you!)

Another excitement of the evening was Christmas Pudding!

'Tis the season for Christmas Pudding! "Made with plump vine fruits, juicy glace cherries and walnuts laced with brandy, rum, and port". It is sort of like fruitcake, but more moist. James really enjoyed it... *see photo*

London: Christmas Lights, Whole Foods & Procrastination!

I always love a spontaneous day trip to London...as I never really know what will come of it. This time, all I knew is that I had to be at a 5:30 p.m. talk at King's College. Otherwise, I could enjoy the day like the free-spirited traveler that I revel in.

In Oxford Circus, the holiday spirit was in full effect with large Christmas Carol signs and strings upon strings of lights dancing over the busy London streets. The big "light up" event just so happened to fall on the same night, so it made for some tube closures resulting in an hour and a half of wild tube adventures.

I am a Whole Foods junkie! When I lived in Boulder, Whole Foods was my favorite hang-out. Okay, this may sound weird...since it is just a trendy, grocery store known for its organic food products, but in Boulder...Whole Foods is the place to be! It is an experience all on its own. So, when I saw Whole Food bags with "London" scrolled on them, I was on a mission to experience the London Whole Foods. Albeit not Boulder, it was a lovely place to enjoy my favorite Whole Foods lunch: chai with salad.

King's College is close to the London Bridge area, so I spent the remainder of my afternoon walking by the water and enjoying the HMS Belfast. That is a big mama boat! At 5:15 p.m. I found a comfy chair in the third row of the auditorium style classroom and tried to curtail my excitement for the speaker. Jorge Cham is a Stanford PhD who is the creator of the PhD comic strip: Piled Higher and Deeper. His comics bring the painful and not-so-funny PhD experiences to life with humor. I think I am becoming one of his cult followers...because he is able to put words and lightness to otherwise stressful situations like being detained at the UK immigration control simply because you said the words, "research". Anyway, his talk was great and he stressed that there is power in procrastination. What?! Not guilt? Great news, I have a new found love for procrastination. Let's see how long I can hold out before the guilt sets in like a big black cloud.

Life Inside the UGA House in Oxford, England!

Here is a small glimpse of life inside the UGA house in Oxford. We recycle, cook, eat, and study!

St. Antony's College HalloQueen Bop

I was pretty excited to dress up for Halloween this year, as the past two Halloweens were real doozies. The big party in Oxford for graduate students takes place at St. Antony's College and the theme this year was cross-dressing! That meant I would wear my colleagues, James, tie and jacket, while he wore my dress and bra. For men, dressing like a woman is much more exciting than a woman dressing like a man. James received the full spa treatment as the women of 104 Banbury "beautified" him with nail polish, makeup, hair products, jewelry, and accessories. It was rather funny. With my painted moustache, we were ready to party...we queued up at 8 p.m., for a 9 p.m. door opening. Yes, we queued for one hour! But, this was said to be one of the best graduate parties of the year and we wanted to be sure that we got in. We were not the only ones queued up early, by 8:30 p.m. the line wrapped around the College. The costumes were hilarious and many of the men could not quit touching their constructed breasts and "itchy" pantyhose.

British Summer Time Ends.

Last week the UK rolled the clocks back one hour, a sure sign that fall is here! Everywhere you go in Oxford, colorful leaves dance along the ground. With the fall colors everywhere, the University Parks make for a lovely place to spend the afternoon. Here are a few favorite photos I have taken the last few weeks of the changing colors in Oxford.

Due to the mild temperature and the rain, I think that this may be the longest fall season I have experienced. Which I am certainly not complaining about, because I do heart fall.

The Oxford Gown

The black sleeveless gown with two wings flowing from the shoulder girdle is the standard evening attire in Oxford. At night it is completely normal to see students walking around town donning their black gown or in my case riding a bike to Keble with wings flapping behind me. This gown is what every Oxford student wears to formal dinner...which at Keble College formal dinner is every night except Saturday.

One night we decided to have a "glamour shots" photo shoot, hence the cheezy photos. Notice, in many of the photos I was predisposed to flying poses...the wings make you feel like flying!

Oh, you will see that my gown is longer than Erin's. Undergraduate gowns are shorter (hip), whereas graduate students are longer (knee), and faculty dons flow down to the ankle. Just one of the many formal rituals that I thought I would share with you...

Stratford-upon-Avon

I needed a break from the UGA at Oxford bubble that has a way of sucking you in. So, I paid 7£ for a round trip ticket on the Stagecoach bus to Stratford-upon-Avon. The bus ride through the beautiful countryside made me realize what a lovely region of England I live in. I need to explore more!!

When I looked at the weather report there was a BIG sunshine, hence the reason I did not pack an umbrella. Bad idea! It turned out to be a schizophrenic rain/sun day which made for a day of running into stores and cafes that I otherwise would not have visited. Moral of the story: when in England...pack your umbrella regardless of what the weather forecast predicts.

When the sun did shine, I enjoyed the quaint village nestled in the rural Warwickshire countryside. I abstained from visiting the tourist traps of the Shakespeare legacy; gawking at the bed where Shakespeare used to sleep just feels too contrived and inauthentic. I opted, instead, to walk the beautiful Avon river and side streets of Stratford. The highlight was the Guild Chapel founded in 1269. As the natural light beamed in through the stain glass, the rustic church became a photographer's dream. I had the place to myself. Of course the cream tea in the afternoon took a close second to the Chapel. Before I knew it 16:20 had arrived and it was time to climb back on the bus and journey back to Oxford, the place I currently call home.

Random fact: The controversial British Tellytubbies show is filmed on a 6-acre farm in Stratford.

Taking Class Via Skype

Every Friday at 1:50 p.m. I set up my headset and microphone, log into skype, and "attend" class. As the skype call connects, a live video loads onto the Meigs Hall classroom screen in Athens, Georgia. Vice-versa a live video of the Athens classroom pops up on my computer screen. I am taking EDHI 8930, The Qualitative Imagination, with Dr. Sheila Slaughter and six of my fellow PhD colleagues. The class is discussion based which has proven a bit challenging. Since I am not physically in the classroom, it is hard to gauge when to jump into the conversation without disrupting the flow. In addition, the microphone in the classroom does not capture all of the conversation (especially those with a quiet voice) and sometimes the microphone chooses to pick up the background noise rather than the conversation. Even though taking a class via skype is not perfect, and at times frustrating, it has allowed me to live in Oxford for the semester while remaining a full-time student at UGA. Plus, it has made travel possible.
I have skyped into the Athens, GA classroom from:

*Oxford, England
*St. Andrews, Scotland,
*Venice, Italy,
*Tallinn, Estonia, and

*Dublin, Ireland.

I even skyped into class when I was sick in bed with the swine flu (see bottom photo). Technology; you have to take the good (opportunities) with the bad (limitations).

11 "Punting Divas" on the Cherwell River

You have not lived in Oxford if you have not punted. Therefore, a group of "punting divas" donned our warm clothes for a chilly fall afternoon of punting on the Cherwell River.

1 LONG pole, check.
3 blue cushions, check.
1 paddle, check.
2 handmade punting boats, check.
11 UGA students, check.

There is a special skill to punting and not everyone is privileged enough to possess this skill. Despite this fact, I was lucky enough to have crew members that had mad punting skills. Sure, on occasion, we ran into the earthy sides of the river bed and we became close and intimate with the trees lining the river, but all in the name of love for mother nature. In the sport of punting, only one person stands using the long pole as a motor and router for the boat while the other crew members relax, feed ducks, pose for funny photos, and keep an eye out for naked faculty dons. (YES, legend has it that there was a naked section of the river, "Parson's pleasure" where male faculty dons would sun their bodies while engaging in intellectual and titillating conversation.)

Here are a few pointers about punting from the Oxford Daily info site:

1.) Feed the ducks if you believe that ducks are messengers from another civilisation and that you will understand their speech if you listen just a little longer.

2.) Don't assume that anyone in any other vessel knows what on earth they're doing (except the dude I took of photo of...with his matriculation uniform and all.)

Squealin' Like PIGS!

The beautiful UGA at Oxford English Manor house has been infested with flying pigs (a.k.a. the infamous "Swine Flu")! Yes, and I have officially fallen victim to the nasty virus as of yesterday. On Monday, two students went down for the count (fatigue, achy body, high fever, cough, headache) and we had to quarantine them and a third student joined them on Wednesday (see second photo). That meant I had the fun job of playing nurse Leasa. Which by the way, I am by not a good nurse. There was a moment I was near tears when I walked in and saw how sick one of the students was...aren't nurses supposed to be made of steel? Plus my protective armour of an immune system allowed a bug to creep in. Argh!

Well, last night I called the UK flu assessment line. They asked me questions such as, "Are you floppy?" What does that mean, I replied. The British dude on the other end of the call was all perky with his British accent and said..."floppy like a fish!" Right, well I can assure you I am laid out on my bed, but not flopping around like a fish out of water...I have no energy!

After the questions, he gave me a code to pick up the drug, Tamiflu, for FREE (this is UK's way of helping to curtail the spread of the flu). But the catch...I had to have a non-flu carrying friend pick it up. So, my partner-in-crime, James, picked it up in the a.m. and I popped one of those bad boys in my mouth. Before I knew it...my stomach was a rubblin'. One potential side effect of tamiflu is technicolor yawns (vomit). Soon enough I found myself calling god on the big white telephone as my breakfast reversed itself and chunks of muesli floated in the toilet. ICK!

The positive: my students are now waiting on me! I received a bouquet of flowers, a handful of beautiful fall leaves, a nice get-well note, crackers with nutella, and hot soup.

Dublin...the Land of Leprechauns!

I was invited to speak as a "visiting researcher" for a Doctoral program in higher education based in Dublin, Ireland. Why me? Perhaps they want to throw me into the Lion's den or maybe they actually think I have something to say (ha, ha...little do they know!) My life motto of "living big and without fear" gave me the stamina to say YES. After a few weeks of thinking deeply (and occasionally kicking myself for saying YES), I came to realize that I do have a research agenda. What an enlightening "ah-ha" moment for a PhD student. I spent a good week designing the talk and practiced it about 8 times...it was a 45 minute talk. I have done many other presentations in my time, but never an academic talk where I was the "visiting researcher"...Pressure! A week before the presentation, my neophyte nerves took me on a rollercoaster ride with ups n downs and sudden turns, sometimes I held on so tightly that my knuckles turned white, while other times I threw up my arms and let the wind blow through my hair. Finally, the day of reckoning! There were about 22 students and four faculty members at the talk. I took the stage and BAM, before I knew it I was done! They asked me questions about my experience as a PhD student and the transition from work/school/theory. The questions were great and after the talk the professor who invited me said, "That was SPOT on!" Ahhhh, time to take off the Leprechaun head!



So, I only had a few hours on Saturday to enjoy Dublin before flying back to London. The city was filled with excitement. Ozzy Osborne was visiting Dublin for a book signing and you could tell because many people were wearing those tiny round sunglasses while donning Ozzy apparel. There was also a lot of cheering, face paint, and even green wigs--the European football craze was in full effect! Ireland played Italy for a chance at the World Cup qualifications. The game ended in a draw 2-2, with Italy getting a spot in the World Cup and Ireland getting a play-off spot. Dublin is a great city.

The Weimers Invaded Oxford!

My parents, sister (Julie) and her fiance (Dan) arrived in Oxford last week. I got them set up in a 2 bed/2bath flat in the Summertown area; a sweet little neighborhood with shops, cafes and restaurants about 1.5 miles from the centre of Oxford. Our week together was lovely! We toured Oxford, walked the Thames river path, ate Ben's Cookies, dreamt of punting the river, laughed until we cried (numerous times), cooked breakfast and dinner together, drank 5 bottles of wine the last night, watched Lieutenant Dan break into sweat after eating Leasa's curry, cheered on Julie as she mastered the British accent, and enjoyed the Christ Church college choir for a Sunday Evensong in the famous 12th century cathedral.

An Academic Conference in Tallinn, Estonia

Being a PhD student, you are expected to produce, produce, produce. Publish, present, or perish, is the saying! Once I found out I was going to Oxford for a semester, I perused all of the international academic conferences and found one that fit my research agenda and was still accepting proposals. I submitted two papers to the International Bilingual Conference on Academic Mobility and what would you know...both of them were accepted. I have done many presentations in my life, but these two were perhaps the most nerve-racking to prepare for. You see academics like to challenge and critique each other's work. Therefore, you have to be prepared for all sorts of questions, comments, and critiques. Hence, my time in Estonia (a quick three-day trip) was absorbed by preparing, presenting, and listening to other presentations. But, in the end all went well and now I can say I have finally presented at an academic conference.

Now for Tallinn, Estonia...what little I got to see. As I stepped off the bus I immediately felt like I was back in Finland; the smell in the air, and the sights and sounds were all familiar. Yet, I was a bit surprised by how expensive and BLING, BLING Tallinn has become since independence in 1991. Capitalism has a way of nesting quickly. Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and the Old Town area, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, is certainly quaint. Plus, the entire city is "connected" meaning wifi is everywhere.

A side story: I went to an Indian restaurant for lunch...I was craving delicious, as the food in this region rarely satisfies my palette (I know this from my time in Finland). But, the chicken tikka masala was maybe the worse I have EVER eaten. It had boiled eggs in it and nasty pieces of chicken (like the liver, sternum, rectum, and lots of grizzly fat) ICK! A word of warning do not eat Indian in Tallinn, eat bear instead.

A Friend Comes to Town...

Oh, the fond memories I have of the students I worked with during my salaried adult career at the University of Colorado at Boulder. In fact, I still keep in touch with a handful of my "rock star". One of them, Mallory, was visiting London and decided to pop over to Oxford for a quick visit. As we got caught up on life stories, I toured her around a sunny Oxford and we stopped for a lovely afternoon creme tea. Great to see you Mal, best of luck in your Master's program!

The UGA Students Have Arrived!

31 undergraduate students. 2 graduate student residents. 1 large English Manor house in Oxford. 1 bread machine. 1 big screen TV. 2 dishwashers. 1 alarm system. 7 computers. 4 wash machines. 987 rolls of toilet paper. 1 large English garden.

Stay tuned for details.

Travel Statistics!

After traveling 4,202 miles, 6,762 km, here are my stats:

10 buses + 1 (nearly missed)
8 trains + 1 (nearly missed)
12 boats
4 rides in cars/trucks
2 mountain gondola rides
4 hostels
3 homestays
1 pension
1 five star hotel
9 t-banes (Oslo)
9 metros (Paris)
1 tube (London)
1 muddy footpath (with fat cows)
2 hikes with the sheep
1 hike at 10,000 feet (3,000 meters)
3 Ryan Air airplanes (of which all 3 landed on time and people clapped)
4 visits with HEEM alumni (hooray!)
2 visits with people still trying to finish their Master's thesis
1 visit with dude trying to finish his PhD dissertation
1 visit with my adopted Italian family


Too many bottles of wine, gelato, and pizza to count...


All of this within three weeks! Awesome.

Detained for 2.5 Hours at UK Immigration

So much for the “fast” train to London. I was detained in immigration for 2.5 hours as they “checked” my credentials and proof of work/studies in the U.K. In all of my travels, this was the first time I became one of those pathetic-looking travelers tapping my feet on the floor wondering if I would make it to my next destination. The experience was humbling and made me realize that student mobility is not as easy as I have come to know. After I handed over my passport to the female immigration officer she began to ask me questions, “What are you doing in the U.K.? (studying and working) Do you have proof that you are working and studying? (yes, but the letter had the summer semester dates on it) When do you fly back to the U.S.? (December) What are you doing until December? (studying and working) Can I see your return ticket to the U.S.? (I do not have it with me) Are you being paid in the U.K.? (No, I am being paid by the U.S. university) Do you have a U.S. bank account, if so how much money is in it?” Finally, I said, “That is a weird question.” (Even though I know it is not a strange question, as they need to know that I can financially support my stay in the U.K.) She did not like my response and said, “You are now being detained and there is no guarantee that you will be admitted to the U.K., students and researchers must have a visa to enter.” She escorted me to a metal bench and instructed me to wait.

As other happy travelers gawked at me like I was a caged animal in a zoo, I peacefully let the grains of sand in the hour glass slowly float away as I studied. Yet, as time continued to melt away, so did my nerves. After one hour of waiting and missing my train, the female immigration officer said, as she scooted past me quickly, “I am waiting on documents from the U.K.” Well, WTF does that mean? More waiting. Finally, after another hour passed, I received a phone call from Angela, a staff member at UGA at Oxford, informing me that she had just faxed a letter confirming my position. Ahhhhh. The officer came out and gave me a new train ticket for the 12:13 p.m. train (original train was scheduled for 10:13 a.m.) and said I could enter the U.K. Then, her supervisor came over and explained that he made a “special” decision in my case. He said he could have easily rejected my entry because I did npt have a visa for the work/studies. As he was explaining the points system for visas, I began to sweat and wanted to scream, “DUDE, I am going to miss my train!” Instead, I thanked him cordially for allowing me to enter the Queen’s country and ran to board the long-awaited train to London. The joys (and frustrations) of student mobility!

Paris

A quick three day trip in Paris was enough to catch up with my dear friend Preet (from my European Master’s program) and see many Parisian sites under sunny blue skies. The days were spent studying and discovering the city on my own, as Preet attended her classes at the University of Paris-Sorbonne. By the way, this is reported, by historians, to be the second oldest university in Europe. Another medieval European University marked off of my list (hooray!) I visited the BIG public library right smack in the center of Paris and was blown away by its colossal feel as well as the announcement over the loud speaker, “Attention, pick-pocketers have been reported, please make sure your belongings are attended.”

At night, we walked until our legs hurt and then walked some more, as she showed me beautiful sites around every corner. The street vendors selling crepes and baguette sandwiches were happy to sell us their delicious chow and even pose for a few photos (See photo to left). On my last night in Paris, we had a picnic under the lit-up Eiffel tower. Apparently this is one of the “things” to do in Paris; we were not alone. We joined other jolly folks drinking wine and enjoying picnics under a sparkly Eiffel tower. A great trip for sure!!

Venice for Six Days!

Venice for six days, wow where do I even begin...

Let's just make this entry simple. Top 10 memories in Venice:

1.) Getting lost in the non-touristy areas of Venice.

2.) Osteria's! These are little local pubs in the narrow streets in Venice. The best are located in the less-touristy residential areas in Venice. They are cheaper and in my opinion more authentic. You walk up to the bar and order a glass of vino for 1-3€ drink it up and move on to the next Osteria.

3.) Food! Pizza, gelato, proscuitto, salami, cheese and more gelato. Need I say more?

4.) Enjoying the posh hotel, the Hilton Molino Stucky...complete with a FREE Turkish spa, a rooftop pool overlooking Venice, a robe and slippers, and 27€ internet access/day (yikes!)

5.) Vino...

6.) Lazy mornings with no alarm clock!

7.) What a small world! My friend Martina just so happened to be in Venice the same time as we were...so we invited her over for some appetizers and then hit the town.

8.) My partner-in-crime.

9.) The Vivaldi Four Seasons concert. A favorite of mine...right there in Venice.

10.) The park where we spent many relaxing moments.

A Nice Surprise in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy!

We arrived in Cortina, Italy in the afternoon and had a few hours to blow off before catching the bus to Venice. Cortina is the poshest ski resort in Italy (it is the Aspen of Italy)...everyone wears expensive sunglasses and struts around in the hottest alpine style. As we walked through the town centre, we noticed live bands playing on every corner. Lucky us, we were about to experience one of the biggest summer events in Cortina, the Great Festival of Bands. And, the culminating event of this week-long Festival, the parade, was starting in one hour. Woohoo! We hunkered down on some steps lining the parade route, with festival food in one hand and left-over wine (that we had poured in a plastic water bottle) in the other. Oh yeah...and gelato too. The mountain backdrop was the perfect frame for this sunny music-filled event featuring the best bands in Northern Italy. You know you are in a mountain town when the Olympic committee and the local ski and snowboard teams march in the parade. What a nice way to spend the afternoon...

On Top of the World...in an Italian Mountain Hut.

Another bus ride through the Alps brought us to our next destination, a mountain hut high in the Italian Dolomites. At Passo Falzarego (2,105 meters or 6,906 feet) we took the gondola to Lagazuoi (2,762 meters or 9,061 feet) and climbed a steep embankment to arrive at the mountain rifugio, where we would spend the night. The European Alps have a circuit of mountain huts sprinkled throughout the Alps. Actually these mountain huts are more like mountain chalets, as they are beautifully decorated in alpine style and most of them offer full room and board. The Lagazuoi rifugio sleeps 74 in bedrooms or dorm style rooms. We booked the full-board option (including dinner and breakfast) and enjoyed a lovely bedroom complete with a balcony and a spectacular view of the surrounding mountain range, all for 55euros/person. I was feeling a little under the weather, so being nestled in a cozy mountain hut under down comforter duvets was medicine for the soul. After a much needed health rest, I joined Charlie for lunch and we ventured out for a little hike. Being above tree line and as high as the clouds has its advantages and disadvantages. When the clouds roll away, the 360 degree mountain view takes your breath away, but when the clouds roll it can become hard to see a few feet ahead of you. Blue skies, sun, clouds, mist, blue sky, sun...and so one. But, this is what I love about being high up in the mountains, you feel like you are under the guidance and swift control of mother nature.

Dinner was served at 1900 and we sat next to a lively same-sex Canadian couple who reside in France. They were hiking from hut to hut and their tales enticed us to strap on 60 pound packs, forgo the expectations of our everday life, and hike in the serene beauty of the Dolomites. Maybe someday!

Charlie's internal alarm clock woke him just in time for the sunrise. The beauty was too much to take, so he woke me and we braved the 0c/33F degree weather to watch the sun float up over the Dolomite spires. The remainder of our morning was spent hiking around the open air museum of the Great War. It was tough to leave this special place on earth, but more travel adventures await...

Ah yeah...the Italian Alps!

During a leisurely walk to the Verona train station, we suddenly realized we might miss our train to the Italian Alps. Oh no! So, I decided to run ahead of Charlie and purchase our tickets at one of the fast-serve ticket machines. He thought I had gone to the ticket office, so with two train tickets in hand I frantically ran around the train station trying to locate my partner-in-crime. With one minute to spare we miracously met on the train platform and launched our bodies and luggage onto the train, sweaty and out-of-breathe. "We made it!" After a good laugh and a few high fives we were on our way to the sweet valley town of Bolzano. In Bolzano, the gateway to the Italian Alps, we had a quick hour layover before jumping on a bus. We found a park bench and feasted on the cheese and meat left-over’s from the opera.

The bus ride into the Dolomites was incredible! The rugged mountain landscape was enough to propel me into a state of mountain euphoria...a sense of calm set in while the perma-grin prominently displayed my excitement. The bus made its way up and down switchbacks, as we kept "oooing" and "awwwing." We had a quick stopover in a German-inspired mountain town, Ortisei, where we lavished our palette with strudel and vanilla gelato. Oh yeah...there are benefits of being so close to the German border (strudel), yet traveling in Italy (gelato). YUM!

After another scenic bus ride we arrived at our destination, Corvara. This famous ski town is nestled between two mountain passes, the Passo Gardena and Passo Campolongo, and you can only imagine the 360 mountain backdrop. We stayed in the cute Valbona pension, ate pizza, and tried out the bidet.

Verona, Italy

Home of Romeo & Juliet and the third largest Roman amphitheatre in Italy, the Arena, Verona was a perfect locale to start a nine-day Italian sojourn with Charlie. We settled into the sweet Rigoletto bed and breakfast, then explored the city that was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. We walked the old town, ate our first (and certainly not last) gelato, and climbed the roman stairs for a beautiful outlook over the romantic Italian town. On our way back through old town, we found a little meat/cheese shop and picked up Italian salami, prosciutto, two local cheeses (one of which was infused with wine), and a box of red wine. When in Europe, especially in Italy, this is my favorite type of dining experience.

With dinner in hand, we made our way to the Arena for the Aida opera. Being that I am an opera neophyte, I took great pleasure in the romantic storyline, the melancholy songs, and the incredible theatrics (costumes and staging). As the show opened, the lady next to us was crying and it made me realize the emotional impact opera has on some people...it probably helped that she was Italian and could understand the song lyrics. Charlie and I did not cry, rather we bit off chunks of cheese (see video) and drank from the box of red wine while enjoying the lovely sounds of opera bouncing around the ancient arena. It was one of those heavenly travel moments. But, heaven does not last forever…Charlie started dozing off; he became victim to Mr. Jet-lag. Considering there were four intermissions already and it was midnight, we decided to forgo the ending. Our first dreamy night came to an end as we walked back to the B&B.

My Adopted Italiano Famiglia!

In a small town in Northern Italy, Caldogna, there is a sweet Italian family, the Breccas, who live a simple Italian life. I first met them 14 years ago, when my father took us kids on a European adventure. Some of our family friends back in the U.S., the Minch family, rented a house from the Breccas when they lived in Italy. The Minch family encouraged my dad to stop in and meet the Brecca family. We met them with the intention of only staying one day, but our stay quickly turned into three days as the Breccas welcomed us with open arms and homemade pasta.

On this trip, I spent 24 hours with the Brecca family and had another lovely visit. The father has died since I saw them last, but otherwise the family has expanded with more spouses and babies. Luca, who is my age, is the only one who speaks English, otherwise I have learned to communicate with the other family members by means of an Italian dictionary and animated hand and body gestures. Luca visited us a few times in the U.S. and loves America (more than I do!) He owns a BIG red American truck and listens to American rap music. He has a beautiful daughter, Elenora, and is getting married to Miriam in June. Luca and his brother, Diego, own a meat shop of which I was honored to get a full tour of the beautiful (and busy) shop. During my stay, I visited all of the family members...the grandparents, the cousins, and even the spouse's family. It is always funny (and amazing) how the entire extended family is involved with our visits. Grazie Breccas! And, Rosetta...next time I will stay longer for your homemade pasta.

Bologna, Italia: an Important City for European Higher Education

The University of Bologna is the oldest higher education institution in Europe. The date of conception is uncertain, but the historians believe it was founded around 1088. In 1999, Bologna was also the location of the famous meeting whereby 29 European education ministers voluntarily signed the Bologna Process (a higher education reform aimed at harmonizing the European higher education systems). As you can imagine, the word "Bologna" rolls off my tongue often when discussing European higher education and I have looked forward to stepping foot in the place I speak of so often. So, the time had come for me to set my eyes on the famous location that is rich with higher education history.

I flew into Bologna, via Ryanair, and arrived at 11 p.m., I decided to grab a taxi from the bus station since it was late and I did not know the city. However, when I showed the driver the address he proclaimed, "walk" (in Italian and with his two fingers making a walking gesture). I pressed and asked, "Cuanto cost?" (How much?) He said eight euros. NO WAY.

I decided to walk across the street and ask the hotel if it was safe to walk and sure enough he said, "Si!" So, I walked about 10 minutes to the quaint little Holiday Hotel.

The next day I toured the city and the university. The old university, just one small building, is located in the city centre, whereas the newer university buildings are located on the outskirts of town. The old university includes the anatomy theatre which has a huge table located smack in the middle of the room for dissections. There are various wooden sculptures on the ceiling depicting the zodiac and carved heads of professors line the wall (let's hope they are not stuffed heads, after all this room was the dissection room.) The entire medieval building is quite ornate and seeping with the pursuit of academic knowledge. It put a little extra kick in my step.

NEW: Oslo Opera House

Oslo has a new Opera House. My review: very modern, linear, and funky (you can walk on the roof...not sure you would want to do that when it is cold and icy in Oslo). It reminds me of the Sydney Opera House that sits right on the harbour, yet the Oslo Opera House does not have the big pillars jetting into the sky. Here are a few photos...I was lucky enough to get a blue sky day. Ah! And, of course they were selling hot Norwegian waffles at the entrance.

Ryanair: A SCREAMIN’ Deal!

Ryanair is a cheap, no-frills European airline that I have a special love affair with. Yes, the seats are cramped, the bright yellow seat covers are over-the-top, and the “free-seating” makes for long, pushy lines of impatient people. BUT…it is such a frugal way to travel throughout Europe, you cannot help but smile as you deal with an overall lack of customer service and a no-frills flying experience. The way they make their money is by charging high prices for luggage check-in, food on the plane, ground transportation to/from the major cities, and there is a slight possibility the Irish-based airline will begin charging to use the loo, water-closet, bathroom, toilet or whatever you like to call it. During this three-week sojourn around Europe, I am flying Ryanair.

Here is what I paid (including one bag check-in):

Glasgow, Scotland to Oslo, Norway= $36

Oslo, Norway to Bologna, Italy=$28

Venice, Italy to Paris, France= $24

My Dear Oslo…I will be back!

When I arrived in Oslo and hopped on the t-bane subway, I felt like I had come home. The Norwegian chatter, familiar sights, and smell of waffles in the air brought on a feeling of comfort that you only get when you have lived (and connected with) the local culture and surroundings. Having lived in six unique geographic locales, I know what it feels like to connect (or not) with where you live. There is a theory called, "place attachment" which describes the bonding of people to places as an interplay of emotion, cognition, and behavior. Oslo is one of those cities I will always feel attached to; perhaps it is my connection with the university, friends, the amazing hiking trails surrounding the city, the memories, and the active, healthy lifestyle of the Norwegians, or maybe it is all of the above.

Even though it was a quick 3-day trip in Oslo, I managed to get a lot done, both business and pleasure. I gave a presentation to the new students in the Master's programme that I graduated from, as a way to welcome them to the program and give them tips about the 2-year adventure they are about to embark on. I also had a planning (and laughing) meeting with the group I work with on the Hedda blog. Of course, the best part was hanging out with all of my dear friends who still live in Oslo. Friendships always make you feel more connected to a place. Plus, friends feed you well...Kristi treated me like American royalty (if there is such a thing) by making American-style pancakes and mexican food. YUM!

Luckily, I also had one sunny, blue-sky day that allowed for a grand tour of my favorite outdoor spots in Oslo including a boat trip to Bygdoy for some hiking, Vigelands park, and Aker Brygge. I ate a waffle everyday and even bought a waffle iron to help curb my Norwegian waffle obsession. Now off to Italy!

NOTE: The first photo displays my friend, Shane, wearing TIGHT pants. This is the HOT Euro trend for men. To all the American dudes reading this...forget the baggy pants, it is time to go TIGHT!