An International Education Conference in Los Angeles!

After taking the train up the beautiful California coast to LA, it was time to switch gears and put on my conference smile. The Association of International Educators (NAFSA) hosts a colossal annual conference promoting the exchange of students and scholars from the U.S. Even with the economic downturn, a record breaking 7,400 people attended the conference sending a message that international education continues to grow regardless of the economy. Back in March, I was asked to represent Erasmus Mundus, the EU-sponsored two-year Master's program, at the European Commission booth. Coupling my two great passions: Europe and higher education, I could not think of a better way to spend four days (in a nerdy PhD sort-of-way). I talked to international education specialists from around the nation about my Erasmus Mundus experience, the program, higher education in Europe, and I also hosted a poster session based on research from my thesis. Okay, I think my cup is overflowing with lots of good Erasmus Mundus vibes right now. Of course there were a few good educational sessions I attended...and the plenary speaker was Bangladeshi economist and Nobel peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus. My thought after listening to his inspirational talk about microfinance: the American banking system sucks!

The social aspect of my LA visit was just as good! The Denver Nuggets were playing the LA Lakers in the NBA playoffs. Go NUGGETS! My fellow colleagues and I joined the Laker fans and cheered on the Nuggets, even though they experienced an agonizing loss. Argh, we (the Nuggets) lost the playoffs, but we did give the Lakers a run for their money in the first few games.

My trip to LA could not be complete without hanging out with my dear friend from high school, Bridget! We had lost touch over the years, yet this visit made it seem as if no time had passed. We visited many of the LA hot spots, including the Standard rooftop bar complete with a vibrating waterbed pods (no joke!), a panoramic view of downtown LA, and a heated swimming pool. I crawled into bed at 3:58 a.m. and had a poster session at 8:30 a.m. I think it's time to get back to PhD life in Athens...

A Birthday Celebration in San Diego!

A long birthday weekend in San Diego resulted in a few war wounds and of course an omnipresent perma-grin. My little kid brother resides two blocks from Pacific Beach which makes a beach vacation effortless, especially with the beach cruiser bicycles. We celebrated my birthday with many rounds of tequila. A great way to spend time with my brother, celebrate another year of being alive, and realize how old I am when I awoke the next morning with an "adult" hangover. On Saturday, after a lazy morning, we hit up Torrey Pines State Reserve and hiked the coastline. This area is beautiful with eight miles of trails perched high above on rocky cliffs overlooking the unspoiled beaches. We hiked and found a few spots ideal for yoga. Unfortunately, this State Park may be shut down due to the dire California state budget ordeal.









Every Memorial weekend a big group of my brother's friends gather for an annual kick-ball tournament on Sunday. Imagine 40 people (including a few San Diego Chargers--Nate Kaeding) playing kick-ball for 4 hours with the following rules:

1.) Everyone must have a beer in hand when catching the ball in the outfield.

2.) When you run to first base, you must pick up one of the cold beers, pop it open and begin drinking.

3.) The beer, picked up at first base, must be finished before touching home base (there are "coaches" to assist with the beer drinking at third base).

Needless to say, carnage ensued: broken toes (see photo of Bobby's nasty foot...with a broken toe and toe jam...ick!), pulled hamstrings, and lots of laughing.

Off to Los Angeles...

I HEART Boulder, Colorado!

The Boulder valley peacefully cuddled next to the majestic mountains, as I drove down highway 36 . Oh, Boulder! Every time I drive into the Boulder valley a deep-rooted visceral feeling overtakes me...I'm HOME! It seems that this feeling continues to grow stronger with each visit. The flatiron mountains, cafe culture, extreme athletes, active lifestyle, the CU-Boulder campus, and my dear friends all contribute to the adoration I have for Boulder, Colorado. Hence, the reason I refuse to sell my "home" in Boulder. In 2001 (at the height of the housing market) I purchased a town home that officially marked my passage into adulthood (and never ending mortgage payments...) So, every time I visit Colorado I put my tool belt on and get ready for some exhilarating home projects. This trip, my parents and I had the exciting task of fixing a leaky shower head (a 30 minute task that quickly turned into a 4-hour task). Gotta love owning a home!

Here is a photo of a cloudy day in Boulder and my dear friend Mel with baby Hope. One of my favorite things to do when I'm back in Colorado is visit all of my Boulder friends at the Alpine and Broadway strip mall of cafes, which is where both of these photos were shot.

My Bucket List #36: Become a Yoga Instructor...CHECK!

Shoshoni is a yoga ashram nestled high in the Colorado Rocky Mountains at 9,000 feet. When I lived in Boulder, my dear friends and I used to enjoy weekends escapes to Shoshoni for a little yoga, meditation, and mountain hiking. During these weekend retreats, I discovered how to hold my laughter as we all danced around deities (Hindu gods) with offerings (red umbrella, scarf, peacock feathers, etc.) during evening temple. I also discovered that pedicures are essential when doing yoga. And, finally I discovered that yoga is a pretty sweet addition to my life. My love for yoga continued to grow as I practiced with Wendy at Studio Be in Boulder, and Paula at Om Yoga in Finland. Last summer I decided to take the plunge and begin a 200-hour Yoga Alliance yoga teacher certification program at Shoshoni. I just finished up the last 100 hours while I was in Colorado the last few weeks. Dancing around the deities now has special meaning!

Reflections on my FIRST Year of PhD School...

I have written this entry about four times only to delete it to and write it again. I began each former entry by re-hashing the trials and tribulations of my first year of PhD life, and then decided I did not want to live in the past. We have all heard the first year of a PhD program is the hardest. Yes, it was a rough first year. Yes, I questioned living in Georgia. Yes, I spent more time on my computer than what is humanly healthy. Yes, there were times when I wanted to pack up my bags and become a ski bum. But, I am now officially a second-year Doctoral student. Woohoo! That is worthy of a celebration. And, that is exactly what happened at the end of the year...a BBQ (or what the Southerns call a "cook-out") complete with badminton and hula-hoops and a night of margaritas. SEE PHOTOS. Overall, I have learned a great deal about PERSEVERANCE and BALANCE. Suck it up and keep going, while taking the time to do things that fill your heart with love.