items I jumped on the train (with free internet--awesome!) headed North. Two hours later I transferred trains in Leeuwarden (the capital of Friesland) and a half hour la
ter I was disembarking the train in Sneek. The rain was falling as I walked to meet up with a longtime friend of our family, Corien. Over 20 years ago, our family hosted a beautiful young lady from Holland who was studying at the local universi
ty. She was a great addition to our family and taught us about the Dutch culture and also incited curiosity about life in Europe. In 1995, 
we visited her and her family as my father, sister, and I took a whirlwind tour of Europe. Just recently we reconnected with Corien on Facebook (props to FB!)
the train station, standing above six feet with a welcoming smile. The next two days we reconnected as I met her beautiful baby, Anne and her boyfriend, Nanko. We hung out at cafes, drank wine, ate amazing food, and simply enjoyed catching up and sharing stories of our lives, travels, and family. Corien and I are very similar...we are the middle child (enough said!) and we both possess an adventurous spirit about life, love, and joy. She (and Nanko) love to travel and experience cultural adventures and they intend to do so with Anne in tow. We talked about when we would see each other again and decided that it would be on the dog-sleds in Finland. Woohoo! Corien and Nanko, thank you for a fabulous hospitality.
lingering illness (cough, sore throat, etc.), thus much of my time was spent relaxing and relishing in short walks/outings around the city center.
nections with local people get me jazzed about international travel. For example, I stumbled onto a great Sunday market right in the passageway connecting six apartment buildings where I was staying at Gozsdu apartments (screamin'
deal alert: 39 euro for a one-bedroom apartment in th
e city center--see photo to right). Local artists sold their goods--jewelry, clothes, and handicrafts--as local musicians played their instruments in the courtyards. I met an incredible photographer who was selling prints of his captivating photos. We talked for nearly an hour about his photos, tactics, and love for photography. I think I may come back and take a photography class with him...his black and white photos captured the essence of emotion coupled with nature and environment.
t with a total stranger in a culture so different from your own in a short matter of time, especially when talking about food and life's challenges. By the end of the conversation she was inviting me to spend Christmas with her family in Hungary. Now this is where world peace begins...
Why Budapest? I am representing the North American chapter at the Erasmus Mundus Student and Alumni Association (EMA) Annual General Assembly and this year it is hosted by the Central European University in beautiful Budapest. I love this place. I really do. I think it is just as beautiful a
s Paris, yet in a different and darker way, seeped in war-torn history and incredible architecture, sculptures, a
nd Danube river vistas. This trip, however, was not so much to admire the city as it was to participate in a meeting with fellow colleagues of mine from the European Union sponsored scholarship masters degree program (European's response to the Fulbright program). And, WOW, what a meeting it has been.
..we not only voted on the President and Vice President positions, but also on the restructuring of the steering committee. So, yes...it has been an intense meeting with plenty of politicking, jockeying for position, and heated debates. The European Commission is known to call this organization a mini UN (and I have to agree with this on some level). Over 170 people attend the meeting and they represent the world (literally!) I love feeling apart of something so international. Th
ere were eight of us representing our masters program (see photo). The European Commission hosts the meeting and this year the big dinner was an incredible dinner cruise on the Danube...WOW. The city is even more beautiful at night from the water. So, thank you European Union for the all-expenses-paid trip to the beautiful city of Budapest.
fter waiting for my LOST luggage for three hours, I finally decided to leave the Amsterdam airport with only my carry on luggage and a complimentary KLM toiletry kit. I 
boarded the Zuidtang
ent bus, paid four Euro, and was on my way to the sweet little town of Haarlem. Known as the "little Amsterdam" this city of 150,000 people is about 15 minutes away from Amsterdam. It is the epitome of a quaint European town with a large square, called Grote Markt (Great Market), where 10 streets converge. Little cafes and outdoor seating makes the square come to life and the 16th century Grote Kerk (Great Church) serves as a spectacular backdrop. The Hotel Carillon, where I stayed, is right smack in the middle of the square. A few blocks away from the square you find yourself walking by canals and colorful Dutch architecture, and yes...even a red light district two blocks away from the square.
Europe!" I climbed the narrow steps and entered my small, but comfortable room. The room looked out over the square (see photo to left)...heaven! The one thing I love about European hotels is the breakfast (that is included in the room price)...and this breakfast did not disappoint--muesli, yogurt, fresh bread, jams, Nutella, peanut butter, even sprinkles (for your toast), juice, tea, and fruit.
made quite an entrance as I buzzed what looked like an apartment door. No one answered, so I buzzed again. The Doctor came running to the door (I could hear her footsteps) and opened the door and instructed me that the note (written in Dutch) said that the door was unlocked. Oops. I waited in the reception area and not 5 minutes later she asked me into her office...which was more like a living room with a cot and medical supplies. Her window looked out to the canal (not a bad view for a Doctor's office). She asked about my symptoms (sore throat, achy ears, a bad cough) and continued to check my temperature, throat, ears, and lungs. Then, she said..."I am sorry I can only give you codeine for your cough because it seems your illness is viral and not bacterial." Ugh! All I wanted was some antibiotics to knock this out...and I rarely get to a point when I actually say that (normally I try to go homeopathic first). Off to Budapest...
Beach apartments, I paused and said to Chase, “I am going to take that sign with us.” I left my suitcases at the door as I quickly strolled into the kitchen and peeled the Keep Calm and Carry On sign from the refrigerator door. “We may need this!” I exclaimed. We both gave each other a smirk and a little chuckle as we rolled our material items over the white titled flooring in the corridor. Little did I know just how much I 
was going to need that sign. Yes, another travel adventure! We arrived at Cape Town international airport at 6:37 p.m., plenty of time for approximately 40 students to check in for the 11:35 p.m. flight. (A bit early, if you ask me). The check-in counter was not even open, so we made our way to the self-service kiosks to print out boarding passes. Two students and I received error messages when we scanned our passports. 
No big deal, we will wait for the check-in counter to open at 7:30 p.m. We waited patiently, as I jokingly pulled out my sign and flashed it to all of the students. Once the counters opened, we were the first in the service line. The two students were given boarding passes and I was asked to visit the ticket service counter two rows down. The woman behind the counter explained, “Your ticket was canceled.” I asked why and soon was on the phone with a Delta representative for further explanation. The Delta representative simply stated, “According to our records, you called on May 28 and canceled this leg of your flight.” I was in shock…why would I ever cancel my flight from Cape Town to Europe? Flustered, I firmly stated, “I DID NOT CANCEL MY FLIGHT.” She went on to say that it was my word against the computers word and that I had no recourse with Delta and I would have to take up my claim of fraud with the local authorities. Serious?! At this point, I kept asking…”What can you do for me? I need to get to Amsterdam and I did NOT cancel my flight.” She said that the only option was to fly stand-by on this already oversold flight and that the next flight she could book me on was June 27 (one week later). WTF?! At this point, my mind started reeling…who would cancel my flight? Who has all of my personal flight information? I asked for further clarification on the cancellation procedure and she said that someone with my name and confirmation number could simply cancel my flight. DELTA…come on, get some security measures in place!
At this point in time, I took out my sign as a bunch of students came over to see what the problem was and I explained the predicament. One of the students mother is a Delta executive in reservations and we called her. She said it sounded rather fishy and she would have some of her people research the situation. In the meantime, I was to WAIT, wait, WAIT, wait…to hear if I would get a stand-by seat. It was about 8:30 p.m. and they would know at 10:30 p.m. if I had a seat. Some of the Global LEAD staff was staying in Cape Town for a few more days, so we went to grab a bite to eat, as I continued to take out the sign KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON and look at it to find patience with the situation. At 10 p.m. we received a phone call from the students mother’s assistant saying that they were a
ble to get me a seat. WOOHOO!!! Whoa, not so fast…as I went to the service counter the woman said I had to wait until 10:30 p.m. for the final say. To take my mind off of the situation, of the Global LEAD staff members engaged me in a conversation about the philosophy of religion. At 10:30 p.m. the woman handed me a boarding pass and I was off…through security and passport control and down the escalator to a cheering crowd of students. They all wanted to hear the story, while all I wanted to do was get on that plane and get my ass to Amsterdam.
While I was so thankful to have a seat on the flight, the punches just kept on coming. I got a window seat next to an older couple (who had a hard time getting out and in their seats). I now remember why I NEVER request a window seat. You see…I have a bladder of a small dove that calls for bathroom breaks almost every hour (note: Cape Town to Amsterdam is a 10 hour flight). So, I limited my beverage intake which I know is also NOT a good thing as I have a tendency to get the fat ankle syndrome on long flights. Plus, I felt so claustrophobic. Keep Calm and Carry On! The silver lining of all of this…the couple was lovely company.
Finally when I arrive in Amsterdam (with a HUGE SMILE painted on my face and fat ankles)…no luggage. I know, shocker! After waiting three hours in the baggage
claim area, they sent me on my way without luggage, but they did give me a complimentary toiletry bag with an XXL white shirt and soap. So, here I sit in the sweetest little hotel right in the centrum of “Little Amsterdam” (Haarlem). Life is sweet (and full of adventures). Keep Calm and Carry On!
The end is near...last night was the final dinner (see candid and action photos below) and the first flight of students leave today. I am not sure when I will be back in Cape Town; I suppose that is why I am feeling nostalgic as I write this “Goodbye Cape Town” blog entry. This is my third trip to Cape Town, as I lived i
n Pretoria in 2007, last year I was here with Global LEAD and back again this year. Every time I visit I am amazed by how much I learn about myself and South African history; every visit is rather intense. Of course the Global LEAD (which stands for Leadership, Education, Adventure, and Diplomacy) curriculum facilitates the historical and personal edification, especially when I find myself teaching how to write a personal vision statement, leading discussions on District Six, being a mindful traveler, and the components of service-learning. This year was just as intense as previous visits especially this past week as I have been s
ick with a terrible cough and my North Face fleece went missing as I left it at the final dinner. Yes, while the sickness an
d missing fleece added to the intensity, both are disposable. Education and introspection is not! Thomas Wolfe said, “You can’t go home again.” What did he mean by this? Well, after an international experience you evolve into a more globally conscious person and home becomes different than when you left it. This is exactly why I have a hunger for more international experiences…and the next big one will be in Finland with my superboyfriend-Charlie. Until then, I am headed to Europe for a short adventure in the Netherlands, Budapest, and Brussels.
Goodbye, Cape Town…
Old Biscuit Mill (OBM), 375 Albert Street in Woodstock, is one of my favorite spots in Cape 
Town. It is extra special because it is only open for five hours every Saturday, so if you miss it one week you must wait an entire week to get your OBM fix. This year I did not miss a Saturday, even when I was in grading hell...I made time for OBM. You may be asking what is so great about OBM? Let me tell you...im
agine about 150 small vendors selling the best food (most of it organic) in one small little area with epic views of Table Mountain dancing in the background. It makes your senses come alive as you smell the sweetness of crepes and the savory goodness of eggs 
benedict cooking.
landaise sauce)
lla and banana crepe was his speciality
Even though Oprah proclaimed Charly’s Bakery as her favorite bakery in Cape Town, not everyone agrees. Linda, our guide NEVER visits Charly’s Bakery because she (and others) believes that the bakery owners have disrespected the historical sacredness of such a building. The building used to be a Je
wish bookshop in District Six and now the building has been colorfully painted with the lettering “Charly’s Bakery” in bright pink. Although we did stop in for a sweet treat and some quiche, it was not as great as Oprah proclaims, maybe because I agree with Linda; I question the owner’s empathy of building a business (and mostly painting a historical building with brightly colored objects and letters) in a fragile area where historical buildings become part of the healing process (or not).
