Category Archives: Uncategorized

Of course, I’m excited to return to China.  There will be new students to prepare for, old students to welcome back, Luzhou neighbors and shop keepers to say “hi” to, stories to share with those who are interested in listening … Continue reading →

August 14, a week from today, it’s back to China to start up the new school year along the Yangtze at Luzhou Vocational and Technical College.  Where did this month in the States go?! Obviously, very fast. Marked Off the List … Continue reading →

Note: The below entry is an article I thought I’d send to my hometown paper about my visit to Chicago with my mom.  An abridged version has been sent to the Chicago Tribune editor, thanking the city for a memorable 4 … Continue reading →

Views have certainly changed, from along the Yangtze River (above) to my mom’s lovely flower garden in Marshall, IL. I returned to my American small town last Tuesday to spend a month of my summer vacation time back in the … Continue reading →

The Big Snow of Last Weekend With the prediction of snow last weekend, Saturday had our local Walmart teaming with people loading up on supplies.  Then it was a matter of waiting for the flakes to fall, which started at … Continue reading →

Our record subzero temperatures in the Midwest had my mom and me staying indoors as much as possible during the past few days. Even Lao-lao (Old-old), our China Chi rescue, hunkered down in his doggie bed, hoping we’d forget about … Continue reading →

Today is President’s Day, quite an appropriate time to address last week’s send-off for my father, a politically-minded individual and strong advocate of the American right to vote. As the only Civics teacher in our  high school, who taught a … Continue reading →

After my last post, there have been a few days of silence on my end. My father died on Friday morning in the hospital as my mom, brother and I were driving over to meet with the discharge planner about … Continue reading →

Fragrant evergreen, scented candles, sticks of cinnamon, spiced cider – these are the smells I associate with Christmas. But in my apartment here in China, at least for the past 3 weeks, it’s the aroma of one thing and one … Continue reading →

On Friday morning, in the nasty drizzling rain, I was quickly heading off to my 3rd year (senior students) class. It was nearing 10 a.m. and I was thinking, “Will anyone even be in class? Today is our job fair!” … Continue reading →