Staying Out Of The Bike Lane

Ssst!! The first sound you’ll hear, prior to a bell, if you’re standing in the bike lane. During my European tour, I quickly discovered that bike riders are above pedestrians and vehicles. They always have the right of way.

Traveling with students, some often doubted our warnings to stay out of the lane and had to be reminded. Of course, having someone from our group yell MOVE! prior to impact was probably the better option than getting flipped over a rider's handlebars (though it would have been a sight to see).

Bikes of all natures take to the lanes, at very rapid speeds. Slow riders stick to doing loops around their blocks for riding in the bike lane is not for the faint of heart. Depending on the geographical area, bike lanes may be separate from the vehicle traffic pattern, but on the cramped streets of Paris - they're inches apart. Cobblestones or pavement...have bike, will travel.

I had the impression that there was a certain “gear” for a rider to wear. Not true. Cyclists are some of the most fashionable. Who could forget the business woman with stilettos in Paris or the messenger with fatigues in Germany? Single rider or double…Any bike is styling. I hear there's even a double decker bike...now there's a sight to see!

GRABBED MY SPOON! Eating My Way Through Europe

I’m not a huge fast food fan and prefer a leisurely meal. Of course, my profession does not allow for leisurely anything so while traveling through Europe it was of utmost importance that I stop and enjoy the menu.

Of all the ways to experience a culture, I’m a firm believer of experiencing the new and different by eating. Probably not the healthiest choice, but certainly the most enjoyable learning experience – most of the time with instant gratification. Quickly I am able to see which cultures place care in food preparation and delivery and which care more for ingredients and flavor. Looking back, my eating tour of Europe was a combination of both.

Coming from the land of fast food and faster service, it was eye opening to be offered the opportunity to sit, converse, and savor. No European dining experience I encountered took less than thirty minutes, neither in preparation or consumption. Meals are meant to be treasured, not rushed. I would wager that Europeans have very few cases of heartburn & indigestion.

I wish I could say I experienced a full buffet in each country; however, that would quickly prove false when examining my trip photos. I stuck to the most important delicacy – dessert. From citron sorbet to Belgian waffles, Gallier chocolate to German custard…I lived through dessert. The flavors were strong and potent. Each ingredient had a place and a reason. Desserts served cold or warm, to be eaten by hand or spoon. All were enjoyable. I am a HUGE fan of homemade sorbet served over fresh pears and kiwi (in Paris), a light custard with strawberries (in Germany), and shaved chocolate or sorbet in between two flaky waffles (in Belgium).

This is not to say that I only ate desserts while traveling, what lesson would I be teaching? Dining during the European meal times 7AM, 2PM, 8PM – with the heaviest fare at 2PM – I tried local dishes. Croissants with chocolate, any local vegetables with friches, and museli proved most memorable, but I can’t say that I had a negative dining experience. I truly savored the flavor of each culture.

Depending on the place, I may have had to swim through the crowd to a restaurant or side road stand. If the locals go there – you know it’s GOOD! After letting go of the expectation that servers must provide a check immediately when a meal is finished…and taking a breath…I enjoyed the slow pace and wish I could implement it in my own daily routine.

For in Europe it’s about quality not quantity. Between the food and the walking to get a meal, Europeans are on the right track. Just remember, stick to desserts. :)

Time for an adventure?

Is it time for an adventure? Absolutely! I am going pond hopping...well, only if you count the Atlantic Ocean as a pond. Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemborg...here I come!

I'm packed (light of course) and ready to go!

I've decided to use this space to reflect on all the new and different. You're along for the ride! From new acquaintances to off the beaten path sites, food consumed (the most risky part of the trip) to all the culture that will undoubtedly surround me - you'll be right there too! I'm ready to take a break from the craziness that has been life for the past few weeks. I'll work to reflect as often as necessary. I will not avidly seek out internet cafes, but if one should come up in my travels I may cop a squat and share my journey. If not, then look forward to many ramblings upon my return.

I'm ready to submerse myself and be European (if only for a few weeks). To you I say...Je suis hors d'ici. Pouvons nous marchons sans risque dans les marchepieds des étrangers. (My French is rusty but I hope this says: I'm out of here. May we walk safely in the footsteps of strangers.)

Safe travels one and all.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious...or is it really a new type of education?

How long would it take you to type a favored phrase from Disney's Mary Poppins? Spelling must be correct. Also, you're competing against 199 others for the quickest fingers. Wait...you also have to do it on a mobile phone you may not be familiar with. Without practice and forethought, I doubt I could complete this challenge in less than 20 seconds.

If you're in the same boat as I, then let me be the first to tell you...we've been beaten by a 13 year old who completed the challenge in 15 seconds. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious helped a teen to win $25,000 and nationwide notoriety. Web articles on ABC.com are contradicting with CNN clips on what she actually had to type (whether it was the word, or the word and phrase "just the sound of it is something quite atrocious".)

Why do I bring this up? Well, it's not to make any of us to feel inadequate. I bring it to your attention as a reference, an example of where our children/students are focused.

In a meeting with a challenge course contractor I routinely work with, we had the opportunity to discuss our philosophies on classroom education’s role in learning. In reaction to the competition, he jokingly remarked "I bet she (text competition winner) can't write as fast as her thumbs work on the phone." How true is this statement? Are we providing enough to our students? Though I agree that cell phones should stay out of sight during lectures and classroom instruction, I still believe they have a place in education. I want students to experience the latest technology; however, it cannot be at the expense of information that can provide a foundation for learning. A contradiction, yes, but one I’m willing to work with.

I’m not sure that we’ll reach a point where YNTMWMTDYG (You Need To Meet With Me To Discuss Your Grade) will become part of our everyday lexicon, but I do know our students understand the text language and building upon this may be a great doorway into a learning relationship.

What if we take the skills our students have in texting and use it in the classroom? (with approval of course) Do a survey of the room and have students text in their responses. On the activities side, use texting for SGA elections or have a text competition. It’s important that learning and teachable moments occur every second of every day. Students live it. We see it. The two can meet and survive.

Blogs are proclaiming that competitions like this and television commercials like Cingular’s IDK MY BFF JILL are making us lose our written communication. It’s not lost. It’s evolving, but that’s a topic for another day.



My suggestion to you is…first, try to type supercalifragilisticexpialidocious while timing yourself. Then, sit down with a student and ask them how to do it faster. I’m sure they have a solution. Once you’ve figured that out, ask them to explain why they shorten words to single letters – the answer may surprise you. I wish you luck. IWML 2 KIT. =)

One, two, three SHOOT!

One, two, three SHOOT! Four words that help decision makers all over the world jump into action. Never did I realize how popular the hand game of Rock Paper Scissors has become.



From the board room to the classroom, business partners to bitter enemies are using RPS as a way to assign tasks and make decisions. There are universal signals and it's important to maintain your form. One slip and you could be doing dish duty for a week! (or worse)


According to the World RPS website, there are eight top gambits (advantage gaining maneuvers) that will help any beginner to be a successful RPS champion. As I prepare for my own championship, I want to share those with you: http://www.worldrps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=33


I am by no means an expert at RPS and am often on the losing end. According to the RPS society, there's a "winning when losing" mindset for RPS players. Not sure I agree, but it bears investigating.



Good luck at your next match! Oh..and my paper just beat your rock! =)

A Visionary Traveler

A Visionary Traveler n.
An ambitious person who is willing to traverse this great world to learn and teach.

A Visionary traveler will go off the main roads and experience the culture of the communities he/she visits. Being unafraid to take risks and try new things, a visionary traveler will soak up life like a sponge - creating his/her vision of humanity. A visionary traveler is a connoisseur of delicacies and seeks out personal reflection and spiritual opportunities to improve his/her own impact on the world. A visionary traveler is willing to take others on his/her journey in the hopes of inspiring opportunities for adventure and learning.

I strive to be a visionary traveler.