What a ride it has been...

It is good that I will spend the holidays here with family and friends. Repatriation is an issue for the most seasoned of expats, there are predictable stages and emotions. Return is wrought in catching up with all that occurred during absence and attempting (slowly I’m told is best) to integrate my learning into what was once familiar. I anticipate re-entry from a distance, tentatively viewing from afar wondering aloud how it will be. In the meantime there are finals to be written, grades to be calculated, people to bid farewell to, and holiday shopping to attend to.

Our days are numbered in single digits now. This past week was filled with student presentations. We also had the pleasure of live readings from students in the memoir class – incredible, talented writers. My colleague, Rosemary, says among the students in her class at least 4 are professional level writers ready for publishing. How wonderful for Rosemary, in her last semester of teaching, to work with such capable students. She is touched beyond words by their courage to articulate the depth of their lives. I am honoured beyond words that this was my life for the Fall 2007 term. Thank you for all your postings and encouraging emails during my travels.

Happy Holidays!

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

#1: Sagrada Familia

#2: Barceloneta

#3: Dunkin donuts: one of several at metro stations

#4: School children watching the Barcelona afternoon light

Down, down, down...

It is the most opportune time for something like this to happen. On Friday not only did the Internet go down but our entire server system (I know my tech friends are smiling at my word choice here) crashed as well. Students who chose not to take advantage of our final travel weekend in order to get a solid start on end-of-semester research projects did not have the luxury of access at the house. Instead they were encouraged to go to free wi-fi access points. Fortunately the Dalkeith Public Library is one of these places. However, from what I was able to infer from the number of complaints many of the students in my classes never left the house. Choosing instead to sleep late, watch movies, assemble puzzles, play Twister, etc. In a way it is interesting to witness the lost sense this generation has when access requires effort. What fills that space is more interactive activities with one another versus the endless Facebook, AIM, Skype type activities with others overseas. From an observation perspective the dynamics are intriguing. Last night Bob & Moe built a fire, had students baking cookies, there were chestnuts roasting on the open fire (are you humming yet), students were in the dining area doing homework, chatting with each other, playing cards, and seemingly enjoying our community.

However my main concern on this Monday morning is quality work for these projects. Students are learning about contingency planning, putting forth an unexpected type of effort in order to deliver a quality piece of work later this week. I offer assistance to my students in a question that sounds something like this: “How can I help you make this project one of the best you have ever done?” We discuss how my expectations remain the same despite the technology issue. They get it, they do not argue the point…some even say aloud “we can handle it, we’ll do fine”.

Today Dalkeith Library contained a great mix of locals and students each discovering parts about the other. While I was there an elderly woman entered aided by her walker and her 20 lb beagle in the lead. She chatted with library staff, who obviously knew her. Every time someone would approach the desk to ask a question of the staff the beagle barked and growled. I had to suppress my laughter. Would a scene like this ever play out in a library in the States? I highly doubt it.

Anyway, this is what greeted me when I arrived home from my travel weekend in Barcelona which, by the way, was incredible. Kathleen and I are well suited for travel together. We have similar interests, preferences, and we appreciate a day that is loosely structured.

A few of the MANY highlights and musings:
Sagrada Familia took my breath away
Barceloneta gave it back
Holiday buzz with markets and decorated streets was plentiful
Catalonia is filled with passion as evidenced by the thousands gathered for a protest Saturday evening
Art is EVERYWHERE…Picasso, Miro, Gaudi
Light in this fine city captures moments and moods
When you forget the address of the hotel you meet interesting and helpful Catalans
The Chocolate Museum was no big deal, the chocolate shop in Barri Gotic was
Sangria and Kava are heavenly
Directions to a “great burger & kava” shop in Barceloneta made us laugh
The children’s book “Everyone Poops” would hold unique meaning in this city
Sunshine feels nice when all you’ve seen is grey sky of late

I will return to Barcelona, what my musician friends Scuffletown refer to as “more than a place…it is a state of mind”.

Finished...not yet

Learning collaboratively in relationship with others comes easy here at Dalkeith House. We are approaching our last few weeks of classes and the ready to be finished emotions are prevalent with all. However there is one final extended travel weekend. We are talking with each other about trips, bookings, and frustrations because UK based websites are not US credit card friendly.

In the beginning of the program our conversations were tentative, now these same conversations are full out. For example Angela asked me if my brother Andy travelled to Istanbul. Students know of my brother, the expat who lives in London, because he has been here on two different occasions. The last being our holiday weekend and he danced with us at the Ceildh. So Angela emails Andy about Istanbul and Andy emails Angela back. I am travelling to Barcelona and wonder aloud where a Spanish phrase book might be, students tell me it would not be of much use because of the lisp spoken in “Barthelona” with the Castilian emphasis. Ok, how does one get by…”you just do” they say. You see we are all teachers and learners at the same time.

THIS is what I love about being here. The sharing of information, the interest we have in each others lives, and experiences. We talk about our days, it resembles some sort of instant meal. Add water and mix. I will miss the ease in which we have come to know each other. Mostly I will miss our ways of learning. Photos are being taken, memory books put together, all the symbols that say to the world the fall 2007 Dalkeith crew was one of the best. Aren’t they all!

"Anyway" by Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable,
illogical, and self- centered;Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you
of having selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win
some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people
may cheat you;Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone
could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
others may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will
often forget tomorrow; Do it anywyay.

Give the world the best you have, and
it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway...

rain, rain, go away...come again some other day

My wish for Scotland seems to go unheard of late. Rain has been a constant companion this weekend. When there has been a break in the intensity I’ve stolen a half hour to exercise outside. This morning it is “blowin’ like stink” (one of my favourite sailing terms)...wind & horizontal rain. I am inclined to stay cocooned inside after class, comfortably wrap myself in a blanket to prepare for this week of classes, however I also need to “fetch some messages” in town. Although it’s a non holiday week here in Scotland we in the Wisconsin in Scotland program are celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday complete with a Celidh (Scottish dancing) in the evening. It is a sort of mixed bag of American and Scottish traditions. Similar to what would be happening in America I have company coming to celebrate. In fact many of us do. Family and friends will be here on Wednesday evening and although every bone in my body wishes we didn’t have classes on Thursday I have a full day of work before the celebration begins. There are things to be done in preparation for company. So I will need to muster the courage and brave the elements later today.

Funny...how I pride myself on adaptability and yet when the weather shifts my reluctance to go outside is nibbling away. Scots deal – this is not an excuse to be inside rather it is part of their lives. One simply has different clothing on days like this. I recall my friend Dennis saying when he and Kathleen moved to abroad, “if we stay inside when it rains we will never see Ireland”.

Another reason for my reluctance to be out in the middle of it is my need for quiet reflection. My father is undergoing cardiac procedures today and I am feeling very far away from it all. We are hopeful for positive outcomes and that he will feel better once healing has occurred. Hope is powerful...a true celebration of Thanksgiving is being planned in East Greenbush, New York.

Caledonia and Paris

When Mindy asked, “Where in Europe would you like to meet?” Paris was the obvious choice. Mindy lived in Paris as an expatriate in the 1990’s and speaks French. What better way to see the city than through her eyes. So it was in Terminal 2 at the Charles de Gaulle airport that we met up on Friday. My rock star tour of Paris began on the incredibly efficient rail system. I should say it’s efficient when there is not a transport strike. Speaking with a local yesterday made me realize how dependent Parisian’s are regarding access to public transportation. A Swiss national, he exclaimed “ I just don’t get it…they’re paid well by European standards…the French just get tired and pay them whatever they ask for.” We saw the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, Avenue des Champs-Elysees, ate a yummy Nutella & banana crepe for sustenance, trekked to her old neighbourhood in arrondissement # 16, then finally a bottle of wine and cheese. Whew and that all happened before dinner – which in Europe is later than I am accustomed to. Reservations were for 9:00 pm. A walk by the Seine River and seeing Notre Dame at night were spectacular after our very filling meal.

Visiting the Musse du Louvre was special as I appreciated the architecture of this incredible edifice. Mona Lisa was present in all her calm glory with thousands surrounding her taking pictures. Amazing after all these years how popular she continues to be. A little retail therapy with Anne and I was ready to be toes up for a bit. My 4:30 am cab ride Sunday morning was prompt. I found myself reflecting on all that happened during those precious days and felt tremendous gratitude for my friendship with Mindy and Anne.

As usual, arrival back at the “house” was heart warming. I was exhausted and needed a bit of a nap before I plunged into work for the week. We put on a wonderful Caledonian (a Latin word denoting Scotland) Dinner complete with a recitation of a famous Robert Burns poem honouring Haggis, piping, etc. All that pomp and circumstance made me eager for a Robert Burns dinner in the Twin Cities upon my return. I thought of my brother in law, Jimmy, who recounted his experience with a Robert Burns dinner. Apparently he painstakingly translated the “Ode to Haggis” into Cantonese and assisted in the celebration with some Scottish co-workers. I suspect traditional Scottish is a wee bit difficult to translate into Cantonese.

All faculty have been busy today preparing for classes this week. It seems like the semester end is around the corner and time is increasingly precious. There is levity in the house tonight as I write this, students are chatting and laughing – my colleague Rich mentioned that we’re obviously not giving them enough work to do. Perhaps…and I think for the most part they are a great group of fun loving, dedicated students, who have settled into their routines. Levity on Monday evening is a luxury that we can all afford!

A letter to my mother

Dear Mom,

My blog gives the false impression that all I do is travel. When I review my postings I can understand how one could arrive at that conclusion. So I offer evidence in the form of photos of textbooks, my classroom, and my office. I am working, contrary to your conversation with Andy last week.

My work week begins on Sunday when I typically work several hours in preparation for classes the next week. All courses are new preps for me which means a fair amount of advanced reading and designing classroom activities. Although new preps require extra effort, there is something exciting about designing learning opportunities for students. For example, students in my classes are involved in service learning projects outside the classroom. Many are working at local schools, churches, café’s, and parks in an effort to give back to the community where we live. They seem to enjoy this level of cultural immersion and I eagerly await their end-of-semester reflections on learning.

Thursday afternoon is my last class of the week and I am blessed with a group of students who never cease to amuse me – they are funny, engaged, and willing to put forth effort in learning about Human Resource Management. For the first time ever, I have a classroom of students who express excitement over a semester end project.

So rest assured your daughter is delightfully engaged in meaningful work here in Scotland. Oh, yeah and this weekend I’m off to Paris to spend 48 hours with friends Mindy & Anne. You see my motto is “work hard, play harder”. Although tiring it is a noble pursuit.

Your loving daughter,
Kathy

for those of you who don’t know my NY family refers to me as “Kathy”

Fall Break Photos

Photo #1: Oban on a sunny morning

Photo #2: The Plockton Rail Station

Photo #3: John in Inverness - River Walk

Photo #4: These boots are made for walkin' (On the ferry ride to Mull)

From Plockton to Aberdeen

One of the many benefits to my teaching assignment here in the Wisconsin in Scotland program is a Fall Break. Much like Spring break back on my home campus, it is a glorious week begging to be exploited. John and I chose to explore Scotland via rail. Loosely structured is typical of our preference for travel and a rail pass allowed us the freedom of traveling where we wanted via rail or bus. Unfortunately I was dealing with some sort of flu bug which semi-limited our activities. However we were never too far from a Boots pharmacy which proved invaluable in obtaining the right concoctions of medicine. As an aside, in my 20 years of traveling with this man, we always seem to spend time in pharmacies throughout the world. I think it’s the frustrated physician syndrome. This time our purpose was a little different than usual.

Places visited included Glasgow, Oban, Mull, Ft. William, Inverness, Plockton, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Edinburgh. Despite daily rain (in Oban gale force winds plus driving rain – Sierra Design rainwear is NOT waterproof) we managed to hike and explore all towns. We loved Inverness, a city in the Highlands, with a lovely river and islands that were fun to explore. We had the best seafood here and enjoyed the restaurants. Our B&B was expertly run and beautifully appointed for a fraction of the cost of other lodging locations.

Plockton is a lovely seaside village with a small population and the best Cullen Skink (a sort of fish potato stew) I have ever tasted. Freshly baked fruit scones with a wee bit of jam and double cream provided the fuel for our hill walking that rainy day. The only ones on the rail platform for the 5:00 pm train with strong cold winds, we sang every Christmas tune we knew. To say we were happy to see the train is an understatement. I practically hugged the conductor when we boarded.

The following day we took the train to Aberdeen, Scotland’s 3rd largest city. The culture shock of how one can be in two totally distinct places in 24 hours was remarkable. Aberdeen was moving to a perceptible beat, loads of people in this busy port city. Oil is the big name in this town and since the 1970’s the North Sea has provided a huge harvest for our petroleum appetites. We enjoyed museums, art, and a piano concert in Cowdry Hall.

Although John and I travel frequently it is often for business purposes or to spend time with our families. Time together exploring a new place was very special. When John left this morning I experienced what my colleague Rich refers to as heart sickness (as opposed to homesickness). I am reminded that my partner in life is truly my soul mate.

Above a few photos capturing vacation moments.

Photos of Friends and Dublin

Sometimes pictures capture the funniest things - take a look at Kathleen & Dennis waiting for the Luas train - honestly I didn't plan it but the animal makes it appear as if the shot was intentional. Picture #2 is Trinity College, #3 is the Luas train, and #4 a view of Dublin with Christ Church in the background.

Dublin City

In the 1980’s I spent a good portion of a summer studying and researching in Dublin. A geography professor from the University of Northern Colorado, Kevin C. Kearns, was a prolific writer of all that was Irish. An opportunity to research craftsmen of Dublin seemed too good for an undergrad to pass up. Now over 20 years later I return for a weekend visit. Friends Dennis and Kathleen Deery from Wisconsin are living in the Smithfield neighbourhood, where I interviewed and photographed ferriers so long ago. Surprisingly Smithfield still holds the monthly horse fair. Funny how circles complete themselves.

Kathleen and Dennis are defining their expat lifestyle in this metropolis. Compared to year one in the lovely seaside village of Tramore, Dublin is a shift. Their urban dwelling is a 500 square foot flat that housed three of us in a cozy sort of way. I admire their adaptability and appreciate their friendship.

We explored much that I remembered some was familiar some was not. Bewley’s café looks to be in the same location and the Shelbourne Hotel bordering St. Stephen’s Green was lovely on this warm Friday morning. Today Dublin is a thriving city with crane tops denoting economic growth. Double the size of Edinburgh, Dublin is filled with an energy that is vastly different from the incessant panhandling I remember. There is an energy that was palpable Friday evening when we strolled close to the River Liffey in hopes of a good dinner. A bowl of Japanese buckwheat noodles was the perfect way to bring closure to my Friday evening. Saturday afternoon Dennis and I went to Howth and hiked around a bit while Kathleen prepared yummy tid bits for a party that evening. I was warmly welcomed into Alan & Bre’s lovely refurbished Georgian home.

Although I am appreciative of the rapid nature of air travel, I felt challenged this morning navigating the Ryanair ticket counter. I was asked to step out of line only to get into another and pay the UK departure tax, then back into the original line to obtain my boarding pass. She said it was fine to come to the “top of the que” once I obtained my receipt. Even with Ryanair permission, I felt odd walking to the head of the line. Fortunately there was a young guy in the front that understood and graciously let me go ahead. Three busses, one train, and one plane are all that it took to make the trek back to Dalkeith today. Now tucked into Room #116, I am happy to lounge a bit, anticipating mid-term examinations and John’s arrival on Friday.

Sense of place

I have good intentions of walking daily in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which is challenging given the frequency potatoes are available as part of our diet here at the House. It is not uncommon to have macaroni & cheese, garlic bread, and chips at one meal. I know “poor me” having most meals prepared and all I need to do is have my red plastic tray out to receive the daily meal. It is communal living at its finest. Henry “our chef” is a character. A rough and tumble sort of chap, always trying to engage the students with a hearty “You al’right?” to which an appropriate response would be “Fit to hellish”. He badgers them with comments about their hangovers, late evening romps, etc. Although it may be somewhat accurate of a few students it is not characteristic of the majority. Many have commented that this group is a serious, committed, socially conscious one. In fact this past Thursday afternoon the majority spent time clearing portions of the Esk River of debris. Piles of bicycles, toys, prams, etc were dredged out of the river. Several garbage bags full of trash were also collected. They did this as a gesture of taking care of our home. I am proud of these students, their spirit and sense of place. Walking over the bridge that crosses the Esk I could see more debris that looked buried in the silt. It is an ongoing issue, flagrant disregard for the beauty of place.

My thoughts as I walked out of the grounds today and up the road to Woodburn were related to the American way of travel – we are dependent on our automobile for what we do on a daily basis. Here my primary mode of transport is on foot and public bus. So where I go to do errands (“fetch messages” as the Scots would say) has an element of pre-planning. Walking and riding the bus require me to ask questions I normally wouldn’t think about in the US: What do I need? Where will I get it? How heavy is it? Will it fit in my recyclable Tesco bag or backpack? I suspect friends who live in large cities and do not have a personal vehicle are faced with similar questions. I like having to reconsider ways of meeting needs and exploring. My travels are limited; I do not have the means to explore far and wide on a daily basis. However I find ways to create a sense of adventure on these daily jaunts. There is always something new to see and experience.

These past 2 weeks contained family interactions – some wonderfully anticipated, some unexpected. Niece Jane and her beau James departed yesterday after some r & r at the house prior to finishing music gigs in London. They seemed to enjoy all that the grounds offered, mentioning it’s the most rested they’ve felt since arriving in the UK. I am happy that Jane has someone in her life that loves her dearly, is a gifted musician in his own right, and a happy employee of Qualcomm working on cutting edge abstract software development. I learned about the continuum of abstract and pedestrian software to a point of being duly impressed. Their plans to relocate to San Francisco are exciting although they recognize the effort of re-establishing careers and connections will be challenging.

Today is a beautifully warm and sunny with a stiff breeze. Although much work waits, I hope to get out and enjoy the day.

Music, pubs, and Andy's family of friends

This past weekend, fondly referred to in our academic calendar as a travel weekend, I spent in London. For those who do not know, my youngest brother (Andy) lives in the Notting Hill neighbourhood in this urban Mecca of 11 million.

I was rather late in booking travel and found airfare more economical than rail. Although I love the relaxed pace and experience of rail, I am mindful of my expenditures. Easy Jet is one of the many discount airlines operating in Europe and their blaze orange colour is easy to spot in busy airports such as Gatwick.

Andy was thoughtful in providing me with instructions for bus #52 from Victoria station. If all worked according to plan I would disembark within a few blocks of his flat. Directions in hand, I boarded the bus only to find that Ladbroke Road is a huge thoroughfare through London. Unlike my first experience in Dalkeith, I got off the bus early, a little too early. After many mobile phone calls, walking instructions, and circling each other around several blocks we found our way to each other. I spent the better part of Thursday walking around this lovely neighbourhood. Holland Park is delightful. We met up at King’s Cross early evening and walked to the venue hosting Jane Lui’s first gig in London. My niece has her second cd out and is currently doing some gigs here. Her performance brought the house down (exclaimed her totally biased aunt).

Friday I walked the Portobello market and enjoyed exploring the stalls and vendors. Friday evening we met up with several of Andy’s friends and trotted off to hear Sun Volt at the Lumminaire in the Kilburn area. A venue that packed several hundred of us into a space that was made for less. I was pleasantly surprised by how polite people were as they walked to the bar to fetch a pint, stand to listen to a set, or chat with their neighbour.

Saturday was a day spent eating breakfast at the Greek café in Andy’s old neighbourhood. Hugs from the owners when they realised I was part of Andy’s family. We were joined by friends Shephali, Andy, Pat, Jen and their pug Mini. A few games of pool at a local pub, then off to Sean & Lorraine’s for the England rugby tournament where we met several more couples and babies Lucca and Dillon. It was nice to be in a home and more importantly England won. A surprise to all.

Yet another pub to meet up with Pat, Jen and pug Mini. I am reminded how often pubs are used as gathering places for friends. As an older sister I am of course concerned by the frequentness of imbibing and wonder how Andy and friends seem to manage their high flying careers (many are venture capitalists, marketing, & business development professionals).

We ordered Thai food to be delivered Saturday evening and enjoyed a seemingly mellow evening chatting and enjoying each others company. I am fortunate to have a fulfilling relationship with my brother. My heart is warmed knowing he has people in his life who love and support him.

I am now back at work in full swing. Ready for the week that lies ahead. Niece Jane will be here for a few days – she is in need of a break from her concerts and Dalkeith will be the perfect resting spot. Provided there is heat in her room…and the weather remains relatively warm.

Siblings

This past week John has been here visiting. It is beyond words trying to describe how incredibly uplifting it was to be together here in Scotland at Dalkeith. To affirm after 20 years of togetherness that we fit nicely into each others lives is an understatement. Aside from reconnecting the other reason the Chiang, Welch, Lui crew travelled to Scotland was for golf. That’s the fearless foursome at the 18th hole on the New Course of St. Andrews after a day of gale force cold wind. The other pictures capture the essence of brother sister relationships. We are fortunate indeed!

Pictures...

Visuals typically enhance the stories of people places and things. So this blog posting will have several along with brief commentary. I must begin with the day students arrived. Take a look at the expressions on their faces! They are piped in by Mr. Frank Orr who has been greeting our WIS students for over 20 years. Complete with uniform after he finishes he provides a salute for all. It is very touching to witness.

The Scots love their dogs – this is Cameron, ranger here at Dalkeith grounds with his 3 dogs. One he refers to as a “subterranean” canine – the golden literally swims underwater to pick up rocks. Cameron travels everywhere with his 3 dogs. The palace grounds number over 1500 acres and people are here constantly walking their dogs. Many have three. The pet cemetery at Edinburgh castle is more testament to the affinity for dogs.

Communal Living

Living in our palace, castle, house (all terms are used to describe our home for the semester) with 40 other folks with ages ranging from 18 – 60 is interesting, sometimes fascinating, and presently frustrating. I have some sort of flu bug that is rampant in the house. It is rumoured that this bug came attached to one of the many student travellers and we’re all reeling from coughing, sinusitis, fever (mild for some not so for others), and limited sleep. It has taken many of us by surprise without access to whatever remedies we normally keep in our arsenal. The interesting part of this experience is the shared medicine closet – literally there is this 6’ x 4’ closet housing loads of toiletries and meds that folks from previous sessions have left for use. We are all making due and getting better. Thankfully this is a short lived nuisance.

Part of our responsibility living here is “duty”. Not the Adam Sandler definition, but duty in the sense of taking care of our environment. All faculty and staff share breakfast and weekend duty and I am 10 minutes away from handing in my duty tools – namely a mobile phone and the keys to the kingdom. Not all has gone smoothly this week. You see I’m not very mechanical and I’ve managed to break a key off in a lock, run an industrial dishwasher without the plug, remove an overheated toaster from the kitchen before the Dalkeith Fire Department had to respond, and on Thursday I failed to forward the mobile phone number resulting in the previous duty holder getting all the calls. I’m sure he launched some choice sentiments my way. In essence I am living and learning a new organizational culture. It is an interesting reflection and filled with stories to share with students in my courses.

In the time it has taken to write this blog post I am now officially off duty! YPEE!

Courage

A hike with students to Arthur’s Seat on Saturday proved to be challenging and exhilarating. A warm day, a bit of a breeze, and 30 hearty souls attempting the climb. It’s one of those hikes I refer to as “unfair” partly because it starts with an immediate incline. Although the path is well travelled it is steep and for those of us working on increasing our fitness level – a bit slow going. There are a series of summits – the first of which comes on rather quickly. Thinking that we made it only to discover the true summit is “over there”. As one of the staff that participated, my hike started out with a curious request from a student; “Can I walk up there barefoot?”. “I wouldn’t advise it, why are you asking?” Apparently her $50 pair of Vans – oh so cool “kicks”- were creating blisters. Since we had the same shoe size, we switched shoes and she scampered off in my “oh so practical” kicks and I trudged up in the very cool Vans. I made it and I attribute it to the Van Factor. When I figure out how to load pictures I’ll post the famous photo as proof that Arthur’s Seat can be done in a pair of Vans.

However I digress a bit from the title of this posting. Joe is a student who, like many of us, has a phobia. Unlike many of us his was visible during our hike. His fear of heights was raging that day. Those of you who know this hike understand how challenging it can be for one who is free of this phobia. Apparently, Joe was inspired by Bob’s words "my senses are on fire" to be exact, a well told story of taking risks. Joe chose wisely and safely – he hiked with another staff member. It wasn’t pretty and there was some ridicule, but he did it. I am beginning to believe this is part of the magic here…people like Joe taking on the world and in a small way proving to himself that he is able to do “it” . We all have our “it” that we fear, avoid, or nibble around the edges, but Joe took it on. I will forever remember him clutching the top of the Summit...a true display of courage.

Lessons' Learned

Week one in Scotland has been filled with experiences. I have successfully navigated the #3 Lothian bus that travels from Dalkeith to Edinburgh several times now. In fact the other day as I was listening to my I-Pod on a return trip I felt this was the ultimate in familiarity. As if to say to the world; “I know where I am going, I can listen to my favorite tunes and get off at the right stop”.

A few lessons learned this week: be careful about mobile phone charges…somehow I blew through $40 in 5 days. Although I pride myself on not being a slave to my mobile phone, my once or twice daily calls to the US to say good morning and good night to John added up way too quickly. Local Scotland calls are 30p/minute using Vodaphone…so this week will be spent downloading Skype and locating a plug in microphone so John and I can talk at our leisure. The number of wine and cheese parties hosted here at Dalkeith House should count as dinner – they are not to be confused as a mere appetizer. Haggis is actually ok in small amounts – with crackers and red wine it is fairly tasty. Grocery shopping at Tesco should last no more than 30 minutes when Bob Hendricks has graciously offered to drive faculty there and wait patiently while we stock up on our favorite foods. Five liters of water is heavy and can only be carried short distances without risk of shoulder or arm injury. Fireworks (celebrating the end of the Edinburgh Festival) are fun to view from a hill with a whole lot of Scots actually enjoying the American repertoire live on someone’s car radio. Scots tell the same ‘ole tired lawyer jokes as Americans do.

Work began in earnest with an all day Faculty meeting. We learned about classroom assignments, schedules, expectations, and became more familiar with staff histories and preferences. I am fortunate to work with these colleagues as they are student focused and ready to engage in learning both personal and professional. I value their insight and respect as we begin to grapple with personal preferences, issues, and concerns. We are a committed group.

The “House” changes with each new person or group of persons who arrive. Routines shift, conversations broaden, and there are more folks pushing and pulling doors figuring out their ways. We eagerly await the arrival of students on Thursday!

Boots on the ground

My first 48 hours in Scotland have been a blend of giddy tiredness and downright awe! My arrival Sunday evening (after uneventful, on time, smooth flights – thank you NWA) was greeted with warm welcomes from the staff. We then had a cook out, Wisconsin style, complete with sausages (ok, not brats…but sort of) and kebabs. We enjoyed being outside in the warm evening sun. Yes, Scotland has been a bit on the warm side. A make shift fire pit with logs and we were set for s’mores (Scottish style complete with chocolate covered digestives and pink marshmallows). Conversation contained personal stories of experiences in the Program. They were wonderful to listen to as a newcomer to this communal place of living and learning.

My friend, Julia, says every trip needs a quest…so Monday was filled with the nuances of getting settled. A bus trip into Edinburgh for mobile phone needs, bus pass, etc. The Fringe & Festivals are winding down however they were still offering free walking tours. John Thompson was a wonderful story teller as he guided 7 hearty souls down the Royal Mile for 2 hours pointing out nuances of Scottish history, architecture, and culture. Although I was eager to take more in my body was dog tired. Back on the bus for the trek back to Dalkeith. Unfortunately I did not recognize the appropriate bus stop and when I asked the driver which stop was closest to the Palace grounds, he rolled his eyes and said: “Are you from Wisconsin?”, to which I proudly proclaimed, ‘Why yes I am”. He proceeded to tell me how far I had to walk back…2 miles later I entered the grounds happy to be “home”. I got the sense he was anticipating that question as the entire Dalkeith crew begins to arrive next week.

Tuesday was spent getting my bearings as I was not as proficient as I thought…the number of doors in this building is mind numbing. I am forever pushing when I should be pulling, avoiding passageways when I should be using them, taking the long way around. It has a very comical side to it. As I enter a room, stop immediately and think “no this is not where I want to be” only to find, that if I push/pull another door all is familiar once again. Most importantly I think I have the bus stop situation figured out.

Dalkeith is a lovely town…about the size of Menomonie with triple the amount of retail available. Plenty of grocery stores, cafés, pubs (karaoke seems to be hot in Dalkeith), travel agencies, banks, and municipal services. It’s a quiet environment compared with the Edinburgh hub. I took lunch at the café run by the ladies of St. Nicholas church. Curried parsnip soup and brown bread…the ladies mentioned that they make all items at their homes. So each day has different soup and bakery goodies depending upon who is working.

I have a lovely bedroom, faculty lounge down the hall, and work station in a shared office. I am beginning to get excited about the learning possibilities for students. My learning seems to be ongoing. Tomorrow is a new adventure…

Destinations

The space shuttle landed a day early due to Dean. Air Force 1 is at MSP so George can help Norm. And in 4 days I depart for Scotland. It’s all about planes, destinations, and hopes. I feel as if I’m on the precipice of something grand. Spending the past week with friends, Dennis and Kathleen (and new friend Colette from Ireland) was good on so many levels. They helped me see the enormity of potential, to really take in this opportunity, to explore my back yard in Dalkeith and Edinburgh as well as what lies beyond. At times I am excited beyond words. Gratitude is pervasive as I look towards my final week in Wisconsin spending time with friends, knowing that I embark with their love and support. Grand indeed.

Of hiccups and speed bumps

Speed bumps & hiccups sometimes cause us to slow down a bit. When we anticipate them we can plan for the speed change, apply the brake, slowly approach the bump, and proceed on. However when it comes on a bit unexpectedly it becomes a little more difficult to manage. That’s how it felt 2 days ago when I heard the words “you may need to defer your trip to Scotland”. My professional “fill in” person was threatening to bail and I needed to consider all possible outcomes. After taking a day away from the drama (both real and self created) I came to realize how much Scotland had seeped into my being. Today things look a bit more realistic. My fill in person is back on track and I am back to planning my courses and contacting the UK Embassy (where IS my passport?). Self created drama is a waste of energy and I can go there in a heartbeat. Stopping the chatter and focusing is challenging for me during times of surprise. I suspect there will be more times like these however right now I am happy to be approaching a weekend knowing Scotland IS right around the corner for me.

Scotland

Two months and I am off to Scotland. To say I am excited is an understatement. I think about it ("it" being the trip, the experience, students, sights) at night, in the morning, during the day, in conversations with others. A friend encouraged me to let the enthusiasm flow - to think I wanted to place it in some sort of container until a more appropriate time. While embracing flow I find what that opens up for me is huge. Planning out loud is powerful!