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!