Visitors

Yeah!!! So, I'm super excited. I have a friend that I worked with in Germany coming to visit for a few weeks. She's coming from England. She's not been to much of the US so she's excited as well. It ought to be fun. She's a sweet girl, too! I'm looking forward to the reunion of sorts! Also, another friend will be in So. Cal. at the same time. She's back from Japan for the summer holiday. She and I were the first grade team. I'm really excited to hang with her for a bit.

It's a mini-reunion. I so needed this. I miss these folks so much! I wish more could come and visit as well! I'm trying to talk two of my other friends to come visit at around the same. One is in LA and the other is in VT. Not sure that it'll work out for them. But it'd be so sweet if it did!

I haven't been able to stop smiling since I got the news that Laura was going to come. She's being a bit spontaneous - her words - and it's going to be great fun!

I don't have the funds to travel this summer, but having people come here...it'll be alright! It'll be almost as if I were traveling! I'll have the British accent in my house for two weeks! How fun is that! :)

Plus she'll celebrate her birthday while in the states!

I'm just so happy about these visitors that I could burst!!! Yippeee!!! I've actually jumped for joy a few times! How crazy is that??!! I've found myself walking around the house and spontaneously jumping up and down and clapping just because I'm uber excited to see these folks! I then think, "my neighbors must think I'm crazy!" But then I think, "Oh well! I don't care!"

Amazing how things work out!

Anywhere in the world - Writer's Workshop

Another Thusday and another Writer's Workshop.

If I could go anywhere in the world....since I was able to see many places in the two years I was in Germany, there aren't too many other places I would like to go. Did you believe that? You shouldn't have!!! I would love to see many of the same place I went to before but I'd also like to go to a few others.

Some of those places I'd love to re-visit are:
Tallinn, Estonia because it was just filled with medieval looks. I loved it.


Another place I would love to re-visit would be Paris....I LOVE PARIS. Paris c'est une tres belle ville! Elle est magnifique!


I'd love to go back to Switzerland. I think going back in the summer would be fun, but I'd love to see it in the winter as well. Here's a shot of a waterfall.

And here's the Mt. I climbed:


And the last place I'd love to re-visit is Ireland. Anywhere there. It's all great After my twelve days of driving through the country, I couldn't get enough of it. Here's the Cliffs of Moher.


Now as for the places that I'd love to visit...I wanna go to Australia. I now have friends living there. It would be great to and travel around down-under in Oz. I wanna see some Kangaroos, which I've heard are just nuisances. Crazy I know.

And I'd love to go to Rome. Denmark, The Netherlands, and Lebanon. You're probably thinking....I can understand Rome, Denmark, and Holland, but...Lebanon? Well, I'm part Lebanese and I've always been curious about that part of my heritage. But that country has been in War for all of my life and I'm not sure that I would feel comfy going there. But I'd love to. I am related to a fairly famous philosopher/writer from there. It'd be cool if I could meet any of the family.

There you have it. My wishes.

Work Makes You Free

So, Auschwitz was very interesting, and disturbing. We walked through the gate that read "Arbeit Macht Frei" which means: Work makes you free. How condescending! These prisoners were forced to walk through those gates to conduct work that never made them free.

We saw a very disturbing amount of hair that had been kept. I learned that a lot of the hair had been used to make blankets and clothes. It was not something I knew about nor really wanted to see. The children were always the saddest. There was a picture of a girl after they had been freed, and she was 14 yrs old, but she looked 60. That brought a wave of saddness on.

When we went to Auschwitz-Birkenau (the second Auschwitz) we saw the train platform that everyone was dropped off at. And the gas chamber - however the gas chambers had been destroyed by the SS Men before they were over-taken by the Soviets.

When we went to look at the barracks that were really horse stables turned into barracks, we saw a gentleman who was with his grandson we believe and a friend. The grandson was videoing him. He ended up having been a survivor. He walked into the barracks and went straight to his old bunk and lay down. It was amazing! He even mentioned that he had been there when he was 8 yrs old to 11 yrs old. I cannot imagine what must go through his mind coming back to this place. It is so unfathomable for those of us so removed from it. I can go through the camp and listen to the tour guide and read the history. But to have lived it, wow! I don't know.

On a brighter note....after our "downer" of a day, we decided we needed to perk up! So, we had a great dinner and then hit a few bars. We were shushed in a bar...stupid people! We're in a bar, and we were asked to be quieter! Can you believe it? We were pissed, needless to say. We then went to a different bar and had a much more fun time....let's just say there were tables and there was dancing....put two and two together!

The city of Krakow, after seeing the history, is very pretty. The main square is lovely. And there is a market that is quite fun to look around at. Here are some final pictures of the city. It definitely helps to see the city after going to Auschwitz. It lets you know that there is good out there and that what happened, although real, didn't stop this town from becoming beautiful!



I would definitely recommend going to Krakow if you ever have the chance!

Weekend away

I am so excited for this weekend. It will be a nice weekend away. Heading to Krakow, Poland. It's not going to be a completely cheerful weekend, as we are going to tour Auschwitz. But it'll be a good weekend to learn and see a bit of history. I know that the tour will be very sobering and sad. I did end up going to Buchanwald at the end of the year, and you could just feel the sadness there. And they didn't use the gas chamber at that camp.

I can and cannot imagine what Auschwitz will be like.

I am ready to look at and hopefully purchase some Polish Pottery. I've seen some for the past few years and they are pretty. It'll be a nice keepsake. Anyway....need to pack, clean, and do all the rest before leaving.

Have a great weekend, and safe travels for anyone heading out of town!

My summer vacation plans (Writing Prompt)

This summer I've planned to go and hit my last "must see" country before I head back to the states or wherever the wind is going to blow me....I'm heading to Ireland.

Now, I don't have my plane ticket yet, but that's only because I'm not exactly sure of the day I want to arrive and all. Plus I have to make hotel reservations and the like.

So, anyway...there is a parent at my school from Ireland who owns a B&B there. I need to speak with her and find out if I can get a room with their establishment before I make too many plans.

But my basic plan at the moment is:

Arrive in Dublin and stay for a few days checking out the city and what it has to offer. Rent a car and drive to the B&B (I think it's in County Cork somewhere) and make that my base for the remainder of my time. Since I'll have a car I can take day trips to Blarney Castle and Kiss the Blarney Stone (it apparently gives one the gift of gab - not sure I need more gab, but what the hell, right? -When in Rome and all...)

There are many things I'd like to see, but having a bit of a relaxing time is also on my mind. I'll have been in End Of The Year Mode at school for quite some time - as it's starting now - and then packing and shipping my things back home (or, again, wherever), and then saying goodbye to the many very dear people that I have met....I'm going to be EXHAUSTED!

At least going to Ireland should bring me some goodness....they speak English (I'll ignore the fact that they also speak Gaelic at the moment) and I'll be able to understand them! I won't have to stare at the lovely folks of Ireland with that I-have-no-idea-what-you-just-said-but-I'll-nod-as-if-I-did-understand look. It'll be bliss...plus I love Irish accents....they're so much fun!

Maybe I'll meet a lovely Irish man who will sweep me off my feet! Or maybe the man I want to travel with will come and meet me there....who knows....

But, the URGENT must see list of mine will be complete after Ireland. I'm excited to see this country. I've wanted to go ever since I found out I had a bit of Irish in my blood. Not enough to really amount to anything (1/16) but all the same, it's something and to be in the land that held some of my ancestors is kind of neat. Wish I knew where they hailed from. But....I don't have that information. I know that they immigrated during the potato famine to the South....that's all....but I'm not sure that it matters all that much. It will be a pleasure to have a chance to visit the country and see the beautiful countryside!