ME

If you are reading this blog you probably know me. Maybe you are an old friend, maybe a new one, or maybe someone just told you to follow this crazy lady as she ventures around the world. Whoever you are, welcome to my adventures!

I write like I talk, a lot! And believe me, I have a lot to say! Maybe not all worth reading, but that is your decision. I'm a teacher, always have been and always will be, whether I am teaching children, teaching adults or just exploring the world with a child-like curiousity. I love learning and I love learning about different cultures and people, so when my international travel began just 3 short years ago, my world opened up.

I love my job! I am Curriculum Coordinator at an international charter school. I help plan units and order materials in 4 languages, only one of which I speak-English, and love being immersed in books and cultures. Being at work helps my desire to experience cultures, you can always hear conversations going on in Mandarin, French or Spanish, both with the teachers and students. It is a wonderful place to be!

When I stepped on the plane yesterday out of Denver headed to DC and now on to Rome, I realized that this is the time I become alive! It seems I am more myself when chatting with 'strangers' along the way. I am thrilled with the anticipation of the adventure to come. I've been gone less than 24 hours and have already met interesting people and had interesting conversations and learned a lot!

One of the best opening lines is "Where are you from?" and when I hear an accent in Denver or anywhere that is what I always ask. It is fascinating to hear people's stories. I remember one time on tv there was a show or segment of a show about real people's lives. I found that interesting and that is what I like to do. Hear people's stories.

After writing my blog last night I went to the lobby restaurant here at the airport Marriott. I had already met the 'Olympic' lady on the plane and a very nice flight attendent whose name I got so I could write United to tell them how kind she was. I don't find that the rule on United anymore so it is important to give credit when someone is doing their job well and with a smile. My server had an accent so I asked where he is from and he is from Morocco! I will be right across a bay from there when I am in Gibraltar so I asked him about visiting there. I am quite sure I will not take the ferry over alone but maybe if I meet someone who will go with me I just might do it. He became so animated talking about his country, all the beautiful things to see and do and how I would need at least a week to see it all. He explained the language is really a mix of Arabic, French, Spanish and Italian and he could understand most of those languages but no can understand his! He was so happy talking about his home country that by the time I'd finished my dinner he told me he would fly home to show me around when I was there! A joke of course, but I believe I left him happier than when I first met him. That is something I do like to do, make people feel good. People love to talk about home and I love to learn from the experts! Luckily it was almost 11PM here so the restaurant was empty and he had time to chat with me. I had a club sandwich and it was just perfect as a bedtime dinner and when I left I knew more about Morocco so it was a lovely dinner. And one of the advantages of travelling alone, you meet so many people!

This morning I came into the business center to check email and a man was waiting as I was finishing up. I told him it would just be a minute and when he answered he spoke with an Irish accent. I've learned that I confuse that with Scottish and have learned that I need to be very careful about that. I was pretty sure he was Irish so I asked him and I was right. I told him that I would be in Dublin in a couple of weeks as a one day stop on the cruise. He is from Cork so I did ask if he knew the naturalist who was on the Antarctic cruise, you just never know! He didn't. He was very excited thinking about what I should see. I told him I wanted to see the Book of Kells and he said that was very nice and I should and then I told him I was planning on seeing the Powerscourt Estate and he told me that was a good choice too. He said he knows an excellent restaurant that serves delicious Irish 'fare' near Trinity College where the Book of Kells is. He wrote down the name of that and another for me. He was telling me about the chef there and was so excited talking about it he made me look him up on google. I did and the man has his own show or internet site or something and this man made me write his name down so I could email him and tell him when I will be there so he can have an excellent Irish meal prepared for me. I shared with this unnamed Irish man, no I didn't get his name, that I am working on my business of travel photos turned into greeting cards and I wanted to do a whole line of pics of foods from around the world so a traditional Irish meal would be great for the pics. He told me I needed to email this chef for sure and tell him when I would be there and he is sure he will even let me back in the kitchen to take pictures of the food being prepared! Funny! Who knows, it might be my new career, oh it has already been done by others on the Food Network so I think I'll just stick with pictures for now.

So here I am, less than 24 hours into my trip and I've met interesting people and learned a lot! Christina, my principal, said I collect people, what an interesting concept and I believe she is right!

Well, a thunderstorm just started up here. I hope it passes quickly and my flight can depart on time. I've now got about 4 hours at the airport so I will check my bags and then go to the Smithsonian Air and Space museum at the airport I guess. Or maybe I'll just relax in the United lounge and sleep a bit more. Whatever I do, I will be ready to arrive in Roma and sit at the Trevi fountain eating gelato!

More from there! Ciao mi amigos!