Assortment of topics

This is a portion of the Berlin Wall that still stands today. The urban art was really cool to see. This one particularly spoke to me. Thought you guys would like it.

Overall the trip was a fantastic learning experience that was moving on a number of levels. The visit to Auschwitz has made a lasting impression greater than I expected. I chose not to take any pictures as not to make a spectacle of the tragic events that took place there. Some of the things we saw on our tour of Auschwitz are etched in my mind. The guides who take people through the camp are actually trained Psychologists who help people cope with what they are seeing. I can understand why. I have a hard time answering questions about that one, as it was a moving experience.

Alex: 2 things: 1) While I was in Prague, a few locals I saw in the shops thought I was Finnish. They attempted to speak Finnish to me - haha. 2) are you still interested in learning Russian (were you ever interested in learning Russian, or am I making that up?)? - My husband is interested in establishing a conversation partner. Since he rarely gets to use his Russian, he feels he is getting rusty.

Cheyenne: Last week I was browsing YouTube and fond that Super Junior had the most popular video that day. I thought of you! - Hope your summer is going well!

WHEEW! I have much to catch up on in the world of summer blogging fun! I have enjoyed reading each and every one of your posts since I left. I am so proud of all the two of you are accomplishing this summer. You should feel proud as well. There is so much I could write about regarding my Europe experience. Let me start here: do you guys have any questions?

Back!

I am finally settled in from the Europe trip. I have missed blogging and reading your posts! More to follow!

Jimmer!

I am SO excited!!! I was able to get in touch with someone I met while traveling to China. His name is Jimmer, and I believe I have mentioned him before at one of our MMM's. He is very special because he sees the world through a different lens than most people. He has an eye for beauty.
So here's the story. We were on a boat tour of Hang Zhou West Lake. The passengers on the boat were very excited to be touring with some "real American teachers." The younger people were taking pictures together and laughing -- off to the side stood an older woman, just admiring the enthusiasm of the other passengers. Jimmer walked up to this woman and said, "I want to have a picture with YOU!" I took the picture for them, and that woman was so touched that someone wanted a picture with her that she cried. She touched my face and said something (not sure what), but it was a great memory I will always treasure. SHE was beautiful; surely full of wisdom and humility, just like Jimmer. Here is the picture. I think I am going to hang it up in the classroom.

Another Scavenger Hunt!

You guys did such a great job making inferences about the dolls picture -- I thought I'd up the ante. Great for a rainy day, right? I took this picture myself, and I'd like YOU to tell me WHO the statue is! I will check back later tonight and offer a hint if necessary. The first person to figure it out gets... hmmm.... let's see.... the person who figures it out first gets to be the MOST SUPREME MMM THINKER!! Whoever (among the two of you) racks up the most "MOST SUPREME MMM THINKER!!!" titles this summer will be welcomed back to school in August with a pretty substantial prize as well as some serious bragging rights! OOooOO I think this just got interesting! Happy searching!

Speaking of dolls....

In an attempt to pull together a home decor scheme, I have been going through some of my old pictures. I found this fun one that I thought you guys would like. I don't know much about these dolls... other than the fact that this display is located at the Shanghai museum. Maybe I can send my two history henchmen on a bit of a scavenger hunt to fill in some of the blanks on these cute little dolls. Of course, they could just end up being gift shop merchandise....

Klompen!

Wooden Shoes!
This is a picture I took last summer while visiting Marken, a town in the Netherlands. This nice lady gave a demonstration on how these special protective footwear are custom-made to suit the individual. Many see these shoes as a primitive form of footwear, but they are actually quite practical, especially for farmers or other laborers in North Holland. Our guide explained that the wood effectively wicks moisture away from the feet, which is ideal in the Dutch wetlands. The wood-carving process is quite complex -- this definitely sparked my interest... much like Russian Matryoshkas... I don't think I will start up a collection of klompen though! If you want to see some images of sweet little towns, you should look up Volendam and/or Marken.

Surprise!

Whoa! This morning I got to try a Korean doughnut - a great compliment to my morning coffee! Hmmm now I just need to learn how to say thanks in Korean. Wonder if anyone can teach me.

Summer ..... say what now?

Am I in denial that the school year is up? Why yes, yes I am. This has been such a fun and exciting year... hope the next one can stack up.
Let's face it ... is it possible to top the Monday Meetings of the Minds? Doubtful. Okay, this is taking a stressful turn! How about I slow down and think about what to blog about this summer before I worry about next year. Hmmm.... what to blog about..