Embracing Reverse Culture Shock in America – 9

Last summer I returned to the States.  The Midwestern oaks, maples and elm trees were in glorious green-leaf flower on streets and surrounding unwalled houses while grass was everywhere. No wonder American money is green!  Most everyone spoke English. I loved the overflow of conversations on airplanes, in stores and while standing in movie lines but I soon tired of eavesdropping after hearing one too many, “He don’t….”  Companies have 1-800 telephone numbers:  free long-distance phone calls to sort out plane reservations or to order products.  Summer school registration with computers was quick and easy. Dormitory living became tolerable.  I … Continue reading Embracing Reverse Culture Shock in America – 9

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: Chicago’s Irish Heritage – 8 March 15, 1990

  For St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green, a leprechaun and green-hats parade down State Street and Michigan Avenue. It will be broadcasted throughout the day while a lot of drinking of green-dyed refreshment accompanies … Continue reading Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: Chicago’s Irish Heritage – 8 March 15, 1990

75-Day Summer Break – 7

    March 8, 1990   Remember planning last year’s summer holiday?  We teachers have the lavish leisure of a 75-day paid summer holiday. But wait!  Like swamp lots sold in Florida or some property in India, such a lengthy holiday may be a golden time to destroy one’s finances and wreck one’s nerves. Staying home in the Gulf isn’t my first choice. My friends leave town and there aren’t any movies playing at wide-screen theatres.  Bicycling, jogging, camping or Hashing don’t seem inviting. One summer I spent a month on the French Riviera. The franc was nine to a … Continue reading 75-Day Summer Break – 7

Embracing Life Over 30: A Journey of Freedom – 5

  I’m an unmarried woman over 30, sometimes happy, sometimes not so happy, just like many of my married friends, but I am always over 30. Magazines periodically interview rich and famous women over 30 who revel in being over 30.  Actually, they are mostly reveling in being rich and famous. A few years ago, having been over 30 for a while, I realized, with a shrug, “Hey, I’m over 30! I don’t have to do that!”  This new viewpoint gave me a freedom that 18, 21 and 27 had never known. I was teaching in America when I applied … Continue reading Embracing Life Over 30: A Journey of Freedom – 5

Navigating New Beginnings in a Foreign Land

Aunt Alice – 1, 1990 “Are you new in town?” people have been asking me. “No, I know where Safeway is, the bank, the hotels and a few friends. I even found a great place for cheeseburgers last week and of course I know where Kentucky Fried Chicken is!  I’m not sure where to buy clothes that will last longer than one wash but my favorite tailor will be returning from Pakistan next month.” “I haven’t seen you before?” they say puzzled.  I’m polite and don’t respond in kind.  I’m delighted they speak English and only throw in a few … Continue reading Navigating New Beginnings in a Foreign Land

To My Jewish Friends

Sorrow tracks history, both yours and mine. Amplified today by politicians and bullies, scapegoating others for their own corruption, inhumanity, and stupidity. All around the world. From my third high-school boyfriend, who came to America in a huge ship, cradled in his former concentration camp mother’s arms accompanied with her former concentration camp husband, 1950, the same year I was born. A later boyfriend never talked of his Jewish family heritage. All I knew in high school was I preferred Jews and Catholics (as I was) because Jewish boys were much smarter than many others. Nor did I inquire of … Continue reading To My Jewish Friends

Free Exotic Travel Story: Chestnuts in an open fire….

https://www.saudiarabiatourismguide.com/madain-saleh/ King’s tomb in Madain Saleh. This fantastic link discusses the Nabatean culture which previously thrived in the area. January 27, 1985 from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Dear Mom and Dad, I finally got to the desert! It was cold and it rained! Princess M. had 15 tents all set up, with electricity too. It was about 45 minutes from town, in sight of the airport. The tents were: men’s eating/women’s eating, kitchen, sleeping tents (with beds and electric lights) washroom tents (in the sand – no flush or portable toilet) and women’s tea tent, very large with one wall open … Continue reading Free Exotic Travel Story: Chestnuts in an open fire….

Healing with Sound & Solfeggio Sounds

The human body, at different ages, runs from 50 up to 70% water. Different organs of the body have different water percentages. The brain, kidneys and lungs are 80% or more composed of water. The eyes are about 90%. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=human+body%2C+how+much+is+water&t=newext&atb=v302-1&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.emedihealth.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F09%2Fdrinking-water-and-the-human-body.jpg Controversy among commentators about how water reacts to human emotions range from vibrational healing to such theories being debunked. However, engineers know that vibrational energy must be calculated into machinery. Who to believe? Around 1970, a college friend asserted that sugar was a deadly white powder. I should avoid it. Fifty years later, many scientists now agree. I studied magic. … Continue reading Healing with Sound & Solfeggio Sounds