First To Go Abroad

When I was in college I always dreamed of studying abroad, but I just didn't think I could make it work. I had a full course-load every semester, a job, an apartment, and so many other responsibilities--how could I possibly put it all on hold to travel the uncharted path?

 

Now that I'm a mentor to other first-generation college students, it's important to me to help them realize just how possible it is to achieve each and every one of their goals. If travel is a dream, it can become a reality.  

This May I had the honor of co-leading a trip to the Dominican Republic for 15 students who are not only the first in their families to attend college, but the first to study abroad. 

Whether I was delivering a lecture on global social justice atop the Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración or standing back while my students drew their own conclusions on the subject matter they encountered, I was constantly reminded just how valuable and transformative world travel can be.   

We spent a good deal of time in the classroom learning about the cultural and political histories of the Dominican Republic, but we got to experience the treasures of the island too.  

Here the students are at a Dominican Batey (or sugar workers' town) where they learned about the working and living conditions of the Haitian migrant laborers and their families.  

They loved planting fruit trees with the community. 

This cross sits atop Santo Cerro and represents the gift that Queen Isabella gave to Christopher Columbus as he set sail across the Atlantic. 

Fort La Conception, erected by Columbus shortly after his arrival on the island, was the site of a historical battle between the Taíno natives and Columbus' Spanish soldiers and indigenous allies. 

 

This monument to the Mirabal sisters--Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa--honors three brave women who gave their lives fighting against the dictator Rafael Trujillo. 

One of Trujillo's mansions is now a government sponsored coffee plantation that supplies local growers. I couldn't have been happier standing in between these rows and rows of baby coffee plants. ( :

On our last day on the island we made a trip to Playa Ensenada. This was the clearest, warmest, most beautiful water I have ever been in!

Our polished toes got a natural pedicure in the fine white sand.

The snorkeling was amazing! 

This little island is really a sandbank surrounded by a coral reef in the middle of the ocean! The water was only waste deep and surrounded on all sides by deep blue sea. 

Even from the shore you could smell the wood-burning fires in these beach huts cooking the fresh catch of the day...

 

...like these little guys!

And of course I had to bring my favorite travel buddy. Traveling Teddy became a kind of mascot with my students. They just loved his story. Here's one of my students photographing me photographing Teddy. 

And here's our world traveling bear on his latest adventure to Santiago, Republica Dominicana. 

 

This may have been a life-changing trip for my students, but it truly was for me as well. Travel stretches you as a person, reconnects your senses with the world around you, and reminds you that you're part of something so much bigger than yourself.

~ Nel ~

Note: All of the photographs in this post were taken by my 

wonderfully inspiring students who are the 

First To Go Abroad. 

I Made It!

I completed my first year of teaching!

I was hired as an elementary teacher the day before school started.  

I accepted the job, packed up my life, and moved hours away from my beloved home (but the area is closer to family now). 

Each day, I worked hard and gave my very best effort.

Each month, it became a little easier. 

This school year has been a challenging one, but I have grown so much as a teacher and an individual.

One of the most important things I've learned is that I love my job!
 

I'm proud that I have successfully completed my first year of teaching, and grateful for the support I have received from family, colleagues, and friends.
  

I look forward to not only a summer of rest and rejuvenation, 

but years to come of teaching and inspiring children to love learning.

~Jess

Mount Tallac

Husband and son climbed Mount Tallac last week above Lake Tahoe, and it was about a 9 hour hike.  It was very challenging, but they summited this beautiful mountain.

(mountain photos by husband)

Here's the progress
of my roses.
They're coming
along nicely.

I'm out there all

the time pruning, weeding,

and loving every

minute of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a peaceful

Sunday.

 

 

~Sheri



The Tea Kettle Still Sings

I am a collector of tea cups and saucers, and when I come across a pretty or unique one, I can't resist.  When I was looking at this tea cup in the store, I noticed another lady admiring it also.  She put it in her cart along with about five other different ones.  She said she was buying them for a baby shower.  What a cute idea I thought.  So, after browsing through all the different tea cups, I ended up getting this.

oooo, brownies are done!

 

 

Would you like an

adventure now,

or shall we have our

tea first?

~Peter Pan

 

Remember the tea kettle-

it is always up to

its neck in hot water,

yet it still sings.
~Unknown

 

 

Oh, if you like

my tea cup, I found

it at Home Goods.  ;~)

 

~Sheri 

Love is in the Air

I have some exciting news to share with you all...

This weekend my boyfriend proposed to me!!!

We have been together for over 11 years, 

and now we are engaged to be married!

He is the love of my life, 

and I couldn't be more happy.

    

~Jess

Here Comes The Sun

Many people have this perception of California that the sun is always shining.  We get the rain, the wind, and the snow just like everyone else, but when the sun comes out, it's so pretty.  It's getting warmer here every day, and I'm glad to be living in the place that's called "sunny California."

song by the Beatles.

 

 

 

 

The rose shown in the
pictures above
was picked from my
garden.
 

 

I hope the sun is

shining where you live
today.
 

~Sheri

Favorite Portrait

As you know, Jess, Nel, and I love to take pictures, and we love looking at wonderful pictures as well.  I'd like to share with you our favorite well-known portraits, and each one is special in its own way.

We'll start with my favorite portrait, Afghan Girl.  The first time I saw this picture was on the cover of National Geographic, and it was taken by Steve McCurry.  Her name is Sharbat Gula at around 12 years old.  I do believe she's the loveliest young girl I've ever seen.  I remember taking a few moments and really observing it.  Her eyes, her face......this is an exceptional picture, in my opinion.

Jess loves this picture, American Girl In Italy.  I can see why it's her favorite because I like it also.  It was taken by Ruth Orkin, and it's such an interesting picture that I notice something different every time.  Jess actually has this picture hanging up in her home.  Every time I visit her, I see it in her living room and smile.

This Norman Rockwell painting, Golden Rule, speaks to Nel in so many ways.  The special words written on the picture really says it all.

Do you have a

favorite portrait that

you want to share?

 

~Sheri