Question:  What do four Americans, a Taiwanese manicurist, an Aussie comedienne, a Tanzanian priest, a Mexican housewife, and an unfortunately named Austrian woman known as “Irmgaard” have in common? Answer: Not much. There we were, though, on the first day of language school.  Last week I was in Paris attending classes at the Alliance Francaise.  […]

It goes without saying that Paris is unique.  Yes, it’s beautiful, and special, and oh so French, but so are lots of other places.  Paris is different because of its melancholy nature.  The gray skies and stone buildings combine with the people- sullen looking men and women who have mastered the look of perpetual annoyance, […]

Recently it was announced that US Airways, the Charlotte, North Carolina based airline was going to merge with American Airways.  It’s been many years since I had flown on US Airways, and I was aware of its long history of financial problems.  It had declared bankruptcy, but managed to hold on.  The first time I […]

This is the first of a series of articles about the transformative power of traveling.  No one really knows the impact a trip is going to have on their lives.  It can be a restorative escape, educational, or thought provoking – often all at the same time.  Sometimes the experiences a person has while traveling, […]

Movie awards season is upon us once again.  This year I was struck by the diversity of the contenders for Best Picture as determined by the Academy.  The films take place in a rich universe.  Two films represent the Middle East (and it’s turmoil), two show 19th Century America, and others deal with France, India, […]

I’ve traveled to a lot of places.  Most of them, due to my being an American, were places that I certainly didn’t speak the language.  I’ve gotten by with the help of hand gestures and pantomime skills.  I don’t want to brag here, but I’m good.  Very good.  I’ve taught class to group of Russian […]

It occurred to me this week that it was 20 years ago that I first traveled to Paris.  It was 1992, and I was a bit leery when I arrived.  This was long before the big “clean up” of the city to celebrate the year 2000.  It was before laws were passed that every building’s […]

The holidays are over and I survived.  This year seemed to be busier than most.  There were of course the normal family dramas, the stresses of finding just the right gifts, and the food, good Lord, the food.  This year also came with lots of traveling for me over the last few weeks.  I made […]