My flight arrived at Phx Sky Harbor Airport on Thursday afternoon. Glad to be home, I headed for the sky train to the long term parking structure, grateful that I did not have to wait for checked luggage. I exited the security area and made a beeline for the train, but stopped short when I heard a group of men leading a group singing patriotic songs and holding flags.  I joined the group, standing with my hand over my heart and singing proudly. I learned that they were The Patriot Guard

Lessons from Ireland 10.          In contrast to the northeastern areas of Ireland, the much of the southwest is forested.  There are not only deciduous trees and inordinately large pine trees with the biggest pine cones I have ever found, but in Glengarriff there are palm trees! 9.            Sunshine! The sun shone brightly every day for the first 9 days of our trip! I am the only person I know to get sunburned in Ireland. 8.            Lads. In my previous experience the term lads

photo credit Michael Bonocore If I didn’t know my age and had to guess, I would have been shocked to discover I am turning fifty in a few months. I usually still feel like the teenaged girl who couldn’t seem to get her poop in a pile without stepping in it … Or at least that would have been true a month ago. But that was BEFORE... BEFORE an allergic reaction to my typhoid vaccine sent me to the hospital, more closely resembling a blowfish than a human;  BEFORE I was released to travel only

Guilty - This Traveler’s Confession I used to believe that I did not take for granted the blessings of being an American citizen or the freedom that came at a price for so many. I think I held as much appreciation as one, with only limited knowledge of the alternative, possibly can. I am still processing, still experiencing reverse culture shock, still trying to acclimate to re-entry to my previous life. It is difficult for me to express thoughts and feelings into words. The word of the moment

10 Things that Surprised me About Traveling in Asia 10- squat toilets aren't too bad... Usually. But byop! 9 - for being a population of generally tiny people they sure do towels right - much bigger than American hotels 8 - chopsticks... learn to use them or starve. I can now eat soup with chopsticks. 7 - the terms "mild" and "not spicy" evidently do not translate in Thai. 6 - it is frightening how lax some countries are about airport security. 5 - they do not, however, mess around when it

Culture Shock I thought I was prepared for culture shock... but I suppose that is impossible... or it wouldn't be a shock. Arriving in Chiang Mai Thailand was sensory overload. The lights, sights, voices I could not understand, smells of wonderful food, smells that I had never before smelled and hoped I never would again, and the constant whirring of passing motorbikes had me standing in wide-eyed bewilderment at first. It didn't take me long to figure out how to communicate, cross the street

My experience at COSA has … challenged me, grown me, broken me, lifted me and enriched me. I have been student, teacher, giver, receiver, ... nurturer and nurtured. I am amazed at the changes I have seen in these girls. I arrived at the Baan Yuu Suk Shelter to meet shy girls who giggled nervously and did not want their picture taken. They were especially stand-offish with the 4 men in our group but were still very formal and polite with all of us… "Hello my name is _____. It is very nice to

As a culture, the Thai are gracious, happy, gentle people. Seriously, the only exception that I have encountered was a customs agent who was not at all amused that I did not have a return ticket, specific plans, a Thai telephone contact and thought I made up a phony hotel name. He was insistent that there is no such hotel in his city and wanted proof. My phone does not work here and I had been forced to check my backpack, with my itinerary folder, on the short flight from Hong Kong to Chiang

COSA I am forever changed - fundamentally and irrevocably changed. To fully explain would require that I coin new terms. No current word seems sufficient. Sitting on the edge of the porch, back propped against the post, I am at a loss for words… Actually I am just at a loss. My soul has grown in ways that catch me by surprise, but already aches with the loss which I know is inevitable. COSA, Children’s Organization of Southeast Asia, is the NGO where we are volunteering. Mickey, the founder of