Category: In This Together

Revelling in Common Experiences

A friend flew in unexpectedly. Over beer we revelled in common experiences, New Zealand, India, Japan, Australia, making the workplace work, Heinekin at Schiphol, openness to opportunities to be in other worlds.

Categorized as Friends

Planning a Trip to Spain with Kids

Our nephews (9 and 10) attend a school where literacy skills are taught in English, but several other subjects, including math and science, are taught in Spanish. It’s a joy to see the boys use their skills. In 2016, they slipped unselfconsciously into Spanish when speaking with a server from Spain in our Edinburgh hotel.…… Continue reading Planning a Trip to Spain with Kids

Travelling with Cultural Baggage

One of the challenges of travel is having to bring myself with me. If the trip is going to be more than passive entertainment, I have to try to erode my preconceived notions, prejudices, blindspots, and cultural programming. This week I felt shock when I first saw the scene pictured at the top of this…… Continue reading Travelling with Cultural Baggage

The Emptiness of Social Media

  In the past couple days there have been over 13,000 views of the above post in my microblog. Thirty-nine strangers have “liked” it. Typically, at this point, there would have been about 100 impressions. My microblog is an exercise in gratitude for something about each day of my life. I use Twitter as the…… Continue reading The Emptiness of Social Media

Love Beats Money

Hearts prevailed as we walked under Interstate 94 in St. Paul’s Union Park neighborhood. Other graffiti expanded the message: (heart symbol) > $

Cuban Art

Explored Cuban art at the Walker Art Center: subtle resistance to the official line; inspiration to resist when our leaders are wrong.

Seven Metal Detectors

There are things I have had to do that I’ve only done because my nephews are part of my life. Changing diapers, geocaching, and metal detecting quickly come to mind.Changing diapers is what it is. The little one does what he has to do, then I do what I have to do. Both jobs done…… Continue reading Seven Metal Detectors