Clik here to view.
June Busy-Ness and other things of note
Well, I guess we are INTO June already and I haven’t posted anything for about a week. Time to put down my thoughts as they come to me. This was a VERY busy day, I accomplished quite a bit in the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Heart wrenching news about Ukraine
Difficult to passively sit back and watch the events unfold in Ukraine as they are moving forward. The Ukrainians have taken three steps forward with their newly elected president but several steps...
View ArticleClik here to view.
More info about Astana’s university, THEE university
The following article dated June 20, 2014 and titled “Can a homegrown university in authoritarian Kazakhstan incubate reform?” was given to me by an American friend who used to teach with me in Almaty,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
More Information about THEE university in Kazakstan
The other day I started an article that was written by Joseph Kucera titled “Can a homegrown university in authoritarian Kazakhstan incubate reform?” Only time will tell but it is something to watch...
View ArticleClik here to view.
More Information about THEE university in Astana, Part III
I realize for those who are IN THE KNOW about Kazakhstan, they have probably already read this article and don’t think much of it. However, I think it is a window into what are potential problems that...
View ArticleClik here to view.
World Cup news…and the rest is history
Tonight I discussed with other ladies about the World cup of U.S. versus Belgium. I was among some who think that the sport of soccer is boring, especially when the score is so low, like 1-0. I guess I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
World Cup and Malaysian Airline
I suppose I am your typical American, I did not watch any of the World Cup. I’m not interested in soccer or “football” as it is called elsewhere. I haven’t even watched our own games of baseball so I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Biking around town with a 14 year old nephew
I needed the exercise yesterday. I wanted to make sure that my 14 year old nephew from the Cities experienced our small town from the outside and going in. We had our helmets on and I took the bypass...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Eventful week at the home base
When it rains, it pours…as they say. Actually, we could use some rain because the roads are really dusty and the crops could enjoy more moisture. However, I believe this expression fits my living...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Back again to WRITING…and teaching writing!
It has been a very busy month in August and now I am looking at the end of this month on the calendar and realizing that I have some catch up to do. I have said “yes” to teaching 12 credits of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
First Day back to CLASS!
In about three hours I will be in front of 19 students in my first writing class. Tomorrow I will have FIVE classes back to back and by the end of the week, I will have met most all of my 90 students....
View ArticleClik here to view.
One week down and 15 more to go
I have just finished teaching one week worth of classes to college freshmen. I have six classes and all together almost 90 students. At least they are not the difficult Kazakh names that I had when I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Too much of too many people
Yesterday I met with five of my six classes. I just have ONE class today and I need to fill one hour and 15 minutes with activities to keep the time moving. Their Tuesday and Thursday schedule covers...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Finished FULL week of classes
Yesterday marked the end of the third week of teaching composition I classes to my 85 plus students. The two earlier weeks were only four days long because we started on a Tuesday and then we had Labor...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Back from a GREAT national history conference
I returned from a 3-4 day AALSH conference in St. Paul, Minnesota the other day. Featured as one of the guest speakers was Garrison Keillor. There were 1,035 participants at the conference. Keillor...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Second Keynote speaker – Marilyn Carlson Nelson
I had the privilege of hearing Marilyn Carlson Nelson give her keynote address at the AALSH conference last week. She is proud of being from Minnesota where the MN Historical society is so highly...
View ArticleClik here to view.
So, I want to publish a book on Kazakhstan
I attended a national history conference in St. Paul, Minnesota two weeks ago. These notes are from the seventh out of ten sessions that I attended in three days. I went to this session because I want...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Museums and Teachers Need to Unite
The following is the title of a presentation I took notes on about a month ago: “Collections in the Classroom: Museums and Teachers unite” Currently as an instructor with 85 university students in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Five things to know about human trafficking
As your typical composition teacher, I have the proverbial stack of papers about human trafficking that I need to grade before tomorrow’s classes. Thirty-five for tomorrow and 15 more for Thursday are...
View ArticleClik here to view.
People are Passing Away, Towns are Passing Away
Facebook reported the passing away of an American teaching colleague that I worked with in Almaty and Astana. I am sorry that I don’t know more information about this sad event. I was told by another...
View Article
