Athena - On to South Africa

Coming from a very small, homogeneous town amidst the forests of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I knew there was a vast world I must explore. After spending a year in France/Switzerland at age 16, an intense desire to learn about as many cultures as I can emerged.

Now, as I am about to finish my doctoral degree in International Education, my passion is to learn about as much of the world as I can. I can honestly say that I learn more from the diverse people I meet than they do from me. I hope to take what these amazing people teach me to each of their countries so that I can be an 'educated' tourist and learn even more about their cultures through respect and a deep desire to have the true local experience at each place I visit.

So, here I go, continuing my explorations. Now, with modern technology, you can explore with me, learn about the unfamiliar, and open your mind to new places and new approaches to life.

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Joined on: December 6th 2005
Last Login: July 7th 2009

Blog Entries: 21
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Blogs & Travel Journals

by Athena, order by Date newest first.

By Athena
April 17th 2008

Language, Literacy, and Bugs... Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Soweto

4th Graders
Mdelwa-hlongwane School

Wow, today's excursions were very eye-opening. First, we visited the Mdelwa-hlongwane school in Soweto where 100% of the students are black (even though integration is 'accepted' now) and these students are primarily Zulu. After lunch, we visited The Molento Project, in downtown Johannesburg, which is a literacy and language organization, and then we had a group dinner at an excellent South African restaurant. MDELWA-HLONGWANE SCHOOL As soon as we arrived at the school, we were greeted by the principle and she took us on a tour of the school. I cannot quite describe the hospitality and [View Full Entry]

By Athena
April 16th 2008

Demographics, History, and Humility Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Soweto

Downtown Johannesburg

04-18-2008: Sorry all, behind already on these entries - had a problem at the hotel in Johannesburg with the internet connection. In a very ritzy hotel in Cape Town now and with a strong internet connection... Will try to catch up tonight, if not - will catch up tomorrow! 04-16-2008: This program is great (People to People Citizens Ambassadors) - they do a great job of informing us about the history and culture of South Africa before they send us out to talk to government officials and school administrators. They are definitely making sure we are going into this experienced, informed, [View Full Entry]

Zulu Kids in front of the Hector Pieterson Museum

Memorial Wall in front of school where Hector Pieterson was killed

By Athena
April 15th 2008

Arrived Safely... Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg

Hey All - I made it! It was a long plane ride, but luckily we stopped at Dakkar ,Senegal for a bit and had a chance to wander inside the plane and stretch. When we were about to take off again, the airline attendants sprayed the plane (while we were in it) to sanitize it for airborn illnesses. The claim that it was totally safe, that made us all real comfortable... As most of you know, I am terrified of flying, but thanks to xanax and ambienCR, I slept the whole way. Good thing is that I am not jet lagged [View Full Entry]

By Athena
April 14th 2008

Detour to NYC North America » United States » New York » New York » Manhattan

Miss Liberty
Much further away than I expected to be.

I took a little detour to New York to visit my friend Tekau and so I could see Rent on Broadway before it is gone forever on June 1. If there is any show I have ever wanted to see it is Rent, so I got my chance3! I also bought a poster with all the cast's signatures. I just went to FedEx and sent it back to myself in Michigan so it doesn't get damaged - then, it's going in a frame and right up on the wall! I"m so excited I was finally able to see Rent on Broadway. [View Full Entry]

By Athena
March 21st 2008

Going to South Africa! North America » United States » Michigan » Lansing

Counting down to my next international adventure. I have been invited on a professional delegation to South Africa where we will be learning about their education system and how the evolution of their social system (pre- and post-apartheid) has influenced access to primary, secondar, and tertiary education as well as how the evolution of societal values has influenced the values and approaches to education. This is another dream come true trip for me, so one of my major goals is to share it with you. I'll be in S. Africa from April 14th through the 23rd, so stay tuned for another [View Full Entry]

By Athena
January 8th 2006

I'm Home!!!!!! North America » United States » California » Los Angeles » Pasadena

One of the Buddhas at Wat Pho

19 hours of travel, and only 3 hours lost! On the way to Thailand, even though we travelled 22 hours to get there, we arrived 2 days later, losing a whole day. The way back to California, we left Bangkok at 8am and arrived in Los Angeles at noon! Now, I just hope I can stay up the whole day to try not to have to deal with the jet lag. I am so thankful that I have had the chance to experience such an amazing adventure. As those of you who know me are aware, I am pretty obsessed with [View Full Entry]

By Athena
January 7th 2006

One Night In Bangkok... literally! Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok

Bangkok Skyline

Only one night left, and since Christine and I are flying out at 8am tomorrow morning, we really don't have the whole night. We have to be at the airport tomorrow morning by at least 5am, and the airport is minimum an hour from our hotel, so we are going to have to get up at 3am! I am considering not even going to bed tonight. That way I will be exhausted on the plane and not worry so much about the bumps. In other words, I won't be such a baby during turbulence :) Anyway, I must say, the best [View Full Entry]

By Athena
January 6th 2006

Buses, Trains, and Automobiles Asia » Thailand » North-West Thailand » Chiang Mai

Partying on the Night Train
That should be the title to a hit song...

The trek back to Bangkok begins - luckily we had a few hours in Chiang Mai to get a break between modes of transportation. First, we took those trucks with seats in the back to the bus station in Chiang Rai, then hopped on a MUCH tamer bus back to Chiang Mai. No pukers this time - yeah!!!! :-) We had 4 hours in Chiang Mai to do whatever we wanted - and of course, I took that time to back up my digital photos on a disk and get a massage! I went to the same woman who massaged me [View Full Entry]

Christine is such a bad influence on the kids...

By Athena
January 5th 2006

The Golden Triangle - 3 countries in less than 30 minutes!!!!! Asia » Burma

Gateway to the Golden Triangle

Ah, waking up to the sounds of the bustling of city streets - and no roosters!!!!! To top the morning off, we found a Mexican restaurant and had burritos for breakfast! Believe it or not, they were very good, and not too different to what we find in California. The adventure for today - the Goldent Triangle. This is where Myanmar (Burma), Laos, and Thailand all meet together, separated only by the Mekong River and its branches. The first thing we did was get dropped off at the Myanmar border. We had to pay an entrance fee of $5 to get [View Full Entry]

By Athena
January 4th 2006

No More Roosters!!! Asia » Thailand » North-West Thailand » Chiang Rai

Damn Rooster!

OK, can't take the roosters anymore. There are thousands of them, I swear, all over the hills. They don't even wait until the sun comes up to crow! And once they start, they never stop! Thousands of them, crowing, for hours! Needless to say, between the hard, bamboo floor and obnoxious roosters, I am going to be SO happy tonight when I have a real bed to sleep in, and oh yeah -- a REAL HOT SHOWER!!!!!!! Don't take this the wrong way, I have thoroughly enjoyed the trek and would do it again anytime I had the chance, but NO [View Full Entry]

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Athena - On to South Africa

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