Blogs from Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, North America - page 4

My E2 visa arrived! I just got the call from my recruiter in Seoul. Kai has been great. She's from Good Day Korea. She's answered all my paranoid questions and given me the valuable info I need to be sure I'll be knowledgable about my decision to go and teach in this country. I emailed her tonight with a question about the new law about criminal background checks for foreign teachers wanting the visa. She said it won't go into effect until December but they don't have a date, and I don't need to worry about it. So, the next step... I have to get my passport down to get stamped at the Korean Consulate in Chicago. Shasha said he'd bring me. We might make it an overnight trip and stay at a hotel, and see ... read more

Faith and shopping North America » United States » Michigan » Grand Rapids By Towards the lightJuly 19th 2007Anderson Family We are about to do something that we said that we wouldn’t on this trip. We are going to a Mall. Right across the street from us is, what I thought was a mall, a building. It is a very large building. We asked what it was, if it was the Mall and the desk clerk smiled and said “No, that use to be the Mall. The new one in 2 miles away.” “Oh….” I say, “What is that building now?” I swear to god that this is ... read more

Wow! Only one more week until we are off to Poland! Time has really flown and so has my opportunity to get things done. Having served as a juror last week, I was unable to accomplish anything; I will really have to buckle down this week. Nonetheless, the time to elect a new Pulaski Days' Queen and Court has arrived. The Pulaski Days' Queen and her Court will represent the Polish community of Grand Rapids at the state level. This year's pageant was held at Saint Adalbert's Fraternal Aid Society, also known as Fifth Street Hall. This hall is the oldest of the Polish aid societies in the city and is tightly tied to the Polish Roman Catholic Basilica of Saint Adalbert. I have been out of the loop for a few years, but this ... read more

Sorry about the delay in journaling. Only three weeks remain, and we are off to Poland. Time passes so quickly. I have been busy purchasing items for my trip, as well as cleaning the house in preparation for my friend who will be staying with the "kids" while I am away. Summer is in full bloom and so are the many activities that take place in the park across the street. This past weekend the Kent Base Ball Club hosted their annual Silas K. Pierce Cup Tournament. This is not the "baseball" we are familiar with today. This "base ball" is the base ball of the 1860s: no gloves; no metal bats; no overhand pitches; no balls or strikes; only one umpire; and best of all, no player salaries! In my opinion, the professional sports ... read more

Seeing as how the other Grand Rapids travelblog entries are mostly about traveling to other countries or non-travel stuff, I am taking the liberty to present some of downtown GR's classic cityscape pictures* I took back in 2001. One place I didn't include but should mention are the Fish Ladder, which is the very first hurdle the salmon and steelhead comes across in their journey upstream from Lake Michigan to Lansing (mid-Michigan) to spawn. Other places of interest are the Grand Rapids Children's Museum (LOTS for kids to do), Grand Rapids Public Museum (with an old-fashioned indoor carousel, 3 levels of stuff), Grand Rapids Art Museum (famous works and local), Grand Rapids Symphony (classical and fun concerts, including the popular Lollipop series for young children) and downtown Wealthy Theatre (located next to the Children's Museum). ... read more