Keeping the Dream Alive at the New York Times Travel Show!

The dancers and violinist swirled around us in a frenzy of bright colors and bows. The Hungarian folk music was infectious. Instantly caught up in their spell, I was clapping and grinning to the buoyant tune.

Around the next corner, we ran into a performance by a troupe of Malaysian dancers. Delicately they gestured and dipped in time, a troupe of colorful goddess-like creatures. It was beautiful to watch.

Down the aisle, we had the pleasure of tasting a peanut brittle like candy from the Dominican Republic. It was addicting and we were soon circling the stand for seconds, thirds, fourths...

Around another corner, a group of Cuban musicians drummed and sang traditional songs near a stand with samples of Vermont's finest cheddar cheese.

Where was I? At times it was hard for me to remember.

There was a wonderful swirl of accents, sounds and flavors in the air!

Held this year at the Jacob Javits Center in New York, the New York Times Travel Show was a spectacular event, featuring the food, song, dance, rhythms and beauty of hundreds of sought after destinations across the globe.

An annual event, the Travel Show brings together artist, crafts-people, travel insiders, airlines, resorts, boutique hotels, spas and tourist bureaus from across the world to feature the best their regions have to offer.

There are prizes and giveaways, but best of all, you have a first hand pass to destination information around the world.

If you love travel, this is the gathering place for you!

Interested in a Gorilla expedition to Rwanda? At the travel show, you have the opportunity to speak with local experts and get ideas for planning your dream trip as well as specific hotel and flight information.

"But I've got a two year old and a baby on the way, they would have to join us, are they allowed on the expedition?"

"No, we don't allow children on the expeditions, but I can tell you about the lodges where babysitters are available."

JACKPOT!

Always wanted to go lobster hunting in Maine? The travel show is the place to speak with Maine experts and learn about the best time to affordably take that trip. Learn where to stay if your also interested in shopping, or bird watching, or sailing, or...

The New York Times Travel Show is the place go to turn your dreams about beautiful places both far away and near into a reality.

The amount of information that I walked away with was wonderful.

The amount of free goodies that I walked away with was exciting.

The number of free trips that I entered to win made me hopeful.

I'm so happy I finally made it!

My advice for my traveling tot....

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3 Tips For Planning Your Next Road Trip

Now that the snow finally appears to be melting, it's time to refresh your senses and take to the road for a quick road trip. The classic road trip is a great way to let go and get lost within the beauty and wonder of your surrounding and neighboring environments.

If you're inspired like I am to get out and explore and take to the road, here are some helpful tips for planning your next road trip:

1) Plan enough time to make regular stops Whether it's Wild Rick's Snake World, the birth place of Abraham Lincoln, or the Grand Canyon, something will catch your attention as you drive so make sure you've allocated enough time in your plans for impromptu stops and mini-explorations.

When I got out in Savannah, Georgia during my last road trip to taste some world famous Pralines, I found myself distracted by the gorgeous cobblestone waterfront. Before I new it, several hours and a hearty meal had passed.  This is what road tripping is all about?

2) Plan your overnight stops in advance

Although it may not seem like a big deal, there's nothing worse than pulling up to a hotel just to be told that there are no vacancies. When it comes to accommodations, it's best to plan in advance.

I try to plan my overnight stays in cities or areas I want to spend time exploring. Overnights can be as fancy as staying at a nice hotel (this is the perfect time to pull out rewards points) or as simple as crashing on someone's couch. I'm a Starwood member and I love using my free hotel points during road trips. It's nice to unwind in a nice hotel after a long day on the road.

There are of course a plethora of lodging options. When I was driving the length of California's coast with a friend in my early twenties, after spending one very dodgy night sleeping in our car at a truck stop (I don't recommend this), we booked two bunks at the Venice beach hostel the second night and spent a good chunk of the day, exploring the beach area. Hostels are a great budget option if you don't mind unwinding with a group of strangers and sharing facilities.

An even more budget friendly accommodation option is Couch Surfing. If you're adventurous, Couch Surfing is free and safe, providing an excellent environment to meet new people, and if you're lucky snag a hot meal or private tour guide.

3) Rent a car

For longer trips, it's usually a good idea to rent a car so you don't run yours into the ground. All of those accumulated miles will damage a car quickly. Besides, it's fun to try out new car varieties as a renter. Always wanted to test drive a Range Rover? Rent one for the weekend. Do you drive a small sedan but want more room for your road trip? Rent a van or SUV (just beware of the increased gas costs) and travel in comfortable style. If you're traveling with a group, you may even want to rent an RV.

For rentals, I like to use Hertz. They've got locations all over the country and their rates are really reasonable.

So there you have it, whether to a big city destination, the secluded mountains or the calming ocean, there's no time like the present to take to the open road!

Lavender Deodorant Powder

Conventional deodorants can be harsh, irritating and can contain questionable chemicals (yikes- why am I putting aluminum near my lymph nodes?). Here's a recipe that is gentle and effective, perfect for those with sensitive skin, pregnant or nursing moms, adolescents, or those looking for a healthier chemical free alternative.

Here's what you'll need:

1 Tablespoon Corn Starch

1 Tablespoon Bentonite Clay

2 Tablespoons Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Dried Lavender Flowers (crushed to a fine powder)

This is what you should do: Combine your corn starch, lavender and baking soda in a wooden, glass or ceramic container (metal deactivates the properties of bentonite). Using a plastic or wooden spoon (not metal), add the bentonite clay. Make sure the mixture is fully blended. Store in a cool dry place and use as needed. I like to fill a muslin tea sachet with the deodorant powder, so that it can be applied easily. A powder puff, cotton balls or your fingers work just as well for application.

Now you have it, a simple deodorant that is gentle, effective, and free of harsh and irritating chemicals.

Super Quick Green Smoothie

Now that I'm preggers and am hopping on the subway in the morning sans coffee (okay, I cheat every once in a while), I've found an energizing and delicious substitute.

I've got to admit, I always liked the idea of smoothies, but didn't like all of the prep-work and cleaning-up afterwords, so I pretty much avoided making them because it took too much effort.

This recipe, I'm proud to guarantee, will take no longer than brewing a cup of coffee.

Not only is this smoothie packed full of anti-oxidants, fiber, iron, calcium, potassium and Omega 3's, it's energizing (thanks to the chia) and delicious.

Here's what you'll need:

1 banana

1 cup spinach

1 tablespoon ground chia seed

1 tablespoon ground flax seed

1 teaspoon cod liver oil

cinnamon (just a sprinkle)

1 1/2 cups orange juice or orange juice blend (my favorite is orange, strawberry, banana)

Here's what to do:

1) Throw everything into your blender.

2) Blend. If you have a smoothie setting, now's the time to use it.

3) Pour and enjoy

* To clean up quickly, I immediately rinse my blender, add hot water and dish soap, press blend for a few seconds. Rub a sponge along the inside (after the blades have stopped spinning- of course), rinse and I'm ready for tomorrows smoothie!

So quick, so easy, so healthy and so very delicious!

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Modern Art Lives in the Bronx!

So, what is there to do in the Bronx? Good question.

The Bronx is one of those New York City boroughs that exists as a mystery to many. Barring Yankee Stadium, The Botanical Gardens and the Bronx Zoo...what is there to do? Art, good restaurants, charming neighborhoods, stunning landmarks- the Bronx just doesn't have a reputation for these things. Most tourists don't venture this far north, many New Yorkers don't either. So what's there?

I don't have an answer. The Bronx is an enigma. Despite commuting an hour and a half each way Monday through Friday to work, I know little about the area. I literally hop off the train, walk five blocks to work and then reverse.

So I've decided to challenge myself to step outside of my Brooklyn/Manhattan comfort zone. For the next few weeks, I'm going to take the time to explore the Bronx.

My first stop- The Bronx Museum of the Arts

Located on the gritty Grand Concourse, the Bronx Museum of the Arts is a small contemporary art museum rooted in the Bronx community where it is located. Founded in 1971, the museum attracts both international and local visitors and has a steady rotation of exhibits on display alongside the museums extensive (over 1,000 items) permanent collection.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts

1040 Grand Concourse

Bronx, New York 10456

FREE ADMISSION!

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Ring in Chinese New Year at Congee Villiage

It was an uncharacteristically warm afternoon for New York. Gliding effortlessly into Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge, the sun was high, illuminating the water in glimmering patches of silver. We were on our way to Chinatown to see the Chinese New Year parade in honor of 2014- the majestic Year of the Horse.

Along the narrow cobblestone streets of Chinatown, barricades had already been set up, a small crowd had taken its place, giving the drab, snow and ice coated streets a burst of color.

With twenty minutes until showtime, we would have just enough time to park and slip into a place along the parade route...only there were no parking spots- not a single one. For thirty minutes, we circled Chinatown and the Lower East Side. There wasn't a single available spot. Even the parking garages were full to capacity (what?!?).

In the distance we heard the drums signaling the beginning of the parade. We could make out a colorful red dragon undulating its way down the street. Our wheels spun over the icy street.

On the sidewalks, children skipped and yelled, popping cherry bombs against buildings and sidewalks. Shops were closed, gates down with signs in Mandarin or Cantonese and English announcing : Happy New Year- Closed!

"At least we can grab some food!" Mark, always in the mood for Chinese food suggested. It was clear the parade wasn't happening.

So, instead of making our way towards the music and colorful floats, we made our way down Bowery towards Congee Village.

Known for serving up authentic Cantonese food, Congee Village is an award winning restaurant that is heralded by foodies. Bizarre Food's Andrew Zimmerman himself isn't opposed to the occasional visit.

After miraculously securing a parking spot almost directly in front of the restaurant, we were ready to re-claim the day of the horse. If there wasn't going to be parading, then there would most certainly be eating- lots of it.

Though mainly written (I believe in Cantonese), there are some English subtitles to help you navigate the menu.

We settled on fried vegetarian dumplings, two chicken dishes and vegetable lo mein.

The food was delicious!

We didn't need so much as an ounce of sauce as everything was seasoned and flavorful. The lo mein noodles were light and flat, the vegetables fresh and sauteed to a vibrant glossy green crisp. The chicken was tender and arrived pretty much in tact.  It was such a far cry from your typical Chinese take-out experience where the vegetables are soggy and microwaved, the noodles gummy and heavy and the chicken gristly, gray, and covered in a thick starchy sauce.

It was a great meal!

Fully sated and invigorated by our taste journey to China, we accepted the fact that we missed the parade, because we had gotten much more than a quick glimpse of China, we had an authentic and delicious taste.

Congee Village

207 Bowery New York, NY 10002

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Blue Potato Garlic Stew with a Medicinal Twist

Last weekend I found myself hacking away, nursing a sore throat while trying to keep my head above the ever growing pile of tissues that began to surround me. I had a cold that would later turn into bronchitis, my third one this winter (I blame my nursery school attending two year old, the people with the hacking coughs that always somehow sit next to me on the subway, this extreme weather, and my pregnant immune system). Anyway, I was craving a creamy soup, something rich and buttery, something cheesy and satisfying, but with my sore throat, phlegm cough and runny nose, that would only deepen my misery. So I decided to have the next best thing and set to creating a recipe that would soothe my cravings.

What did I create....

Blue Potato Garlic Stew with a Medicinal Twist!

The recipe is thick and creamy, but has no dairy (which aggravates colds).

Here's what you need:

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 Teaspoon White Vinegar

3-5 Cloves of Garlic

1/2 Red Onion

2 Cups mini Blue potatoes (I personally love mini blue potatoes, but I must admit, any color will do)

2 Cups Vegetable Broth

1 Teaspoon Turmeric

1 Teaspoon Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

1/8 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper  

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 375. In a oven safe dish add your potato, onion and garlic. Place these ingredients in the oven for an hour to an hour and a half. You'll know everything is done when the potatoes are soft when you insert a fork.

*Note: If you're in a hurry, you can boil the ingredients, but you loose some of the nutrients when you boil.

2. Combine everything together in your blender. Potatoes, onion and garlic first, followed by the spices and the vegetable broth. Blend on a high setting until a thick stew-like texture has been created.

3. Pour into your bowl and enjoy!

This soup is great if you feel a cold coming on, if you're trying to fight a cold or if you just want to boost your winter immunity.

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Southern Style Chia Cornbread

This is my super healthy (okay, minus I suppose, the butter) take on a good old southern staple- cornbread.

Those of you with Southern roots can understand and appreciate the art and beauty behind a perfectly executed cornbread.

I like my cornbread sweet and hearty. I enjoy the heavy texture of the cornmeal, crunchy edges and soft warm buttery middle.

Despite the healthy tweaks, this is a recipe sure to make your great-grandma smack her lips with approval.

Ingredients:

1 cup Yellow Cornmeal

1/2 cup All-purpose Flour

1/4 cup Ground Chia Seed

2 Tablespoons Ground Flax Seed

1 Teaspoon Sea Salt

1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

4 Tablespoons Sugar

1 cup Buttermilk

1/2 cup Milk

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/4 cup Butter

1/2 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions :

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. In a larger bowl add your corn meal, flour, chia, flax, salt, sugar, and baking powder. Blend the dry ingredients well. In a smaller bowl, combine buttermilk, milk, and baking soda. Once the mixture is blended,  add your melted butter and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.

Pour the wet ingredients from the smaller bowl into your larger dry ingredients bowl. Stir until fully blended then pour your mixture into a greased pan and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick emerges clean from the center.

*If you're looking for a vegan option, simply substitute coconut oil with the butter and use a non-dairy milk in place of the buttermilk and milk blend.

How do you like your cornbread?

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Green Clay Detoxifying Facial Mask

Green Clay Detoxifying Facial Mask- Are you ready for some serious pampering?

This is the first facial mask that I ever learned to make and I'm still in love almost a decade later.

This mask sucks out toxins and soothes the skin, making it an ideal remedy for acne and blackheads.

Here's what you need:

1 tablespoon green clay powder

1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder

1 teaspoon grapeseed oil

Plain full fat yogurt or rose water

Follow these steps:

In a bowl, mix the green clay powder and turmeric together until blended.

Add the grapeseed oil followed by the yogurt or rosewater (enough to create a past-like texture).

Smooth the mixture over your face and wait for it to dry (usually 10-15 minutes).

Once dry, rinse with warm water and pat your face dry with a towel.

Now you're ready to take on the world!

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Coconut Sugar All Purpose Scrub

Coconut Sugar All Purpose Scrub:

I have been OBSESSED with coconut oil lately.

I've been making facial cleansers, conditioning hair masks and you guessed it, scrubs.

Here's my favorite coconut sugar all purpose scrub recipe:

1 Cup Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil

1 Cup Sugar (granulated or brown)

1 Tablespoon Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

*2 Drops Sandalwood Essential Oil

*1 Drop Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

*Note- You can use other essential oils or choose to omit them altogether. I happen love the earthy sweet aroma of sandalwood and ylang ylang in a scrub.

**You will need a shatter proof container. I usually use glass, but if I'm making something for the shower, I steer clear of it. Soapy hands are unreliable and nobody wants to step on shards of glass in the shower- ouch!

Here's what you do:

I use this scrub on both my body and face. It leaves your skin baby soft and smelling so good!

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The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the Mall

What makes a man or woman great? Is it their actions? Their thoughts? The words they share that inspire others? Their writings? Their courage? A combination of the above?

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

                                                   -Martin Luther King Jr.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

As I stood at the entrance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial taking in the memorialized words of this great man, I began to wonder.

The sun was deceiving. It was sunglasses weather, but it was also skin a bear and wear his fur to keep yourself warm weather. As the heavy wind gusts pushed us to and fro, we made our way beyond the murky frozen Potomac, past the Lincoln Memorial and along the Washington Mall towards the relatively new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

Making our way down Independence Ave., the National Monument in the distance, Dr. King's memorial seemed to appear suddenly, three dignified cream colored peaks before us.

I was drawn immediately to the wall of Dr. King's quotes, presented in a smooth arc behind his statue. A powerful living memorial, I followed the semi-circle of quotes, taking each one in, letting them resonate.

The Martin Luther King Jr. memorial was dedicated on August 28th 2011, 48 years after the historic March on Washington.

Behind Dr. Kings image lies the mountain of despair, which is divided into two pieces to symbolize the hope of the present. In the distance, between the mountain of despair, one gets a clear view of the Jefferson memorial, a symbol of freedom and liberty.

Located in West Patomac Park in Washington D.C., the memorial is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is a parking area.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial: 1964 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC

Dr. King's legacy should inspire us all to aim to be great. To live lives of service, lives that matter. Whatever your mission, whatever your cause, let it ring from the mountaintops and refuse to be moved.

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The National Air and Space Museum

It was like being in a flashback of my childhood.

My feet clicked across the glossy white floor, bright light streamed in from the window spaces above, and everywhere around me, suspended overhead, bolted to the ground, were massive relics of aviation and space exploration.

I remember being dragged here as a child by my grandfather, a former Tuskegee Airman. He would stand and marvel at the B-52 bombers and telescopes, the space shuttles and astronomy dioramas. Not at all interested in science, airplanes or space exploration, I was always bored and unimpressed.

"Come on grandpa, is it time for ice-cream yet?"...

Flash forward twenty years and I've found myself the proud yet baffled mother of an airplane obsessed two year old. His love of all things aviation certainly didn't come from me or my musician husband, it must be an inherited love from his great-grandfather. My role as a mom is not to question, but to support, so off I found myself, yet once again heading to the National Air and Space Museum. At least I told myself, this time I was the adult, and could control when we would leave and how long we would spend lost in space.

Located on historic Independence Avenue, the National Air and Space Museum boasts the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world.  A part of the Smithsonian museum collections, the museum is FREE! A great perk of many things in the nation's capital.

The National Air and Space Museum

600 Independence Ave SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20560

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Decadent Healthy Hot Chocolate

Wait a minute Sojourner, decadent, healthy and chocolate in one mention?

Yes, my dear reader, yes!

I love to indulge in rich hot chocolate, especially when the weather dips below zero (what has been going on lately?) There's something so lovely and soothing about sipping warm creamy chocolate and I feel even better about my sinful sips, knowing that I'm drinking to my health as well. You see, health is all about the ingredients.

Follow me...

This is your basic set of ingredients. You can choose to get fancy as I usually do, or you can settle for the old classic.

What You'll Need:

- 2 Cups of Milk (Here I chose regular organic cow's milk which I think tastes the best, but you can substitute any    milk of your preference).

- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

- About a 2" by 2 1/2" chunk of organic dark chocolate 70% or higher

What You May Want to Add:

- Brown sugar to taste (you may skip this step if you like a bitter dark chocolate)

- Cinnamon to taste (a simple sprinkle will do, you may skip this step if you don't enjoy cinnamon in your chocolate)

- Cayenne pepper (just a tiny pinch to add a pop of spice, you may skip this step if you don't like spicy hot chocolate)

Steps:

So, what makes this healthy?

There are three ingredients that make this delicious treat healthy:

Dark chocoalate, Cayenne pepper and Cinnamon.

Dark chocolate in my opinion is a super food. It contains a ton of anti-oxidants and has heart healthy attributes as it is known to lower blood pressure and aid in the prevention of blood clots. Dark chocolate also contains the chemical PEA which helps to release endorphins resulting in the blissful feeling of being in love. Does it get any better than this?

Cayenne pepper is cleansing, warming and detoxifying. Cayenne pepper eases stomach and throat irritation, helps to break up mucus (a great compliment to all of that milk) and has anti-fungal properties. Cayenne is a great addition to winter beverages especially during cold and flu season.

Cinnamon is a miraculous spice that is known to regulate blood sugar, reduce LDL (harmful) cholesterol levels, and manage minor pain. Cinnamon contains manganese, fiber, calcium and iron and tastes so lovely.

So there you have it...decadent, healthy, hot chocolate!

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The Virtues of a Green Maternity Massage at the Nusta Spa

"Oh, yes, Mrs. Williams, we've been expecting you. What size are you wearing now?"

The receptionist looked from my face to my stomach with a smile and a wink.

"Errr... I, I'm not sure anymore. Maternity size?"

"No problem Mrs. Williams. Have you been here before?"

"No."

"Well, welcome. Jeanine here will show you around."

A woman, dressed in head to toe black, appeared suddenly from behind the counter.

"Follow me Mrs. Williams." She said, her black framed glasses sliding slightly down the bridge of her nose.

I was led through the bright lobby and down a wood paneled lavender scented hallway.

"Here we are." She pushed open a set of large glass doors.

The bright room smelled of eucalyptus. My feet slid across the spotless bamboo floors.

"This will be your locker, behind you you'll find the washroom, and on the other side the showers. Here is your robe and a pair of slippers. Once you've changed you can make a left out the door and take a seat in the treatment waiting area."

Wrapped in a velvety robin's egg blue robe and matching slippers, I made my way down the fragrant hallway towards the waiting room. A babbling fountain echoed in the distance as I settled into the plush sofa with a glass of cucumber water and a handful of trail mix.

No sooner had I started flipping through Organic Spa Magazine than I was called in for my treatment.

This Christmas, Mark surprised me with a maternity massage. Well into my second trimester with our second child, he'd grown weary of my daily, sometimes hourly requests for massages.

My first maternity massage, I wasn't sure what to expect. The massage table was outfitted with an elaborate network of body pillows, that the masseuse had to help me wriggle into so I could lay comfortably on my side.

The massage began, as most do, with a back rub. Instead of laying on my stomach, I was on my side. First my left side was gently attended to and then the right. It was heavenly. Classical music played in the distance. A soothing heat pad covered my feet and lower back.

The legs came next, then the feet, followed by my arms, neck and finally my head. When my hour was up, I felt blissful and new.

Nusta Spa is a green spa. I was able to relax and rest assured that nothing but the cleanest and purest ingredients were being massaged into my skin. In my case, an unscented olive oil blend.

The maternity massage at Nusta Spa was exactly what I needed. Before this little guy makes his grand appearance in June, I will definitely be back.

Wondering how to make your pregnant friends, wives, girlfriends, daughters, or sisters smile? Find a luxurious spa and gift them a maternity massage.

If you're in the D.C. area, Nusta Spa is a great place to start.

Nusta Spa, 1129 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC

Thank-you (Guest Post)

The following piece is a guest post written by the author of the blog (Im)Migrating with a Purpose. Due to the sensitive nature of her assignment, she wishes for me not to disclose her name.

“Thank-you.” I looked up from my desk. I had already dismissed the class and was beginning to work through the twenty minute break that is scheduled into every school day. “For what, sweetie?” I said to my student. A girl of no more than twelve with thick, brown hair stood before my desk clutching her books. Book bags were not allowed in the classrooms. “For the lesson today.” My heart melted. The lesson wasn’t anything extraordinary. To be honest, I can’t even remember what I taught that day. Yet to have a student genuinely thank me put a needed crack in a wall that I had built up between my professional persona and my actual personality. Since mid-August I have been teaching at an English-speaking private school in Valencia, Venezuela. I decided to finally pull up the roots I’d nourished for five years in New York City and move abroad. Although there were beautiful moments when teaching in the city that never sleeps, I often found that I was the one losing sleep trying to grade, lesson plan, contact parents, and keep up with the ever-growing pile of paper work. Thus, in the midst of the February, 2013 snowstorm that temporarily paralyzed the Northeast, I inked a contract to teach for a year in South America. In so doing, I began to cross another item off of my life goals list: to live in a Spanish-speaking country. One thing I quickly realized when teaching at an international school is how the school functions as a parent to the foreign hire teacher. The school pays for housing, provides transportation, and heavily subsidizes utility costs. It is easy to feel powerless and child-like when needing the school to help with basics such as setting up doctor’s appointments--especially if moving to a non-English speaking country. I, for one, never thought a co-worker would be translating my bodily functions to a doctor when I got sick. Yet, it’s all a part of the experience. If anything, it pushes me to continue to improve my Spanish. Rather than feel infantilized, I feel as if the school is doing all it can to support me so that I can do all that I can to successfully teach the students at a high level.

It is the unspoken contract. An example of the school’s support came as soon as I landed in Venezuela. I was already shaken because I had been stopped in Customs (which included a man taking my passport to check its validity and my Spanish completely shutting down), but my nervous energy evaporated when I walked outside to see the school superintendent, its two principals, and some current teachers waiting to welcome the new teachers to the country. Throughout the two weeks of summer professional development, the school took us to the grocery store, a hardware store, and a beautiful beach so that we could get our bearings in a new locale. It also gave us some foreign currency until we were able to exchange money on our own. As the academic year unfolded, the foundation that the school set only strengthened. On the first day of school the students cheered for all of the new teachers. Moreover, I had more access to technology, materials, and the ever-precious Planning Time (at least 1.5 hour a day, sometimes 3 hours a day!) than I ever did when teaching in New York City. Before meeting the students, I did struggle with choosing to leave a high-poverty, 95%+ African-American public school for a wealthy, elite private school. Teaching a wealthy community was not aligned with the educational philosophy that I crafted five plus years ago. What I realized though is that if I was going to keep teaching anywhere, I needed room to grow professionally somewhere. At my previous school my skill set was atrophying. We were working for The Ever Important Test Scores and no longer for knowledge and community building. I wanted more and I wanted out. Now, I feel as if I am growing again as a professional. The pressure cooker that is standardized testing simply does not exist at my school, though students do take AP exams and the Iowa exam to track their progress. Despite the horror stories of wealthy students with too much time and money on their hands that I’ve heard, or crafted in my own head, I find that classroom management is not an issue. Students are respectful and participatory while parents are engaged and encouraging.

My largest class has twenty students, which is considered huge at my school. Reduced class size, consistent materials, and a positive community allow me to experiment with teaching strategies I have only read about but did not believe I could implement. For instance, students created podcasts complete with sound effects and a script to close a unit on Medieval Africa. Additionally, I am receiving consistent training on how to use an iPad in the classroom. Also, I will be presenting at educational conferences in Venezuela and Brazil. Back in February, I never imagined that I would be attending professional development in Brazil with a school footing the bill. A little over a year later, this humbling and affirming opportunity will be coming to fruition. Yes, there are long hours some weeks. Teachers are expected to attend a myriad of holiday and sporting events, for example, but the payoff is worth it. I may have cried nervous tears outside the Venezuelan Embassy just this past summer, but I do not regret this decision. I made the leap. Travelers such as Sojourner, who have lived and taught abroad, inspired me to move abroad too. So, I will return to Venezuela this winter and return to the student who hovered before my desk waiting to say two simple words. And this time, I will be telling her thank-you.

About (Im)Migrating with a Purpose: I’m a writer and educator interested in travel, schooling and education, cultural identities, and the places in between.

http://immigratingwithapurpose.com/blog/

Koziar's Christmas Village

Through the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country we rolled. Through small cozy hamlets and festively lit main streets, past expansive rolling pastures and into the darkness of early evening in early winter.

We passed signs proclaiming- "Celebrate Jesus' Birthday!"

We passed signs announcing "Live Nativity Next Corner!"

Live Nativity? As in, people and animals huddled in makeshift mangers in the freezing cold?  I was not in Brooklyn anymore.

For a moment, we were the only souls on the road, it appeared we would disappear into the velvety black cloak of night, that's when the lights first appeared.

A massive collective of bright lights illuminated the night from the valley below. The lights shone in every color, from every direction, it was difficult to make out the sight before us.

The closer we got, the more distinctly the lights took form, until we found ourselves at the brilliant gates of Koziar's Christmas Village.

Once we secured a spot in the massive parking lot and made the twenty minute trek to the front gates, our Christmas spirit was in full swing.

Good 'N Plenty

There is a place in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country where you can sit down to a family style dinner with a group of strangers and leave, fully sated with a roster of new friends and contacts.

Rarely do we take the time to sit down and connect without distraction with family during dinner, let alone perfect strangers.

The family to my left was from my hometown of Rochester, New York. We shared an affinity for the city's annual Lilac Festival and knew some of the same people.

The three sisters to our right were from Germantown, Maryland, not far from where we have a home. We swapped opinions about the best local farmer's markets and places to shop.

The guy sitting across from us, was from Indiana. I'm not going to lie, he was just plain creepy. He uttered barely a word to anyone and kept his eyes on his plate the entire meal.

But the creepy guy excluded, it was a heartwarming and humanity affirming experience to dine in the company of strangers.

Good 'N Plenty is both delicious and plentiful, offering as they say, traditional Pennsylvania Dutch hearty home cooking.

Situated on a working farm, complete with a petting zoo and gardens, Good 'N Plenty, resembles a large white farmhouse.

Once inside, you have the option of a family style spread or you can order from the menu. We opted for the family style spread, which is what the restaurant is famous for. Famous as in they receive busload after busload of visitors daily.

We were ushered into the main dining room, where we were greeted by row upon row of wooden benches simply decorated and set up with pitchers of water, iced tea and lemonade.

A table fits 10-12 people who share in the endless supply of fresh green beans, savory mashed potatoes, buttery noodles, crispy fried chicken (they're famous for their chicken), meat loaf, ham, buttery sweet corn, warm homemade bread with fresh churned whipped butter and apple butter. The food was really good in a stick to your ribs sort of way. The dessert course had us sampling a cheesecake platter, cracker pudding (bread pudding made from saltine crackers-I wasn't the biggest fan), freshly churned ice cream, apple pie and shoe fly pie (a thick molasses pie with brown sugar crumble- a little too sweet for even this sweet tooth).

A trip to Good N' Plenty in Smoketown, PA, is so much more than a dinner, it's an entire experience and glimpse into the Pennsylvania Dutch culture of the region.  One can make an afternoon or evening of it. There is a petting zoo and an elaborate gift shop boasting local goods and wares.

An assortment of beautiful Bed and Breakfasts and Country Inns can be found in the area.

If you're looking for more things to do, the Tanger Outlets are a big draw, as is the Intercourse Pretzel Factory (if you can get past the name), where you be led on a tour of the factory and sample freshly made hot pretzels. You'll also be near Hershey's Chocolate World and depending on the season and your religious inclinations, the Sights and Sounds of Christmas experience is a huge tourist attraction.

As for Mark, Ohm and I, we took our sated selves to  Koziar's Christmas Village, about an hour away, to see the Christmas lights.

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Christmas at the National Zoo- Washington, D.C.

We took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and decided to enjoy an evening stroll through the holiday light show at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. An annual tradition in the Washington area, the zoo opens its doors free of charge from 5pm-9pm during the holiday season, to provide family friendly holiday cheer.

Happy Holidays!

The National Zoo , 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

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South Beach Off-Peak: A Photo Essay

In November, my friend Krista and I  indulged in a girls weekend away from the shivering hustle and bustle of New York.

South Beach, Miami in November ran at just my pace. Relaxed, sleepy, not at all crowded and not too hot or humid. We were able to kick back and relax, enjoy the amazing restaurants, meditate on the beach, go shopping and indulge in the awesome night life, without having to deal with loud crowds.

So here it is, proof that Miami can be enjoyed during the off-peak season. We had so much fun, we're planning to return in November of 2014.

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What Do You Desire?

What Do You Desire?

What do you desire?

This was the question that sent hundreds of women into a fantastic frenzy during Worldwide Sister Goddess Weekend 2013- Miami.

Three days of intense soul searching, networking, courses, lectures, and fun, Worldwide Sister Goddess Weekend Miami is an annual event hosted by bestselling author, coach, and motivational speaker Regena Thomashauer aiming to shake women at their core and help them get in touch with the desires and passions that light their existence.

Worldwide Sister Goddess Weekend 2014 will be here before you know it.

If you're a woman, grab your girlfriends and make a weekend of it. If you're a man, tell a woman you love, whether it's your wife, mother, daughter or girlfriend.

Empowering women to see and be their authentic selves is Mama Geena's mission and there's no better setting for this work, than beautiful and vibrant South Beach, Miami.

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