Cultural information
As an interpreter with the 7th Virginia Regiment, I enjoyed speaking to people about history. While most events were Revolutionary War battle re-enactments, some were educational, designed to share Colonial American life with the public. Often, I noticed that while they came for the battles and the sound of the rifles and cannons; they stayed […]
First Person or Third, What is Your Preference Read More »
Moving overseas, I expected things to be different, but I was unaware of reverse culture shock syndrome, that feeling when suddenly things that used to be normal now seem foreign. This was my third return to the U.S. after living overseas, and it hit me hard once again. Even the simplest things feel unnatural, leaving
Why is that man honking at me? Read More »
Today, one of our neighbors celebrated his 60th birthday. The family rented the Gemindeshafthaus, or town hall, for the occasion. This building is conveniently located across from our house, and we were invited. The festivities began with Lothar, the birthday boy, standing outside behind a table filled with glasses and bottles of champagne. As each
There’s a house nearby that has a TARDIS in the back garden. Have you ever wished you had a time machine? We could have used one last weekend as we traveled back into the past. Our move date looms on the horizon, and I am trying to gather as much information on the Celts as
Traveling through Time Read More »
Well, we’re moving again. It’s always hectic, but I consider it a chance to explore a new place and meet new people. Since I know this won’t be our last move, I like to look at it as a vacation—a really long vacation. We thought we’d be moving back to Virginia to our house on
On the Road Again… Read More »
I love architecture. My family will confirm this, as they have often joined my meanderings down cobblestone streets or busy sidewalks to view a building. And so it was when Dave and I recently visited Palma de Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain. We were on our way to see
Seeing Moor of Palma Read More »
I confess I haven’t always been a football (soccer) fan. I grew up in the Midwest, and while I had heard of it, I’d never seen a match nor known anyone who played. The Kansas City Chiefs were my football team. It wasn’t until I met my husband, Dave, who’d played in college, that I
What is art? How do we define it? Different people have different tastes. My husband, for example, likes the dark, heavy work of the Old Masters and the stormy seas of J.M.W. Turner. I prefer a lighter touch and enjoy the paintings of Monet, and the Arts & Crafts and Art nouveau movements, including the
On my recent foray into the ancient Celts in Hallstatt and Hallein, Austria, I discovered why these areas were so prominent in history. White gold, or salt, was found in those mountains over 7,000 years ago. Neolithic man mined salt up through the Stone Age using picks made of antlers. This mining process became easier
Today is St. Patrick’s Day, and I am wearing my green. Usually, I eat corned beef and cabbage while enjoying a Guinness. However, I am going out with friends today to celebrate the winter beer, bock bier, here in Germany. I wonder if they will have corned beef on the menu. So who was St.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Read More »