When I told most people where I was heading for Thanksgiving, North Dakota, the response I received from most people was a small pause followed by the grand question, “Why?” When a few of my friends first met my stepmom several years ago, they asked if her accent was from a foreign country. I found … Continue reading North Dakota: Country Roads and Roots
When I came home from Znojmo, I was sad to think that my opportunities to travel for the rest of the year might slow down. This month though has proved quite to the contrary. In the weeks leading up to the start of my new job, I have been lucky to travel to some totally … Continue reading North and South…
First of all, thank you to everyone who has checked out and shared information about my new business, ESL Write Away LLC!!! Again, I have started this new business to help English language learners improve their writing and access international education opportunities. I have recently started a Facebook page to post writing tips and a Twitter … Continue reading A Cue from Mr. McCartney and Ms. Rigby
It’s past Labor Day here in the USA, so according to the cultural calendar, official summer is over (not that you could tell by the 90F/30C weather). I think the number one word I can use to describe this past month would be: chaotic. Everyday seems to fly by with a list of too many … Continue reading Vynikající*
It’s officially been 2 weeks since I first landed back in the United States. I’ve tried to keep a list of everything that has hit me as strange, uncomfortable, exciting or just plain weird about coming back to the United States (specifically the New Jersey suburbs of NYC) after my 11 months in Znojmo. I … Continue reading Reverse Culture Shock
This week I had another great Znojmo and traveling week (do I sound like a broken record yet?). It’s hard to believe how fast time is flying and that the things that I had planned so far in advance are now happening and becoming the past. Even scarier is that the official three-months to go … Continue reading Flashback Flash-forward
While my official title and Fulbright grant say that I am an “English teaching assistant,” I think a more accurate description of my activities, as a teacher is an “American culture specialist.” Almost one of my three to four lessons each day involves giving an overview of some topic as it relates to American life. … Continue reading What is American?
Mariel Sporn Tavakoli 