Why I am a Group Leader

In last week's post I shared my excitement about leading my fourth group tour to Europe. I have help, of course, by teaming up with EF Tours, which specializes in organizing student trips to a variety of countries throughout the world.

This week I thought I would share why I do this.

Sure, I love to travel, but quite frankly, being a tour leader is not a personal vacation. I take the responsibility quite seriously, and then there's the inevitable interpersonal drama that takes place when traveling in close quarters, 24-hours a day, with a variety of personality types.

So what are the pros and cons of leading such a tour?

I'm not sure there are any cons, if you are truly invested in the experience ... but the responsibilities are worth noting.

Week in Review: February 26, 2017

I typically talk about weather in this intro to the Sunday Salon. And truly, the weather has been spectacular lately. We reached a high of 80 degrees on Wednesday... In Kansas... In February.

But the record high temperatures was not the major news story of the week.

I'm sure many of you heard of the hate crime that occurred in Olathe, Kansas. A 51-year-old man, for no apparent reason, shot two men of a different race, and then shot another who tried to stop his escape.

That episode occurred two blocks from my home. Our neighborhood was on lockdown for several hours because they thought the suspect escaped on foot. I was home alone with my trusty, albeit lethargic, basset. The constant whir of helicopters circling  overhead added to the tension. I was locked in an upstairs room, watching the story unfold via FaceBook posts.

Leading a Student Tour to Europe

In a few weeks I will be leading my fourth student tour to Europe.

Since this will most likely be my last such trip, I thought I would share my experiences - what I've learned as well as a few travel trips - with others who might consider such an endeavor.

I first had this idea in 2006 - the first year I taught British Literature. I knew I was unqualified (I majored in French and Political Science) and I felt completely inadequate. I reasoned if I visited the birthplace of the authors and their stories, the literature would come to life. And if this would be true for me, wouldn't it also be helpful for students?

Week in Review: February 19, 2017

I did not mean to take a month long break. It's not that I haven't been busy reading or writing, or focusing on Nourish - my word of the year. But I'm newly resolved to get back into the blogging routine. I've missed this community.

Reading:
I have read a total of seventeen books since the first of the year (a record for me). While there is a certain theme to my reading, I did cross several genres.