Casa de Piedra
“Why is it called the house of stone if it is made with mud bricks?” “Follow me. I’ll tell you the story.” I was talking […]
Sierra Life
“Five days is four too many,” I was told after I had booked my trip to the mountain town of Benito Juárez, about two hours […]
Monte Albán
Monte Albán is a short ride from the center of Oaxaca, but it is a world away. It contains the ruins of the old capital […]
Quesillo and Photos
Couchsurfing does not only connect people who offer free places to stay, but also provides a way for travelers to meet just about anywhere in […]
A Tour Like No Other
There are so many tour agencies in Oaxaca because there is so much to see. You cannot walk anywhere in the center of the city […]
¡Oh, Oaxaca!
My love affair with Mexico continues, this time in Oaxaca (WA-há-CA), the capital of Oaxaca state in the southern part of the country. I’m here […]
Teach Like an Artist
I told everyone I was doing this for my five-year-old granddaughter, but I must admit I felt giddy standing next to Miss America, Nia Franklin, […]
Teaching the “Middle East”
I just returned from a week at Duke University where I attended an incredible institute focused on teaching the Middle East. The QFI/Duke University Dimensions […]
Semana Santa, Parte II
Statues and angels are not the only things to see during Holy Week processions. Within each of the dozens of groups parading through the streets, […]
Semana Santa, Parte I
It’s hard to describe in words the processions that happen every night during Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Taxco. Groups of Catholics walk solemnly through […]
The View from Taxco
Taxco is another “magic town” in the mountains three hours south of Mexico City. It is known for its silver mining and artisans, but during […]
Best Travel Tip Ever
Walking through the narrow tunnels inside the world’s largest pyramid, I encountered a group of American tourists. As I meandered my way through the tunnels, […]
Flying over Murals
With a wave of his hand, it was clear the man who had just paid for my bus fare would not accept any money from […]
Refugee Stories
Thanks to the Transatlantic Outreach Program and the Fulbright fellowship I participated in, I’ve been able to bring many lessons back to my students in […]
After the 1:1 Honeymoon Period
My Love/Hate Relationship With Student Chromebooks This article originally appeared in Literacy Daily, the International Literacy Association’s blog. I looked at the pile of Chromebooks on […]
This is Cuba!
As I sat in the cockpit of the Airbus A320, I thought, “What a fitting end to my first trip to Cuba.” Our three-hour flight […]