Bahrain was a highlight of 2009 for me. I joined my friend and colleague Brian McKay Epp and we enjoyed discussing the future of education with people from all over the world. A personal highlight for most of us was the dinner at the Palace.  

Want a way to help the world AND buy great gifts for Christmas? Cork Bishopstown Rotary in conjunction with the other Cork Rotary Clubs and Jury's Hotel on Western Road invite you to a wine and cheese gathering Thursday 26 November, 2009. From 6-9PM we will be hosting Bead For Life, an organization in Uganda that helps Eradicate Poverty by teaching women to make beaded jewelry that then sells to women in the Western world.

Good morning everybody,           Lord Peter Whimsy here. This picture is of me with my big sister, Harriet. it has been months since I signed in as the “waggley tail” puppy. Needless to say, I have grown a lot. Just this morning Alana mom was saying that I was beginning to look at the big dog. The moms are having a great summer. It was nasty for me when they went away for a week, I did not know what to make of their going United States, but they came back, and all was well. A few days later Alana mom went away to Dublin. When she came back, she was carrying a cat in a cage. His name is Guizzmo, we do not see him much, but I hear talk that he is very unfriendly and may have to be sent back.... Sure am glad I am not unfriendly! echo "

Just back from Vienna, and ready to take on a mess that is my desk and office, but I want to reflect on a few personal lessons I took from this trip before I get started.  The special interest group that I attended at the conference was one based on innovation and intercultural education.  That translated to spending three days with people from all over Europe who were interested not only in their education practice, but also in how that practice and their experiences relate to those in other people's cultures. The last session of the conference was guided by younger researchers who are exploring the way people interact with space.  They did that by taking us out of our comfort zones.  Shown in the picture above, they set up a space made of boxes, string, and posters and, as participants, we started our work with them by moving through this space.  The presentation after theirs was a discussion led by an older educator about overcoming the challenges of cultural prejudice.  At first glance, you could not have thought of two sets of presenters that have less to do with each other.

Vienna is a fabulous city - I could almost remember my high school German, although everyone has more English than I have Deutsche!