Author Archives: arleebug54

Provisioning in Japan

Posted on July 19, 2015 by arleebug54

One of the guaranteed delights of international travel for me and probably most of us is visits to grocery stores that clearly cater to a different palate than the ones back home. No trip anywhere is ever complete without a … Continue reading →

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Goldilocks and the two minibuses…

Posted on July 13, 2015 by arleebug54

Now, in all honesty, this blog should be about the start of the summer term at IUJ – specifically about the delightful new students who are assembling here, getting oriented, and preparing to enter our classes on Wednesday. There’s been … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

Settling in to IUJ

Posted on July 10, 2015 by arleebug54

I landed in Tokyo Tuesday evening after a 12-hour flight, added to a time difference of +13 hours from Portland, Maine. To my great delight and tremendous relief, former student and current friend Koji made the trek up from Osaka … Continue reading →

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Heros and good wishes in O’Hare

Posted on July 9, 2015 by arleebug54

By now you are probably aware that I really like major transit hubs – airports and train stations in particular. They seem to me to be portals of adventure, worm holes leading to the next reality. While O’Hare in Chicago … Continue reading →

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A summer adventure in Japan

Posted on July 3, 2015 by arleebug54

This summer I am honored to be serving as a Visiting Instructor at the International University of Japan (IUJ) in Minamiuonuma, Japan. IUJ is, to my knowledge, the only all-graduate, all-English-medium university in the country. There are two main types … Continue reading →

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A Touch of Asheville

Posted on July 2, 2015 by arleebug54

I’ve had some extra time on my hands this spring between the completion of one contract and the beginning of another. And since time, in my mind, most often equals “chance for a trip,” I’ve been taking a few little … Continue reading →

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The Newest Normal – PSAs and Amtrak

Posted on June 16, 2015 by arleebug54

I was recently on a trip to New York City to visit friends and attend an alumni event. More about that perhaps later. But in truth the most impressionable part of the four days was my new appreciation of how … Continue reading →

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Brave New World, yet again.

Posted on April 5, 2015 by arleebug54

Written March 28th; edited April 4th I’m sitting at the Pearson Toronto Airport, waiting for my flight to Boston (and Concord Coach thence to Portland, Maine). Every time, yes, every time I go to an airport and make my way … Continue reading →

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Liminal Lublin

Posted on March 13, 2015 by arleebug54

“Liminal,” according to the online Free Dictionary, is “intermediate between two states, conditions, or regions; transitional or indeterminate.” This is a perfect reflection for me of the lovely little town of Lublin in southeastern Poland. Over its history it has … Continue reading →

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Kraków (KRA-koof) rocks

Posted on March 8, 2015 by arleebug54

I’d heard for many years that I should see Krakow “soon, before it’s ruined.” Well, maybe I got there in time, or maybe I didn’t, but I’m here to say Krakow is not ruined and it will (inshallah) never be. … Continue reading →

Posted in Poland, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment