One of the traditions at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park Colorado is a Fourth of July Parade. Participants in the parade are campers, visitors, and various staff departments of the Camp and Conference Center. I absolutely love this slice of American life — people organizing themselves to dress up in silly costumes […]
A Norwegian Church in South Dakota
On our meandering trip across the prairie to Colorado over the past few days, we made a stop in Rapid City, South Dakota to see the Stavkirke Chapel in the Hills, a traditional Norwegian church. Here’s how it is described on the website: Nestled at the foot of the Black Hills, on the western edge […]
Independence Day Viewing
Today is Independence Day in the United States, sometimes known simply as “The Fourth of July,” or simply “The Fourth.” With apologies to my British readers (not really), it is the day we commemorate telling the King of England to “scram!” Or, as the Chinese might say, “Liberation!” I know that most July Fourth activities […]
A Chinatown Grows in Brooklyn
The New York Times recently published a fascinating article about the influx of Chinese immigrants into Brooklyn and the growth of new “Chinatown” enclaves all over the borough. It’s a wonderful depiction of the ebb and flow of immigrant communities in the city: Just before 5 p.m., wave after wave of smiling toddlers came bounding down […]
8 Things I Love about the USA
Even though I have spent the better part of my life as an expat, I still love the patriotic American holidays and am unable to sing the national anthem without choking up. Last week a friend and colleague from Southeast Asia and I were walking around one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes. We got to talking […]
Utah!
I’ve discovered something in the past few days. When you tell someone that you are going to Utah for a week, you get some very funny looks! Never mind….that’s where I’m heading tomorrow, to explore the national parks across the southern half of the state with a friend and her just-graduated-from-high-school son. Stay tuned…. […]
