In preparation for my NEH Summer Institute, Reverence for Words: Understanding Muslim Culture through the Arts, I received a package in the mail that contained your usual welcome forms and letters along with a book of poetry and a DVD, Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World. I decided to plop down while folding laundry [...]
Summer Plans 2018
I am incredibly excited to announce our summer plans for 2018!!! There's a lot going on, like always! 🙂 First off, Will and I BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOUSE!!! The process was exhausting and stressful but thankfully not too drawn out. Whatever free time we have this summer will be spent decorating and some DYI work. Looking [...]
Student Series! Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism, often referred to as the “Great Vehicle” (to signify Buddha’s grand ability to act as a vehicle or guide for his followers) was formed around 100 CE within India. Overtime, it gained immense popularity and has contributed significantly to the cultures of Central and East Asia. The spread of Buddhism, however, has created [...]
Travel Tips: Getting an International Driving Permit
We have never needed to worry about an International Driving Permit because we have either taken public transportation or drove in a country that does not require Americas to get this license (like Mexico or Germany). But we will need one (technically) when renting a car in Spain, and quiet honestly I figured with as [...]
Happy AP testing!
Today starts AP testing, which can be a flurry of last-minute review sessions, practice tests, and drills. But personally, I like to slow it down this time of year (don't get me wrong, we are taking 2 mock multiple choice tests this week!) However, I find that if I am calm and having fun then [...]
Photo Shoot at San Juan Capistrano
I've already done a few blog posts on the history and related literature about San Juan Capistrano. All of this was absolutely fascinating but the real reason I chose to visit this beautiful mission in Southern California was because of Pinterest. 🙂 As I was googling for places to visit I keep seeing these amazingly [...]
A Conversation with a Student…
I had a student the other day ask me how my love of learning about other cultures had impacted by own religion and life. As a teacher of world history and culture, I live for those kinds of questions. However, I am careful about how I answer because I know that, as a teacher (especially [...]
