To all our homestay guests, their friends and family members, my friends and family members, and to the world at large....thank you for spending some time here now and then.
My life has moved on in a new direction with increased focus on teaching at a community college and time with grandchildren, my elderly parents, and friends.
May we all grow in tolerance and understanding of others because I truly believe we are one family. Each of us is given a bit of time on this beautiful planet. May we use the time well and with care and concern for one another. Please smile often.
Peace,
Jenny
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thanksgiving 2012
We enjoyed a Thanksgiving afternoon buffet with guests from Vietnam and Korea. Of course, it featured my homemade pumpkin pie. :-)
Friend, Bonnie Shapero, joined us. She has her first smartphone (an iPhone) and decided to try looking something up on Internet with her phone. She had support of some very experienced iPhone users.
Friend, Bonnie Shapero, joined us. She has her first smartphone (an iPhone) and decided to try looking something up on Internet with her phone. She had support of some very experienced iPhone users.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Our Vote for the 2012 Presidential Election
I just saw a spam message that said: Election day is almost here. Have you blogged about it?
No...but now I will.
Just for the record, George and I will vote for Obama.
No...but now I will.
Just for the record, George and I will vote for Obama.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
To the St. Louis Zoo With the Girls from Brazil
Gahee wasn't able to join us for the day trip due to too much homework, but the other five of us took George's mini van on a cool Saturday when we were convinced that the animals at the zoo would be fairly active. We first stopped at the St. Louis Arch...then had lunch with too much fried food at a restaurant...made our way to the zoo for a two hour quick tour...and we ended up at a shopping mall (of course!!) with plans to eat at The Cheesecake Factory restaurant. Unfortunately, once we were ready to meet for dinner, tons of other people were ready as well. We decided to just buy some cheesecake to go and then eat elsewhere. We found an Asian buffet that made Vi extremely happy because it featured some Vietnamese items.
Glad to share some photos of the day:
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| The St. Louis Arch - October 2012 |
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| View from the St. Louis Arch |
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| Viewer looking out at the top of the St. Louis Arch |
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| Vi by the St. Louis Arch - Oct. 2012 |
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| Vi - near restaurant where we ate |
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| Vi by Zoo entrance |
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| At the zoo entrance: Vi, Erika, and Marianna |
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| Erika, Marianna, and Vi - St. Louis Zoo Oct. 2012 |
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| Our group...chilly but happy after walking around for 2 hours at the St. Louis Zoo Oct. 2012 Vi, Jenny(with a bad sinus cold) Marianna, Erika, and Bonnie |
Friday, September 7, 2012
School Starts and the Cold/Flu Viruses Don't Waste Any Time
George and I woke up this morning feeling like we had colds. It happened all of a sudden. He had some classes today, but I was home this morning and made some "onion/garlic" soup. I took some vegetable stock and added a bunch of shopped up onion, garlic, some soy sauce, lots of freshly ground pepper, and a dash of rice vinegar. I was hoping this would help clear up some head and throat drainage. I don't think it did. Just "laying low" as we say. I had a bit of a nap as a cold front brought some rain to our area.
Some of my students have been sniffling. Typical start to a new school year....lots of students share space and the viruses begin their havoc.
This is how I feel.
Meanwhile, Vy and Gahee are busy, busy, busy with fall classes and some events on campus. Tonight they're both attending a special event for international students. I certainly hope they don't get sick. 34,000 students arrived to attend MU this fall. That's like being invaded by another species!!
Better stock up on some ginger.....tea.....honey.....and tissues.
Some of my students have been sniffling. Typical start to a new school year....lots of students share space and the viruses begin their havoc.
Meanwhile, Vy and Gahee are busy, busy, busy with fall classes and some events on campus. Tonight they're both attending a special event for international students. I certainly hope they don't get sick. 34,000 students arrived to attend MU this fall. That's like being invaded by another species!!
Better stock up on some ginger.....tea.....honey.....and tissues.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
As Summer Ends...
Technically, summer doesn't end until after mid-September, but for those of us who live with an academic schedule, summer ends when classes begin. Here in mid-Missouri, classes will begin in about a week or so.
Vy and Anh have been busy preparing for Anh's move to Minnesota. In addition to Anh doing laundry and packing things, she and Vy have attended graduation parties for other Vietnamese students...hosted their own good-bye bar-b-q for Anh at a local park....accompanied others to the St. Louis airport as they prepare to return to Vietnam...and now the girls are enjoying the last few days of sleeping whenever they want.
Vy and Anh have been cooking quite a bit these last days of summer. Not me. Vietnamese cooking is A LOT OF WORK!! I observe all the work they do, and all I want to do is make a salad or eat some fruit or yogurt. So many times I've seen them in the kitchen chop, chop, chopping....steaming....boiling....frying foods. We have a small kitchen, and they move about in easy harmony as they chat. But all that work! It wears me out just to listen to it.
Watching Vy and Anh cook, and watching Gahee prepare some Korean foods....I realize that I'm quite a lazy person when it comes to cooking. I think many American are....unless they're like my son-in-law, Paul, and truly love cooking/baking. During the school year when I'm teaching four classes, well, that's my excuse for not spending a lot of complicated time in the kitchen like the girls do. Over the summer, though, well, I'm just plain lazy, and with the outside temperatures over 100 F. much of the time this year, my mind convinced me that it's impossible and impractical to cook in such heat--even though the house is air-conditioned. So unlike Vy and Anh, who chopped, fried, boiled, and steamed foods as if they were on a reality TV cooking show....I just piddled around with salads and fruit this summer.
The girls have been enjoying lots of time with friends these past few weeks, but it's bittersweet because so many farewells have been exchanged. George takes Anh to the airport tomorrow for her new adventure at the University of Minnesota, but before they get to the airport, Vy and Anh will take a ride on the St. Louis Arch.
This evening Gahee returns to Columbia. I believe she is traveling with two cousins (a brother and sister) who will rent an apartment close to us. They will enroll in the Intensive English Program at MU and will spend the night here...or maybe two nights until they get moved in. We are holding some furniture for them which needs to be moved into their apartment. George will ask our grandson and his friend if they can help. In addition, George will help them look at used cars as they settle in to life in our college town.
Tomorrow I leave town for a week to visit my parents in northern Illinois. My mother turns 86 and she cares for my dad who is 90. So we have people going and coming....but in about a week or two we'll all be settled into our fall schedules, except Anh. She doesn't start classes until early September...so she'll have some time to get to know some new friends and become familiar with her new city, Minneapolis. Although I've never lived there, I've told her it's a great city with lots to do. We hope to get up there to see her...maybe for her graduation....maybe before?
So we have people coming and going over the next few days. Meanwhile, I can't believe I'm looking out the window and seeing a bit of rain....REAL RAIN!! We have experienced a severe drought in this part of the country....so the rain is welcomed with a deep bow of gratitude.
Vy and Anh have been busy preparing for Anh's move to Minnesota. In addition to Anh doing laundry and packing things, she and Vy have attended graduation parties for other Vietnamese students...hosted their own good-bye bar-b-q for Anh at a local park....accompanied others to the St. Louis airport as they prepare to return to Vietnam...and now the girls are enjoying the last few days of sleeping whenever they want.
Vy and Anh have been cooking quite a bit these last days of summer. Not me. Vietnamese cooking is A LOT OF WORK!! I observe all the work they do, and all I want to do is make a salad or eat some fruit or yogurt. So many times I've seen them in the kitchen chop, chop, chopping....steaming....boiling....frying foods. We have a small kitchen, and they move about in easy harmony as they chat. But all that work! It wears me out just to listen to it.
Watching Vy and Anh cook, and watching Gahee prepare some Korean foods....I realize that I'm quite a lazy person when it comes to cooking. I think many American are....unless they're like my son-in-law, Paul, and truly love cooking/baking. During the school year when I'm teaching four classes, well, that's my excuse for not spending a lot of complicated time in the kitchen like the girls do. Over the summer, though, well, I'm just plain lazy, and with the outside temperatures over 100 F. much of the time this year, my mind convinced me that it's impossible and impractical to cook in such heat--even though the house is air-conditioned. So unlike Vy and Anh, who chopped, fried, boiled, and steamed foods as if they were on a reality TV cooking show....I just piddled around with salads and fruit this summer.
The girls have been enjoying lots of time with friends these past few weeks, but it's bittersweet because so many farewells have been exchanged. George takes Anh to the airport tomorrow for her new adventure at the University of Minnesota, but before they get to the airport, Vy and Anh will take a ride on the St. Louis Arch.
This evening Gahee returns to Columbia. I believe she is traveling with two cousins (a brother and sister) who will rent an apartment close to us. They will enroll in the Intensive English Program at MU and will spend the night here...or maybe two nights until they get moved in. We are holding some furniture for them which needs to be moved into their apartment. George will ask our grandson and his friend if they can help. In addition, George will help them look at used cars as they settle in to life in our college town.
Tomorrow I leave town for a week to visit my parents in northern Illinois. My mother turns 86 and she cares for my dad who is 90. So we have people going and coming....but in about a week or two we'll all be settled into our fall schedules, except Anh. She doesn't start classes until early September...so she'll have some time to get to know some new friends and become familiar with her new city, Minneapolis. Although I've never lived there, I've told her it's a great city with lots to do. We hope to get up there to see her...maybe for her graduation....maybe before?
So we have people coming and going over the next few days. Meanwhile, I can't believe I'm looking out the window and seeing a bit of rain....REAL RAIN!! We have experienced a severe drought in this part of the country....so the rain is welcomed with a deep bow of gratitude.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The Hottest Summer Ever!!!!!
Well, we're baking here in the middle of the U.S. Daytime temperatures rarely go below 90 (F) and we've had temperatures over 100 (F) for many, many days. Farmers are suffering with these drought conditions. Food prices are expected to go up this fall and winter because of the loss of crops across the U.S. Even dogs aren't very enthusiastic about going out for a walk.
I hate it. I fantasize about living in upper Canada or Alaska. Siberia sounds good, too. I love cold and snow.
So we are muddling through. Gahee is spending the summer in Korea. Vi and Anh stay indoors during the daytime. Except for watering certain garden areas, I stay inside, too. George only leaves the house to do an errand or teach his summer school courses, which end this week. Our condo association has a swimming pool, so I usually spend time there each day around 6 p.m. or so....when the sun is less intense.
Changes are coming up. Anh will be transferring to the University of Minnesota. She leaves Aug. 13.
Well, it's usually cooler THERE! Hope she sees more snow this coming winter. We saw only a few flurries this past winter - far different from all the snow we saw in 2010.
Gahee comes back to Columbia Aug. 12. Flying back with her will be two cousins, a brother and sister. They will enroll in MU's Intensive English Program and will share an apartment close to where we live.
Recently I've had two inquiries about homestay, but the two rooms I have are occupied for the fall semester. Vi and Gahee will continue to stay with us and we are delighted. I just wish I could interest some friends, neighbors, or colleagues in becoming homestay hosts. I'm truly surprised that there aren't more hosts in this wonderful college town. In October, a friend of mine will host two young ladies from Brazil. They'll be in Columbia for one month to participate in some training at MU's School of Veterinary Medicine. I think my friend and her two guests will have a wonderful experience together.
I hate it. I fantasize about living in upper Canada or Alaska. Siberia sounds good, too. I love cold and snow.
So we are muddling through. Gahee is spending the summer in Korea. Vi and Anh stay indoors during the daytime. Except for watering certain garden areas, I stay inside, too. George only leaves the house to do an errand or teach his summer school courses, which end this week. Our condo association has a swimming pool, so I usually spend time there each day around 6 p.m. or so....when the sun is less intense.
Changes are coming up. Anh will be transferring to the University of Minnesota. She leaves Aug. 13.
Well, it's usually cooler THERE! Hope she sees more snow this coming winter. We saw only a few flurries this past winter - far different from all the snow we saw in 2010.
Gahee comes back to Columbia Aug. 12. Flying back with her will be two cousins, a brother and sister. They will enroll in MU's Intensive English Program and will share an apartment close to where we live.
Recently I've had two inquiries about homestay, but the two rooms I have are occupied for the fall semester. Vi and Gahee will continue to stay with us and we are delighted. I just wish I could interest some friends, neighbors, or colleagues in becoming homestay hosts. I'm truly surprised that there aren't more hosts in this wonderful college town. In October, a friend of mine will host two young ladies from Brazil. They'll be in Columbia for one month to participate in some training at MU's School of Veterinary Medicine. I think my friend and her two guests will have a wonderful experience together.
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