Pondering Preschoolers, Creativity and Self-Control

December 5, 2010

I’m heading to Japan in just a few days.  It will be my first time to return to the country in 22 years!  I’m excited about the sights, the food, the craziness, the teaching—everything.
But what thrills me most is the opportunity to play with creativity while filling a most important role in the lives of [...]

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My Favorite Kind of Love Letter

September 13, 2010

I received hundreds of love letters from my husband during our long-distance romance in the eighties (pre-email).  But my favorite love letter these days is the virtual email hug I get from sixteen year olds who read my book, The New Global Student, and write to thank me for their adventure abroad.
I’m so lucky to [...]

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Good Intentions: Happy Human Rights Day

December 10, 2009

We knew what we wanted 61 years ago.
On December 10th, 1948, a proclamation was created and signed that gave us all a clear look at where we wanted to go as people on this planet. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a masterpiece–it’s simple, profound, and decidedly progressive.
We knew we wanted equality.  Dignity. [...]

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What I Learned from the Suicides of My Two Brothers

November 4, 2009

I don’t talk about this very often, but lately I have been thinking a lot about how the deaths of two of my brothers by suicide has impacted my life.
One took his life at the age of 45, the younger one at 39.
Don’t get me started on the mid-life crisis–I don’t believe in [...]

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Doug Lansky Tells How to “Get Lost”

October 16, 2009

Doug Lansky is the guru for solo travel. He contributed a nice piece in my book about how he set out on a six-month trip and ended up being on the road for ten years–during which he was paid to write a syndicated column with millions of readers and served as the host for [...]

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Quirky Outsourcing Jobs in Argentina–By And For Americans

October 14, 2009

One of the things I find fascinating about living in Buenos Aires is how expats choose to make a living. Of course, plenty of English-speaking expats do the English teacher thing, but the truth is that just because you speak English doesn’t mean you’ll be a good teacher. For many, that option lasts just [...]

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Living Abroad Stimulates Creativity

October 7, 2009

Recent research supports what exchange students and expats have known for years: living abroad stimulates creativity.
This video summarizes the study, but here are the high points:
1) spending time abroad stimulates creative problem-solving skills
2) it does not appear to be simply a matter of creative people being more likely to live abroad
3) [...]

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The Best Ways to Cut College Costs Now

October 5, 2009

I often receive questions from parents regarding how to save for college, but lately, I’ve been getting emails from financial advisors. They are looking for tips to pass along to their clients who are overwhelmed by the cost of educating their kids. What’s the best way for families to save for college now?
My [...]

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College Without High School: An Interview with Author Blake Boles

September 19, 2009

Blake Boles has written a remarkable how-to handbook that is destined to change the lives of young people across North America. In College Without High School: A Teenager’s Guide to Skipping High School and Going to College, he offers a step-by-step plan to help students envision their best educational experience and make the [...]

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Ten Wishes For True Student Success

September 11, 2009

President Obama shared some advice with America’s schoolchildren (or some of them, anyway) and I’m happy that he encouraged students to work hard and stay in school. He had some sound long-term suggestions.
But as any parent knows, kids don’t think about the long term. They think about lunchtime or recess or [...]

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