I am loving the richness of your stories. Your writing is so vivid that I can almost see what you saw and felt." — B.J.G.
India articles published, speaking engagements, Philippine stop-over
February 9, 2012
Greetings from Michigan, USA
My seven-month journey to the eastern U.S., Hawaii, the Philippines, and India is over. Thank you for the interest you’ve shown in my stories of those countries and peoples.
Reclaiming Lives book project
The primary purpose of this journey was to work with Rosalie Giffionello to craft a book, titled Reclaiming Lives, about her endeavors to educate slum-dwelling children in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. Rosalie is co-founder of a nonprofit organization called Empower The Children. Through her enthusiasm and teaching skills, she brings hope to children who, without an education, are destined to poverty.
Newly published articles
An article I crafted about Rosalie’s work has been published in Encore magazine of Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. Encore also published a companion article about the work of a church congregation in Kalamazoo, St. Martin of Tours Episcopal, who is making great contributions to the education of poor children in rural India. You can read these articles in the current issue; scroll to pages 33 and 35.
Encore’s current issue also contains an article I wrote about Carrie Bennett, a young entrepreneur in Kalamazoo who owns and operates The Fitness Spot physical exercise gym. To read this article, scroll to page 30.
More India stories coming
Even though I’m back in Michigan, I have more stories about India that I will post in these news emails within the next few weeks.
Speaking engagements and workshops
I hope you can make it to …
Philippines paradise
Returning from India, I took a slow route with week-long stay-overs in the Philippines and Hawaii. And I put myself on holiday: no computer, few photographs, no watch, no schedule, no hurry … and, consequently, no stories.
So, you will have to use your imagination about warm waters, ocean waves, lots of sunshine, massages on the beach, outrigger canoes, snorkeling, seafood barbecued on the beach at sunset, and four blind, middle-aged guitarists performing “Unchained Melody” in a tiny, crowded island airport.
Getting to paradise
Getting to Kauai, Hawaii, from the U.S. mainland is easy; just book a flight to Lihue Airport.
For a Philippine island adventure, fly to Manila and take a Philippine Airline plane to any of several remote islands. I flew into Tagbilaran on the Island of Bohol. A 30-minute taxi ride took me to the Island of Panglao and the Alona Beach resort area … to paradise.
With a favorable currency exchange rate, the cost was less than $75 per day.
February 9, 2012
Greetings from Michigan, USA
My seven-month journey to the eastern U.S., Hawaii, the Philippines, and India is over. Thank you for the interest you’ve shown in my stories of those countries and peoples.
Reclaiming Lives book project
The primary purpose of this journey was to work with Rosalie Giffionello to craft a book, titled Reclaiming Lives, about her endeavors to educate slum-dwelling children in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. Rosalie is co-founder of a nonprofit organization called Empower The Children. Through her enthusiasm and teaching skills, she brings hope to children who, without an education, are destined to poverty.
Newly published articles
An article I crafted about Rosalie’s work has been published in Encore magazine of Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. Encore also published a companion article about the work of a church congregation in Kalamazoo, St. Martin of Tours Episcopal, who is making great contributions to the education of poor children in rural India. You can read these articles in the current issue; scroll to pages 33 and 35.
Encore’s current issue also contains an article I wrote about Carrie Bennett, a young entrepreneur in Kalamazoo who owns and operates The Fitness Spot physical exercise gym. To read this article, scroll to page 30.
More India stories coming
Even though I’m back in Michigan, I have more stories about India that I will post in these news emails within the next few weeks.
Speaking engagements and workshops
I hope you can make it to …
- Edit that Novel writing workshop.Burtchville Township Library (north of Port Huron, Michigan, USA). Saturday, February 18, 2012. 10:00 am until noon. Pubic welcome. No charge. Info: call 269-385-8550.
- Celebrating India's Religious Diversity Sunday service. Unitarian Fellowship, Lochiel Kiwanis Community Centre, 180 College St. North, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. Sunday, February 19, 2012. 11:00 a.m.
- "Great Crossings" travelogue about sailing tall ships across the Atlantic and on the Aegean and Black seas and traveling by freighter on the Baltic Sea. Burtchville Township Library (north of Port Huron, Michigan, USA). Tuesday, February 21, 2012. 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Pubic welcome. No charge. Registration requested. 269-385-8550.
Philippines paradise
Returning from India, I took a slow route with week-long stay-overs in the Philippines and Hawaii. And I put myself on holiday: no computer, few photographs, no watch, no schedule, no hurry … and, consequently, no stories.
So, you will have to use your imagination about warm waters, ocean waves, lots of sunshine, massages on the beach, outrigger canoes, snorkeling, seafood barbecued on the beach at sunset, and four blind, middle-aged guitarists performing “Unchained Melody” in a tiny, crowded island airport.
Getting to paradise
Getting to Kauai, Hawaii, from the U.S. mainland is easy; just book a flight to Lihue Airport.
For a Philippine island adventure, fly to Manila and take a Philippine Airline plane to any of several remote islands. I flew into Tagbilaran on the Island of Bohol. A 30-minute taxi ride took me to the Island of Panglao and the Alona Beach resort area … to paradise.
With a favorable currency exchange rate, the cost was less than $75 per day.
