Thank you Pennsylvania~

I had an absolute fantastic weekend with some of my best friends...Amresh, Sofia and Ali. We all meet at Amresh's new Pennsylvania city, Selinsgrove, AKA, Springgrove. He was such a wonderful host!

This area of the country is so alive with spring...as these pictures demonstrate. I feel so lucky to have such great friends--they make me laugh and I so enjoy their company. I can't wait for our next adventure....Camping this summer!

Saturday night we enjoyed Harrisburg, PA, the state's capital...and also best place for great Indian food. mmmmmmmmmm.
Amresh was such a great host....we so enjoyed this arts festival.
of course I couldn't afford this beautiful yarn, but I couldn't resist hanging out thinking about what I could make with this locally died yarn.

The blossoms on the trees were so pretty!
We enjoyed yummie food at a local arts festival.
Amresh is a professor at Susquehanna University. It is a beautiful campus...similar to where I went for undergraduate studies (St. Bonaventure)... We enjoyed walking around. This is Dr. Kumar's office...so cool eh!

the joy of twins,...

One of my best friends' Jeff and Maria had twins just 5 weeks ago. Abigal and Michael...both born 6 lbs! They are happy and healthy.... Yesterday I went to visit their very lively house (they also have a 18-month-old)!
I am so happy for them....they are weathering this rocky time with lots of love (and great gifts of babysitting!) from family and friends.

I made them two little hats..(of course I forgot to take a picture)....I hope to make them more little goodies in the future....

The best thing about teaching...

Ready for Lecture? (Version 2), originally uploaded by wbelac.

Yesterday I got the most wonderful message from a former student at Daemen...

She told me that she developed a project to help teachers in the Ukraine (teach about ways to raise awareness about human trafficking in high schools) and it is based largely on what she learned at Daemen, specifically through the development of her research proposal!!!! (The class I taught)

I felt so good that the work in the class not only inspired her to do this much needed work, but also inspired her to apply for a PhD program in Toronto (and she was accepted!)

I am so happy for her and I am sure she will continue to make a difference in the world. I am also greatful that I have had the opportunity to help her fulfill her dreams...

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri, originally uploaded by asfrederick.

I just heard about Jhumpa Lahiri's new book, "Unaccustomed Earth". She is one of my favorite writers...her writing provides poetic stories of those making their home outside their birth nation. Her writing draws me in and I seem to fall in love with the characters as they negotiate their identity...

If you want to hear her read from her book, and talk about her writing...check out this NPR story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89461076

I can't wait to read this one!!!

Hurray for a brand new tennis season!

Hurray for a brand new tennis season!, originally uploaded by dasha.

Yesterday Silas, Umesh and and I played our first tennis of the season....and it felt REALLY good!

Now..I need to recruit more players to play this summer...so...if you are tennis fan...get that racket re-strung and join us on the courts~~

I need help being a movie critic

One of my jobs is to help our International Education Week committee decide on a film for our "culture in motion" film series. It is one of the BEST parts of my job!

However, what I find difficult---is being as harsh as let's say Kenneth Turan, the L.A. Times movie reviewer. He is a seasoned reviewer and seems to find a movie's flaws effortlessly! Being the optimist I am...I usually see a metaphor or bright light as well as possible flaws like sterotyping etc.

So here is a film I watched last night. Maybe you out there in Blogville will watch it and send me your thoughts.

The Situation (2006)



I liked the film, even with its flaws (specifically with the character Anna [the reporter]). I think its attempt at providing insight into the next-to-impossible situation in Iraq is heroic, but leaves the viewer feeling unsatisfied. Maybe that's the point?

I think an insightful reviewer, Andy Slabaugh, put it very well, "Perhaps we ought to ask ourselves whether it is the obligation of art and artists to depict the awful ugliness spread at home and abroad by our fumbling leaders, or if it might be preferable to revel in works of beauty such that we might rise above our pitiful moment?"

What do you think?