Just over a year ago my husband Ken announced that he was eligible for sabbatical from his job as a Music Professor and Chair of the Music Department at Washington College. While at the college, he created a core of digital/technology music courses, and he was interested in using his sabbatical to gain more knowledge and experience to expand this program. That would mean many trips to Europe — Berlin and Munich, Germany, Linz and Salzburg in Austria, various locations in Croatia (I know, who would think Croatia would be a digital music hotspot?), and many other locations. OR – we could all take one long trip to Europe, as a family. So that’s what we did. On August 22nd, 2016 we left New York for our 3.5 month adventure. Our plans included setting up a home base in Munich, traveling with Ken to conferences where it made sense, or adventuring on our own when it did not, and inviting all our friends to come and visit. (We are so excited to say that some of them have decided to join us for different parts of this adventure!) We opted to homeschool our girls, using internet school programs and throwing in lots of on-site and hands-on experiences. So far this has included:
- flying a drone in Linz,
- learning how a 3D printer works and then making something with it,
- visiting historic locations made famous through war,
- studying about historical figures that changed the world while at the locations where they made their impact
- participating in cultural events that have existed for hundreds (or thousands of years), including many Church services and of course, Oktoberfest (my girls now now that this Celebration is more than just a carnival)
I also decided that this was a great time for me to write. I have an amazing job using my love for words to tell the stories of some amazing people while asking foundations, government entities and citizens for their support of Kent Center, a program that helps adults who have developmental disabilities to achieve their goals and dreams. This is a very rewarding job, but I have always wanted to write more. So that is what I am doing. Writing about things that cause me to think. Someday I hope to be as witty as Erma Bombeck, and eloquent as Margaret Atwood, as creative as J.K. Rowling, and as humanistic as Malala. Until then, it’s just me, writing to get the words out of my brain and onto the paper, if for no other reason than I can get a good night’s sleep.
The Chance To Fly 