10 Ways to Become Extremely Productive and Organized

“Argh!” my friend emailed, “How are you able to juggle all your work and social and fitness obligations??”

“Help me organize my life!”

In the email I wrote back to her, I realized that I have, indeed, honed a set of concrete Life Juggling strategies that have enabled me to get a ton done (click here for examples of uber-productivity) while still staying sane.

Allow me to share these productivity tricks with you now, as you [...Read More!]

2011 in this Travel Empire, and Madrid Night Photos

Happy New Year from Madrid, Spain!

What a year it’s been, eh? As December 31, 2011 draws to a close, here are some glittering photos of holiday-decorated Madrid, Spain (as snapped last night), along with a kind of “State of the Union” run-down of statistics from this teaching-traveling website empire for 2011. (As always, click blue-highlighted words for related articles.)

2011 IN NUMBERS:

First-person world travel articles written on AroundTheWorldL.com in 2011: 59 Global education interviews and [...Read More!]
Hello From Madrid, Spain! How Different it is This Time!

Hello From Madrid, Spain, where I am on a wonderful, whirlwind Free Teacher Training Tour run by EF Tours!

On this 5-day trip, I am in training with a group of teachers who have flown in from around the United States to prepare as much as possible to lead a group of our students abroad. In my case, I will be leading 42 Boston students to Beijing, China in just 1.5 months!

So far, this [...Read More!]

We Are Engaged! Or: How Travel Can Find and Build Love

On Wednesday I came home to find a rose petal scavenger hunt!

Under the largest petal was a beautiful letter from my beau, Colin, along with the instructions: “Go to the smallest suspension bridge in the world.”

I Googled the clue… and it turns out the smallest suspension bridge in the world is in the Boston Public Garden!

I sprinted the five blocks from our apartment to the garden and onto the bridge over [...Read More!]

Why the Joyful New England Summer is so Precious

Yesterday was the first day of Fall, the Autumnal Equinox. And for myself and hundreds of other people who knew and loved a remarkable man named Kolajo Afolabi, yesterday was also a fall from innocence into deep grief as our dear, dear friend fell while running and passed away from the resulting injuries.

To celebrate our friend’s life, a life of warmth, contribution, love, and joy, I invite you to gaze at these [...Read More!]

Why China is the Most Intense Country I Have Traveled To

You’ve read my account of the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and other China tourist attractions, but now let’s get into the darker side of my 17 days in the most populous country on Earth.

The reality is that China is the most intense country that I have ever traveled to, and I have traveled to over 30 countries across the globe!

Now, the intensity of China travel is actually good news, [...Read More!]

The Power of One Cheesy 80s Song During World Travel

One of the few songs I had on my small, cheap computer to travel around the world for 9 months was “Rains Down in Africa” by Toto, so you can imagine how many times I listened to it.

There are some songs that, while cheese-tastic, evoke a magical glitter in the air, and for me, Toto’s “Africa” is sure one of them.

So last Thursday, standing under the soaring dome and 100-foot arches [...Read More!]
What's Changed, 1 Year After Returning from RTW Travel?

Exactly a year ago today, I returned back to America after nine straight months traveling around the world.

What a change a year makes! My life now is unrecognizable from 365 days ago… and it’s an inspiring reminder of how we never have to be stuck!

On May 12, 2010, I flew from Madrid back to Boston with no secure job, no apartment of my own, a fragmented social scene, and a small [...Read More!]

The N-Word We Should Explicitly Teach to Our Students

“What’s that “N” word we were talking about last week?” I asked my students today.

“Networking!” shouted a flock simultaneously.

“Right!” I exclaimed, thrilled at how well the ongoing training was progressing. “And what does ‘Networking’ mean?”

“Meeting other people to connect ideas and opportunities,” one 8th grader offered. ”Seeing how you can help someone with their project and goals,” added another, “and how they can help you on yours.” I nearly fainted in happiness. My Campaign [...Read More!]

Big Dig and Waterfire: We're ALL Developing Countries

What magic, the advancements that have occurred within the past few years in our “Developed” country!  I’m astounded at the changes that have taken place in the United States within my lifetime.

We in America like to prance around and declare ourselves “Developed,” while we proclaim poorer countries “Developing” or “Less Developed.”

But terms like “The Developed World” make us seem fixed, finished, and all set.  In fact, no, we sure aren’t!  From [...Read More!]

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