How I'm Spending My Summer Vacation

NEA members share their summer plans and previous adventures

Through Eastern Kentucky University's affiliation with the Cooperative Center for Study in Britain, I spent a glorious summer in college with other Americans at the University of London's Kensington campus. I lived in the dorm and truly enjoyed the class schedule, which alternated days in class with days spent on field trips.

For example, in the classroom we discussed the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, then went to Oxford to stroll the campus near his office and have lunch at his favorite pub. To accompany Dorothy L. Sayers' book The Nine Tailors, we met area bell ringers and went up into the steeple at St. Mary's for a first-hand view of bell ringing (a vital part of the novel). It was a sublime experience that combined enjoyable work and vacation.

-- Maria Bellamy, Jackson, Kentucky

Earthwatch offers scholarships for teachers and wonderful opportunities around the world helping scientists do research on various projects from archeological digs to folklore oral interviews. I experienced a wonderful archeological dig in Belize conducted by a professor from Louisiana State University. I learned a lot about the Maya, which I brought back to the classroom.

-- Cassie Major, Waterbury, Vermont

My daughters and I took a shopaholics' vacation to the Mall of America. There are plenty of hotel rooms within walking distance. Dinner, pedicures, movies, shopping...what more can you ask? Beware: Pack lightly -- you'll take home more than you came with!

-- Barbara Hudnall

Storytelling cruises, originally organized by East Tennessee State University, have taken me on amazing adventures to Alaska, Greece, Rome, Turkey, and the Cayman Islands (swimming with stingrays). Storytelling classes with Carmen Deedy, Judith Black, Donald Davis, Barbara McBride-Smith, Dan Keding and this year Bill Lepp have added to my skills in and wonder at the magic of storytelling. Traveling with such friendly folk is pure pleasure!

-- Mary Garrett, St. Peters, Missouri

My husband and I have been motorhoming for 15 years, traveling about 10,000 miles each year. Last winter we spent a month at a mission in Biloxi, Mississippi, and this winter we plan to go on a Habitat build in Florida.

-- Betty Jeanne Roggenkamp, Vernon, Connecticut

When we retired, our goal became visiting the state capitol building of each state. We accomplished this three years ago. We traveled in our RV to each one except, of course, Hawaii's -- we took an airplane there.

Now we are visiting festivals in various states. In 2002 we went to the Cranberry Festival in Warrens, Wisconsin. In 2003 we went to a Bean and Cornbread Festival in Mountain View, Arkansas. In 2004 we went to the Black Walnut Festival in Missouri. (Stockton, Missouri, has the only black walnut processing plant in the world.)

We're researching where we'll head this year!

-- Dorothy Barrett, Syracuse, Nebraska