Fulbright Greece/Bulgaria » Preparations

Prepartations are almost over

bantonucci — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:21:20 +0000

We had the bon voyage party yesterday. The weather was beautiful. In fact, it was like a day you hear about in the Mediterranean, warm, dry, and sunny. The party goers are pictured on the left with the exception of Harper and Grandma. (One was napping; the other was in the bathroom.) This will most likely be my last post under the “Preparations” category. I want to thank everyone for the good wishes, cards, and gifts. They were more than I expected. I hope to be able to post from Chicago under “The Trip” category. That will be the first test of our access to technology while we’re on the road. I’d also like to start the “Where in the world…?” questions while I’m there. Jill and I also looked at a couple of the hotel web sites where we’ll be staying. I’m curious to see if they’re as nice in person as they look on the internet. Anyway, that’s all for now. I might think of more later. …and your comments are always welcome (the good ones at least).

It’s all Greek to me.

bantonucci — Thu, 22 May 2008 04:10:46 +0000

With only a few days left before departure, the info is flowing. We received an e-mail that answered several of our questions about the Bulgarian portion of the trip. And then another e-mail arrived from Greece with two pages of “Useful Information” and the hotels we’ll be staying in. We also received a tentative schedule of events in Greece. We’re going to be on the move a lot! The schedule is packed. I’m also receiving a packet from Greece tomorrow. Fed Ex tried to leave it today. I’ll attach the schedule if you’re interested in reading it. Schedule for Greece

Getting closer…

bantonucci — Tue, 20 May 2008 02:35:39 +0000

I received two e-mails today: one from Maria in Bulgaria and one from Meredith in Chicago. Maria answered some of our questions that should help us decide what to bring. Meredith sent details on where we’ll be staying in Chicago and the agenda for the three days we are there. We’re going to meet some of the people who we’ve been e-mailing as well as experts on art, language, and customs. We’re even having a workshop on folk dancing (not my favorite, but oh well). We have to try new things, even dancing. We’ll also have one meal at a Bulgarian restaurant and one at a Greek restaurant (not Bugaboo Greek). Jill is planning a bon voyage party Sunday at 2:00 pm. Anyone who reads this blog is invited. Now I’ll see who’s really paying attention.

Meanwhile, I have stuff spread all over the bedroom upstairs. I have to decide what to take. How many shirts, how much underwear, socks, etc? I want to travel as light as possible, but I want to cover all the bases too. It looks as though we’ll be moving every few days and living out of a suitcase.

The right question

bantonucci — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:07:08 +0000

One of the Fulbrighters started a blog to share information. Not much was happening on that blog. I posed a question about computer access. Was anyone bringing a laptop? Would we have access to computers while we’re traveling? My school laptop is way too heavy to lug through airports, bus stations, and hotel lobbies. So far, I’ve received three responses to my question about computers. Two people plan on bringing laptops; one other (besides me) are leaving the laptop at home. The people who want to bring their computers are willing to share. That helps ease my mind a little. My plan was to use this blog to share information and pictures as I go along, but I didn’t know about computer access until now. At least I should be able to use a shared pc.

I also heard from Meredith in Chicago. Our books and other materials have been mailed. She is also sending us information about our flights to Chicago and about gifts to bring to our hosts in the countries we’re visiting. And that’s the latest.

New banner

bantonucci — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:01:21 +0000

We’re getting closer to d-day! Rob designed a new “Where in the world…?” banner that you should see at the top of this page. Let me know if it doesn’t work on your computer. Eventually I want this to be a banner of a separate page where I can post a question and students (or anyone else) can research the question. I also have a bibliography of Greece and Bulgaria resources that I want to post on that page. Wednesday the Board is scheduled to approve my leave.

The Countdown

bantonucci — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:02:01 +0000

It’s May, and time is passing. There’s not a lot new to talk about. We’re still waiting for the Greece schedule and materials about the countries. I have heard from several of the other Fulbrighters in Hawaii, New York, and New Hampshire. They are asking about what sort of small gifts to bring and whether we need shots or not. I have a line on some gifts, and the consensus is that we don’t need shots for Greece and Bulgaria. I’m also starting to think about what my curriculum project might be. I’m thinking about a “Where in the world is…Mr. Antonucci?” link on my library web page. I could pose a question or post a picture while I’m away. Some of the questions and pictures from that link could lead into that project. All of these ideas are based on the assumption that I’ll have access to computers. And that is a big question mark.

Chicago orientation

bantonucci — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:22:07 +0000

Yesterday I received the agenda for our orientation at the University of Chicago May 29 and 30. I’ll finally get to meet some of the coordinators of the program from Washington, Greece, and Bulgaria and the other fifteen “survivors” who I’ll be traveling with. We’re scheduled to have sessions on the language, culture, history, and the art of both countries. And the session that sounds really good to me is titled “Traveling with a Teacher’s Eye: Collecting Materials and Developing Curricula.”

Good news…bad news

bantonucci — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:16:43 +0000

We just returned from a relaxing trip to visit Katie in Florida. I had a chance to test some of the things I want to bring with me this summer: digital voice recorder, zip-off pants, rechargeable batteries. I also bought (with Jill and Katie’s help) a cotton blazer I could wear for dress up occasions. We’re scheduled to go a reception at the U.S. embassy in Bulgaria on the Fourth of July. I also received flight information from Meredith at the University of Chicago. It turns out that Meredith grew up in Rochester and returns here often to visit her parents. (Maybe that’s one of those six degrees of Bulgaria things.) I also bought that emergency insurance that will fly me or my remains out of country in case something really, really bad happens. (Hopefully, it won’t.) And for the bad news, as things stand right now, I’ll be taking an unpaid leave from Sodus Central School while I’m gone. So this program will cost me a lot more than I planned.

Survivor Greece/Bulgaria?

bantonucci — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:02:24 +0000

My son tells me that for this blog to work, I need to post stuff more often. So here is my latest post. I’ve heard from all of the other 15 people in my group. What a diverse group! They are from all over the country: Hawaii, Montana, California, Texas, New Hampshire, Illinois, Georgia, Utah, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and of course New York. We have professors of history, education, philosophy, and psychology. A couple teachers teach at private schools, one at a New York City magnet school. And there is at least one other school librarian. Only a few of the people teach at public schools. So at this point, I’m getting a little apprehensive. Will this be like a college road trip with a lot of cool, smart people who you like to hang out with? Or will it be more like “Survivor Greece/Bulgaria” where you can’t vote anyone off? What do you think?

First Chicago…

bantonucci — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:44:53 +0000

We received an e-mail from Meredith at the University of Chicago giving us more details about the orientation there. We’ll be in Chicago May 28, 29, and 30. We’ll stay in hotels, attend meetings, and talk about ideas for possible curricular projects. And then on to Greece May 31. Our return from Sofia is July 7.