Jessie Voigts's Blog, page 68
February 8, 2022
Through the Eyes of an Educator: Surviving vs. Thriving
At the turn of a new year, often thoughts turn to dreams, desires—and sometimes even destiny. We rethink, refocus, reset for the next to come. Whether you set intentions, made some of those resolutions, or have given yourself a talking to in order to remain more in the present moment, December turns to January...and then the hard work begins.
As we shift further from those first few weeks, we find ourselves squarely in the midst of that new year. Now what? Do y...
February 1, 2022
Top 3 Things You Need to Know When Traveling to Israel and Tasting Israeli Wines
Since biblical times, Israel has been engaged in the manufacture of wine. It is currently the only country in the Middle East to do so commercially and professionally.
Before the modern era—and we are talking about two thousand years ago—wine production in Israel was primarily for religious rites, with quantity being more essential than quality. Because of several military occupations, the industry never entirely took off until the end of the nineteenth century,...
January 19, 2022
12 Tips for visiting the Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China, one of the seven wonders of the world and a UNESCO Heritage Site, is on many a bucket list (raises hand and waves). The Great Wall (actually in sections, so walls) is incredibly long (over 13,000 miles!), and averages a height of 20 feet, width of 21 feet. It is said that the Great Wall was built by over a million people; it reaches across 15 regions of China, and is the country's most visited site (for ease and a knowledgeable guide, ta...
January 17, 2022
Music for Beginnings and Changes
The start of a new year always seems to suggest and invite beginnings and changes, thinking over what has come before and considering what may be.
In these shifting times with changes and uncertainties continuing in every aspect of life, music can offer reflection, hope, and guidance when considering all these situations.
Jennifer Cutting took on the new year's start directly in her song The Turning Year. It is also the title of the six track album from her grou...
January 15, 2022
The Advantages of Studying Abroad for a Semester
Taking a semester to travel and study abroad can be a challenging but positive experience for students. The benefits can include anything from enhancing your network to increasing your employment opportunities.
Preparing for a Semester Abroad
Of course, planning to travel during one of your semesters will take some preparation before you are able to leave. You will need to plan accommodations and things to do. Your school may have a program to he...
January 11, 2022
Photographer Spotlight: Scott Youmans
It was a water photo that drew me in, of course. A snow-covered rock up on Minnesota’s North Shore, sun peeking through icicles, wave movement, sea smoke, the gorgeous clouds of sunrise…Minneapolis photographer Scott Youmans captured magic in that moment, and shared it with us all.
Hollow Rock Resort, Grand Portage, Minnesota
Naturally, I traversed weeks (nay, months!) of his Instagram feed, and fell in love with his vision of our world. Nort...
January 6, 2022
History Comes Alive in St. Kitts
A few weeks before embarking on our first pandemic cruise, I researched our tour options. Even though COVID levels were under control in St. Kitts, San Juan, and St. Thomas, we did not feel comfortable sitting on a cruise ship tour bus or being part of a large group. Unlike many other passengers who felt safest aboard the ship, we wanted to explore St. Kitt’s historic sites, only reachable by car or bus.
I searched for a local expert on the St. Kitts Touri...
Close to the heart: Women-led NFT project PUL3E to launch charitable mission to raise funds for Heart Failure
PUL3E is an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) project founded by Emilie and her partner Andrew, creating unique digital art on the Ethereum blockchain. PUL3E have pledged to donate 5-10% of all proceeds raised from selling their NFT art to Heart Failure charities. Their 3D animated artwork is based on a 3D model of the human heart and true-to-life ECG patterns, showcasing a range of heart conditions and abnormalities.
In April 2021, Andrew was hospitalised and diagnosed w...
January 4, 2022
Celebrating Resilience and Our Wild, Outrageous Capacity for Love: Jeannine Ouellette's The Part That Burns
Oh, this book. I just finished The Part That Burns, an extraordinary, powerful, must-read memoir by Jeannine Ouellette. The Part That Burns epitomizes what Parul Sehgal, in a recent New Yorker article on trauma, wrote: "trauma becomes but one rung of a ladder. Climb it; what else will you see?" In The Part That Burns, Ouellette does, indeed, climb a ladder from trauma to healing.
Her beautiful, graceful, compelling writing tells her lived experience; shows us that...
January 3, 2022
Through the Eyes of an Educator: Cultivating Compassion, Kindness, & Empathy
We’ve turned the calendar page. As December has now come to a close, the lessons of the previous year hover between one year’s end and the other’s beginning. The old, the icky, the struggles, the issues of that past year shift into the focus of lessons learned and goals for a new year. Not necessarily resolutions or musts, but with the learning and unlearning of our past, we set our sights on a brighter tomorrow. Whether the learners in your house are in the thro...
