I was lucky enough to host the entire UK GSE Team at my home last night with their Ulysses hosts.
It was great to see Pete, Delia, Amy, Hayley, Annica and Malcolm again. I didn't realize how much I missed the British accent until I heard them talk last night!
Have a great time in America!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Lessons learned and Thank you to District 1210
ODE TO THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN THE UK
I’ve learned so much thru Rotary GSE
I feel like I acquired a British family
The Brits aren’t the formal, reserved people we thought
They are warm, hospitable and they drink a whole lot
They’ve opened their homes and their hearts to us
And took me around London on a double decker bus
We’ve toured Stately homes and seen royal crests
And tasted mustard that’ll put hair on your chest
We’ve learned you can’t pick your nose on a British street
As it WILL be captured on CCTV
Shopping here is no fun when the dollar’s value is low
And buying clothing 2 sizes larger is bad for my ego
I’ve learned it’s not so bad getting lost on the beautiful hills of Shropshire
But losing my way on the streets of Birmingham was a different experience altogether!
But on a more serious note, the GSE is a vocational exchange and this experience certainly has given me a wealth of knowledge that I can use in my job back in KS. Having the opportunity to visit ASDA and TESCO gave me a new perspective into colleague recognition programs and allowed me to see the different events and celebrations they offer to increase morale. I’ve learned about perfect attendance incentive programs. And I’ve had access to so many training and recruitment tools that help reduce labor turnover. This insight is invaluable in the retail industry. I’d especially like to thank Trevor Humphries for escorting me on my first vocation day so that I was able to visit several places. That was really great.
But GSE hasn’t just provided me job skills. The relevance of GSE cannot be underestimated because the lessons it teaches you will benefit you in every area of life. GSE has shown me that common ground can be found between people of seemingly very different backgrounds. It’s taught me how to place total trust in people because kindness lives in every country. And that’s so vital in our present political climate where conflict and wars arise over trivial differences because people often fail to recognize how truly interconnected our wellbeing is. GSE has shown me how inextricably linked our countries fates are, and all the countries of the world. A financial crisis or war on one side of the world will inevitably ripple across oceans. We cannot afford to ignore the suffering of our neighbors nor act in isolationist ways. We must learn to understand each other so that we can make a more peaceful and prosperous world for everyone--to truly “Make Dreams Real.”
I’ve also learned the worldwide scope of Rotary through my trip--especially through our time at conference. It really is phenomenal and I’m honored that I was given the chance to represent this organization. I’ve learned about the wonderful projects that each club does and the difference Rotary makes in every single community it enters. I was especially blown away with the Compton Hospice that I visited yesterday. It provides so many wonderful services over a large aree and I am amazed that it was started by the passion of a few Wolverhampton Rotarians.
I’m particularly impressed also with the international projects taken on by individuals in this Dictrict. The building projects that Helen Perkins of Wednesfield does every year in different countries and water projects that Jeremy Johnston of Darwin Shrewsbury does in Africa. They are such an inspiration and I will definitely share those stories back home and hopefully inspire the clubs I speak at to start similar projects.
It's been said that “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it’s a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living” That is so true because this trip has changed me forever. And I have seen some pretty amazing sights along the way. The Aquaduct and Ironbridge in the Shropshire area were awesome. Touring Wedgewood with Terry in Stoke was a real treat. Visiting the beautiful Shugborough estate in the Cannock area and the Hindu temple in Wolverhamprtom…well I could go on for hours because every place we visited was so unique and special to us. They each offered such insight into the areas we visited and we were humbled to share that history with you. Thank you for those memories.
But I have to say my most memorable moments from this trip were times spent with my hosts. I feel I learned so much about your country over long dinners and bottles of wine. I’ll always remember touring Powis gardens with Pat York and discussing politics with Dick-he’s such a wealth of knowledge. Touring London with Jan and Richard Jacobs along with Sandra and John is something I’ll hold dear in my heart forever. And Roger and Margo Taylor from Penkridge were so wonderful. They used to prepare a Holicks and a hot water bottle for me every night, which is a tradition I’ll definitely continue at home during our snowy KS winter. And Jenn and Barry Picken, I’ll never forget the beautiful day we spent in Oxford or that French restaurant you took me to where I set fire to the table. It was an accident, but I know how you feel about the French and I was just trying to represent!
Thank you to all the people who were kind enough to allow me into your homes and your hearts. Thanks for allowing me to travel and grow close with a team of four of the most amazing individuals I’ve ever met. I love them dearly. Thank you to the people who support GSE and understand its significance. Thanks to the organizers of our itinerary Trevor Humphries, Geofff Hillman, Alan Holdcroft Barry Picken, Lynne Marshall, John David, Mike, Clive, Bob, Ken--I’m probably forgetting half of them thank God you all have similar names! I realize you probably haven’t slept in weeks due to the enormous amount of work you put into this month, but rest assured it was the time of our lives and we appreciated every moment of it.
I can’t possibly convey what the GSE experience has meant to me or express enough gratitude to you all. This has enriched my life and made me a different person. I will go back to the states a better employee, supervisor, daughter, friend, volunteer and a better person. For that I am eternally grateful. Thank you so much and I will miss you all dearly.
I’ve learned so much thru Rotary GSE
I feel like I acquired a British family
The Brits aren’t the formal, reserved people we thought
They are warm, hospitable and they drink a whole lot
They’ve opened their homes and their hearts to us
And took me around London on a double decker bus
We’ve toured Stately homes and seen royal crests
And tasted mustard that’ll put hair on your chest
We’ve learned you can’t pick your nose on a British street
As it WILL be captured on CCTV
Shopping here is no fun when the dollar’s value is low
And buying clothing 2 sizes larger is bad for my ego
I’ve learned it’s not so bad getting lost on the beautiful hills of Shropshire
But losing my way on the streets of Birmingham was a different experience altogether!
But on a more serious note, the GSE is a vocational exchange and this experience certainly has given me a wealth of knowledge that I can use in my job back in KS. Having the opportunity to visit ASDA and TESCO gave me a new perspective into colleague recognition programs and allowed me to see the different events and celebrations they offer to increase morale. I’ve learned about perfect attendance incentive programs. And I’ve had access to so many training and recruitment tools that help reduce labor turnover. This insight is invaluable in the retail industry. I’d especially like to thank Trevor Humphries for escorting me on my first vocation day so that I was able to visit several places. That was really great.
But GSE hasn’t just provided me job skills. The relevance of GSE cannot be underestimated because the lessons it teaches you will benefit you in every area of life. GSE has shown me that common ground can be found between people of seemingly very different backgrounds. It’s taught me how to place total trust in people because kindness lives in every country. And that’s so vital in our present political climate where conflict and wars arise over trivial differences because people often fail to recognize how truly interconnected our wellbeing is. GSE has shown me how inextricably linked our countries fates are, and all the countries of the world. A financial crisis or war on one side of the world will inevitably ripple across oceans. We cannot afford to ignore the suffering of our neighbors nor act in isolationist ways. We must learn to understand each other so that we can make a more peaceful and prosperous world for everyone--to truly “Make Dreams Real.”
I’ve also learned the worldwide scope of Rotary through my trip--especially through our time at conference. It really is phenomenal and I’m honored that I was given the chance to represent this organization. I’ve learned about the wonderful projects that each club does and the difference Rotary makes in every single community it enters. I was especially blown away with the Compton Hospice that I visited yesterday. It provides so many wonderful services over a large aree and I am amazed that it was started by the passion of a few Wolverhampton Rotarians.
I’m particularly impressed also with the international projects taken on by individuals in this Dictrict. The building projects that Helen Perkins of Wednesfield does every year in different countries and water projects that Jeremy Johnston of Darwin Shrewsbury does in Africa. They are such an inspiration and I will definitely share those stories back home and hopefully inspire the clubs I speak at to start similar projects.
It's been said that “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it’s a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living” That is so true because this trip has changed me forever. And I have seen some pretty amazing sights along the way. The Aquaduct and Ironbridge in the Shropshire area were awesome. Touring Wedgewood with Terry in Stoke was a real treat. Visiting the beautiful Shugborough estate in the Cannock area and the Hindu temple in Wolverhamprtom…well I could go on for hours because every place we visited was so unique and special to us. They each offered such insight into the areas we visited and we were humbled to share that history with you. Thank you for those memories.
But I have to say my most memorable moments from this trip were times spent with my hosts. I feel I learned so much about your country over long dinners and bottles of wine. I’ll always remember touring Powis gardens with Pat York and discussing politics with Dick-he’s such a wealth of knowledge. Touring London with Jan and Richard Jacobs along with Sandra and John is something I’ll hold dear in my heart forever. And Roger and Margo Taylor from Penkridge were so wonderful. They used to prepare a Holicks and a hot water bottle for me every night, which is a tradition I’ll definitely continue at home during our snowy KS winter. And Jenn and Barry Picken, I’ll never forget the beautiful day we spent in Oxford or that French restaurant you took me to where I set fire to the table. It was an accident, but I know how you feel about the French and I was just trying to represent!
Thank you to all the people who were kind enough to allow me into your homes and your hearts. Thanks for allowing me to travel and grow close with a team of four of the most amazing individuals I’ve ever met. I love them dearly. Thank you to the people who support GSE and understand its significance. Thanks to the organizers of our itinerary Trevor Humphries, Geofff Hillman, Alan Holdcroft Barry Picken, Lynne Marshall, John David, Mike, Clive, Bob, Ken--I’m probably forgetting half of them thank God you all have similar names! I realize you probably haven’t slept in weeks due to the enormous amount of work you put into this month, but rest assured it was the time of our lives and we appreciated every moment of it.
I can’t possibly convey what the GSE experience has meant to me or express enough gratitude to you all. This has enriched my life and made me a different person. I will go back to the states a better employee, supervisor, daughter, friend, volunteer and a better person. For that I am eternally grateful. Thank you so much and I will miss you all dearly.
Saying Goodbye
This is a photo of the team at the last Rotary club we visited, the Walsall club. It was one of the few lunchtime Rotary clubs we saw. All the clubs in our district meet during lunch, so this was a significant difference between the two countries.
We has a HUGE farewell dinner before we left Friday night. The Rotarians treated us like celebrities! They all clamored around us and took photos as we were getting into our cars to leave. The District chair told us it's generally difficult to find people to attend the farewell rallies and they rarely get 80 people to come. There were 120 tickets to sell and our rally sold out!! It made us feel great to know how much they cared for us because we had certainly fallen in love with them.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Want some crisps, mate?
These kids were just dressed like this because they were pretending to be servants at the Shugborogh estate but if I had the choice to dress all little boys in America, I would dress them like this...they are soooo cute!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
4 wheelin' in Cannock Chase
Cannock Chase is a mixed area of countryside in the county of Staffordshire, England. The area has been designated as the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It comprises a mixture of natural deciduous woodland, coniferous plantations, open heathland and the remains of early industry, such as coal mining. Despite being relatively small in area, the chase provides a remarkable range of landscape and wildlife, including a herd of around 800 fallow deer. The landscape owes much to the underlying Triassic bunter formations. Efforts are currently underway to increase the amount of heathland on the chase, reintroducing shrubs such as heather in some areas where bracken and birch forest have crowded out most other plants.
That was the history lesson...now for the fun part...we took 2 trucks and went on a very rugged 4 wheel drive tour of the Chase. After getting stuck in the mud once and having to push the Jeep out of a hole...we made it to the top where this gorgeous picture was taken.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
United We Stand
We were so lucky to get to spend time with the outgoing GSE team on Saturday. They are a wonderful group of young professionals. We spent the day promoting GSE to potential candidates, eating at the local pub and we were even able to squeeze in some shopping. Can't wait to see them when they are in the States. Cheers!!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Saturday Night Lights
Saturday was our second night at the district conference and we all figured out that we CAN clean up nicely. After our red carpet photo shoot (needless to say we were treated so well!) we al went in for night of dinner, drinks, an orchestra played music and we danced...and once again loads of fun!
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