My Traveler’s Map at 45
Reading a post by NJ Tech Teacher (we tweet) that aligned with the Traveler IQ test from the post below prompted me to post my own World 66 maps. A little more yuletide fluff.
I didn’t leave the US until the Army helped me escape in ‘98. But while in the States, I had the Kerouac bug and hitchhiked or drove crosscountry through these states:
(–okay, I’m cheating with Alaska. My first flight to Asia touched down there for a layover.)
The (Clinton) US Army finally got me out of the States when I was in my 30s. So I put these places on my map:
(–I regret not traveling more while there. But I was new at being worldly.)
After the Army years come the teaching years in Asia (if only I’d known you don’t have to join the Army to escape the States - that international school teaching was there all along). Since 2001, I’ve added these places (dark red means “lived there,” light means “visited”):
My favorite places? Tuscany, Shanghai, Christchurch, Serbia, Lisbon, Mallorca, Kuala Lumpur, Prague, Eugene (Oregon), Laos, Sri Lanka, Paris, and a little island off Thailand until the jet-skis invaded.
Places I still want to see: Russia, India, Australia, Greece, the south of France.
An edu-thought: If you want students to know geography, give them a connection to it. I only know the places I’ve been. I’ve studied maps of the other places over the years, but they just don’t stick. My little sermon for simple collaborative activities from world classrooms.
(Speaking of which: I am in Korea. It is a 1:1 laptop school from grades 6-11. We do have access to every site you can think of. Get in touch if you want me to try to hook any classrooms up with yours. But be nice, and do it timely-like.)
you’ve never been to Scotland!
I’m bitterly disappointed in you Clay… and to think you’d rather go see somewhere like the south of France…
Sean
25 Dec 07 at 5:39 am
…and you’ve totally missed the eastern seaboard of the U.S!
I’ve been to Greece (Rhodes) and it was unforgettable.
My favorite cities are Oxford and London - so far. But there’s a lot more of the world for me to see, so I’ll keep an open mind.
diane
diane
25 Dec 07 at 5:57 am
Mea culpa, Sean, mea culpa. I hope to make a pilgrimage to the land of the Bassplayer soon
Clay Burell
25 Dec 07 at 6:01 am
Diane, I’m a Southerner. I was afraid of penetrating too far into the Yankee heartland.
It is weird, though, isn’t it? I’ve been to most of the world’s major cities, but never to NYC. I hope to fix that one day.
Clay Burell
25 Dec 07 at 6:02 am
Glad to hear it Clay, just make sure and bring a camera, the scenery is amazing up here.
Sean
25 Dec 07 at 6:07 am
Clay,
New York City is a site to see, but my New Orleans/Baton Rouge cousins really love the Adirondacks, up my way.
You should also pay a visit to Boston and Cape Cod.
Maine is gaunt and beautiful, Vermont (where Arthus lives) a cheeky state full of rugged individuals.
Lots to see on the east coast.
diane
diane
25 Dec 07 at 6:53 am
Very impressive! You’re quite correct about geographical knowledge via travel. My paltry score of level 6 - Travel IQ of 92 is terrible. The places I’ve physically visited are so easy to identify. I’m just not ready for the international school circuit.
Ann O
27 Dec 07 at 7:50 am