Blackberry Tizzy

 Blackberry Tizzy

Sour Ale

Troegs Brewery, PA

I usually like everything this brewery makes but this beer didn't do it for me.  Yes, I do not like sours and this beer is no exception.  It tasted like a blueberry Snapple. There was nothing there that even tasted like a beer.  It was too effervescent and fruity.  This is just not my taste.  No thanks.

Everyone Is Born Equal

 Everyone Is Born Equal

SIAS University

Henan Province, CHina

Spring 2012

I taught global leadership skills to college women in China.  We focused on ways to implement and achieve the United nations Millennium Goals. When I asked my students, which goal was most important to them, Abigail said the goal to provide universal education was most important.  There is her written response:

"(1) Everyone is born to be equal including the right of being educated.  (2) Education is very important to improve ourselves and develop the culture all over the world. (3) There's lots of reasons which prevent children from getting more education such as poverty, traditional concepts and so on.

So there is a badly need to make the universe education come true."

Abigail

I Believe In Miracles

 

I Believe in Miracles

A Hopeful Message From A Former Student

Henan Province, China

2015

Dear Bridget,

How's your holiday? What do you do on your vacation? I bet you have so much fun.
I just come back to school for the finals.

I went home to celebrate my Dad's birthday and we had talks and fun. My Dad has become aged and forgetful. I feel sad. The nuts I bought for them were just delivered on the day I arrived. So we ate the nuts happily! We also ate hotpot together. and this time my Dad was fine with me studying abroad, only if I can get a scholarship.

My GMAT score is ok, not good.  I just signed up for another language test, IELTS. My mom said my college life is miserable, filled with tests. It is just what I have to do, in order to fulfill my dream. I don't know whether I will reach my dream, however I believe in miracles.

Love,
Gloria

UPDATE:  Gloria did earn a full scholarship to a university in AZ and earned her MBA.  She is back in China, working in a professional job.

Social Media In China

Social Media in China

Beijing, China

Winter 2012

I got to my hotel with no problem so I went to the internet to send a message to my family.  I wanted to let them know I arrived safely.  Getting access to the internet was not a problem.  But I couldn’t access Facebook or LinkedIn or Twitter or Stumble upon or You Tube or my blog.  Suddenly, my world became very isolated.

I can’t access the BBC or the NY Times or Voice of America.  But I can get the China Daily newspaper and everything is going well in China today.

Thanksgiving Greetings

Thanksgiving Greetings

From China

November 2012

I got them all day long on Thursday from my students. I am back in the USA after spending last spring semester in China with them at SIAS University.  I taught leadership skills to these wonderful college students.

They don’t really understand the day as it is not one of their holidays.  But my Chinese students understand that this must be an important day because on this day, their American teachers only have to teach until noon.  These teachers are then allowed to use the cafeteria kitchen and cook a Thanksgiving dinner for themselves and their English language classes are cancelled for the afternoon. All other classes on campus go on as scheduled.

 

Dear kelly
Have a good day for Thanksgiving day my girlfriend

Liam ( Bush)

Hi, Bredget:

Hoe you doing? Happy Thanksgiving Day! Robert told me you two had a good conversation, and I am so glad that you will come back together. Looking forward to seeing you. Miss you! Haha~~  Carina

Hi Bridget there is a long time i didn't send you email . How are you these days. I guess you are celebrating the thanksgiving day. Hope you spend a good time . I miss you so much . Hope everything is going well with you . Maryann told me that you are looking for a job now . Do you find it ? And how was your new job . Hope to hear from you soon. I miss you! Emily

 

Hi Bridget,

Happy thanksgiving day!!!!

Enjoy it with your famliy and friends!!

Thank you for encourage me a lot!

My dearest coffee mother, Miss you so much!!

Love you , Olivia

 

Gloria's Greeting

 Gloria’s Greeting to Me on Thanksgiving:

From My Chinese Student @ SIAS University

Henan Province, China

November 2012

Hi Bridget!

I miss the time we spent together. I miss the coach we sit together. I miss the meals we had together. I miss you…

I believe you know how deeply I appreciate the help and advice you’ve given me. However I still want to say it to you, especially on this special day! Thank you for being there with me and all the World Academy members! Thank you for being supporting us! Thank you for having faith in us! Thank you for loving us! Thank you for providing the opportunity for us to explore the powerful ourselves and tears!

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m hoping to skype with you soon.

Longing to meeting you as soon as possible!

Gloria

My response to Gloria:

Now you are going to make me cry. Today as my family sat at the table and named everything that we were thankful for, I mentioned that I was thankful for all my new Chinese friends. I am one lucky woman.

Bridget

Bethlehem Brew Works

Bethlehem Brew Works

Corner of Main and Broad Streets

Bethlehem, PA

I stumbled upon this place after my friends’ funeral.  I wasn’t in the mood for a good time but I wanted to hang just a little bit longer with those of us who went to the funeral to chat with each other. This was a good place to meet.  Located in historical Bethlehem, PA, this place has a pleasant ambience.  The staff was friendly.  There were three different IPA’s on tap.  The flight was robust and responsibly priced.   I didn’t get the full flight because I wasn’t in the mood but I want to come back to this place in the near future.

As a standard, they offer the Valley Garden lager, the Steelgaarden Wit, the Fegley’s E.S.B. and the Steelworkers’ Oatmeal Stout.  They also offer six other rotating beers. They offer 6-packs and cases at local distributors.  They offer a Brew Works Reward card.  They also offer a full menu of food. Check it out.

TheBrewWorks.com

From Susanna

A Former Student

SIAS University

Henan Province, China

 Dear Bridget,

How are you? It's been a long time haven't talked to you. I heard that you were in Haiti right now. How is it and would you like to tell me more about that?

 

I just sent out the application for being the World Academy third year member which named Academy in Action!!!

 

I was collecting all the students contacts who were involved with World Academy for the past five years so that we can start a evaluation survey of WAFW during the past two weeks.

And, I did Vision Board with facilitator Kristine and other second/third year members last night. I am so excited to have that and I am totally surprised how can I have this such perfect picture what I exactly want. I wanna share that with you.

Did you draw a vision board before?

Today is Mid-Autumn Festival. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 

Miss you,

Susanna

November 2, 2010

November 10, 2010

Turning On the Heater War

Carpenter's Point, MD

Facebook post

 ON THIS DAY

10 years ago

Dan Tracy

Bridget E Kelly

November 2, 2010  · 

You won the heat war.  It's on.

1 Comment

Comments

• Bridget E Kelly

  Well, I think I had an advantage over you because I don"t have kids and you can't let your kids freeze because of your stubbornness. So I will give you a handicap. I will see if I can go one more week.

  • Like

Students' Personal Wikipedias

Students' Personal Wikipedias

SIAS University

Henan Province, China

Spring 2012

My students rarely carry any books or paper or any other academic tools.  Most of them have an electronic translator on their cell phones.  And some of them walk around with a thick paper back dictionary that is filled with idioms and slang.  Students tend to pick an expression or two from the book and try it out in class.  Usually, they are off just a bit but they are proud of their efforts.  So it isn’t worth it to correct them.

But in spite of the fact that they have no books, every one of them walks around with a small notebook pad which they keep with them at all times.  This is their own Wikipedia.  It contains all of the Americano they can record.  If I mention a movie that interested me, they whip out that notebook and write down the name of that movie.

If I mention an author, that name gets entered in the book.  If I use a word that never heard, it is written down after one of them yells out, “Spell it please”.  And heads go down and scribble down my every thought.

After class one night, I asked students if they wanted to go  for a cup of tea. One student said to me, “lets’ just talk causal. No need to talk turkey all the time.” When I mentioned that this was not a common expression, she was able to site the reference and history of this expression.  Apparently, it goes back to the days of the pilgrims.

Another student stopped me recently and asked “what is the difference between polluted and contaminated?’  I started to give her some lame explanations but then suggested that she just look it up in her dictionary.

“What’s the difference between fable and fairy tale”?  Well, I tried to explain that they are really similar and we use them interchangeable.  “Oh,” she tells me, “I thought a fable had animals that represented something else and a fairy tale didn’t have animals.”  She is making notes as I  talk.

At the end of every class, I now know to anticipate them.  As I am packing up my things, they scramble to get to me first.  “Bridget, just one minute, how do you say this word”?  And usually, there is a list of four or five words, all unrelated.  They have expressions that they think they heard and ask if I can interpret their idea of that they am had heard.

One student in particular comes up to me after class and just runs thought a list.  How do you say “sleeve”,  “Tom”, “Tim”, “proxy”, “eradicate”,  and the list goes on and on.  I looked at her long list of words and it looks as if she recently asked someone else for the meaning of “erotica”.

One student wanted me to list all of the American authors since 1950 because she likes American authors.  She’s read two books and wants to read more.  I mentioned that there were 1000s of authors.  “No, no”, she corrects me, “just authors since 1950”.  She is reading the Wonderful World of the Wizard of Oz.  The top half of the page is written in Chinese and the bottom half is written in English.  She sees it as a very humorous book with a very good morale.  I asked her what is her interpretation of the moral, “study hard and go to college and you will be successful”, and she tells me confidently.  I asked how she came to this conclusion and she turns to her trusty notebook and leafs through the book and finds a few notes she had on the book.  She quotes something that confirms her thoughts.

They have charts that convert Celsius to Fahrenheit.  They have the exchange rate of US currency.  They have the list of all the foreign faculty they know and the colleges they attended.  Business cards are stuffed in these notebooks.  Email addresses, Skype address and phone numbers are stored in there.

If I mention a state, I have to spell it, give a general idea of its geographic location and indicate any colleges in that state that offer scholarships to foreign students from China.

If I mention something that is too complicated for them to understand at the moment, I have to write it down for them.  They never ask me to write it.  They just hand me the book and it is understood that I have to write it.  Then they squint their eyes and try to decipher what I wrote and then they have to rewrite it in Chinese/American alphabet script.

Then they put their book away and the conversation moves on.  And then I make another statement and the book comes out all over again.

LinkedIn Connections

LinkedIn Connections

SIAS University

Henan Province, China

2012

I am getting my Chinese students on LinkedIn.com and they are so excited to connect with Americans.  So I am trying to connect them with as many of my connections as possible.  However, some of my students think they have to send personal letters to everyone who connects with them.  Below is a letter a friend of mine (Carroll) received this week from one of my students, Corina.

Hello Carrol. Thank you for connecting with me. I am so excited and hope to become friends with you. I am a sophomore in China and not that mature, so I hope I could learn from you. If you want to learn more about China you could ask me, I will be very happy. And welcome to China someday. By the way, I just finished a Chinese traditional festival---Tomb Sweeping Day. It's a holiday for people to memorate their ancestors or some dead relatives and family members, usually our parents will do these jobs.

This April is a busy month. Tomorrow I am going to a library to read story for some little kids. Several days later, we will have a spring sports meeting, then a major test is coming, I am also take some training classes. Are you living a busy life? What do you think is a ideal life? Do you have some suggestions for a college student?

Happy every day!

Carina

It's Really Cold Today

 It's Really Cold Today

Sias University

Henan Province, China

April 12, 2012


The temperature is around 38F.  It was sleeting a little bit this morning. Now it’s just rainy and windy and miserable. It’s been like this for the last three days and it doesn't look as if it’s going to be warmer for another few days. To make matter worse, the heat was turned off on Monday.  Every building on campus has a cold, cold feel to it.  When I speak, even when I am inside, I can see my breath.  Last night, I had to wear my gloves while I was teaching.

Deep Miss

 

Deep Miss

A Message From A FORMER SATUDENT

SIAS University

Henan Province, China

December 2012

I love the choice of words my students use,  "DEEP MISS".  Every time I hear from one of them, i just want to go back to China and see them again.  They are so genuine in thier feelings and admiration for anyone who treats them with any kind of kindness.  I want to be more like them.

Olivia	12/31/12 (9 days ago)
to me

HI dearest coffee mother ,

How are you this days? I am so sorry that long time no connect with you, I miss you so much.

I would like reporting my school life for you on this semester. Of course, I must start it from World Academy, you know, it is kind of my biggest things in school since I became the drictor of the WAFW students office. I worked here at day, and dreaned it at night. hoho. I just enjoy myself in world academy very much. Even though it is a chellage for me that running 

office or take targe of the whole things and the whole responsibility。 I just love it. 

Yep, at Sep, I was Jerrie's assistant, and helped her as possible as I can. I tried my best to learn English and prictised my pronunciation,so that I can communicated with our facilitators easily , specially is Jerrie ,she gave me courage to make the mistakes ,and correct it for me, And Shriley helped me,too. It was so busy everyday, but they reminded me for learning everyday at least 15 mins. And I did it.

At Oct, Jerrie and Nanda (the new member's facilitator, she is Combodian) ,and Shriley had to USA , And then Robert and Suasn come here , and taught us for one month, And during that time, I continued my project --"Give Vioce for Women", And I thought I sent to you my abstrct before when I was a solo person to do this , But now I got a team to help me ,so we want do more,not just recording the new members' grown-up in WAFW, ( actualy this is my frist step,and we have already finished it at 20th Noc.) , we also wantta give voice to village women, who are creating their own business or be a leader in her village, interviewed them, give them chance to encourage other girls using their own experience. and The last step is on education Sias women, we are planning to hold two times lecture on female enterpreneures, inviting some company leader who has rich experience on create business to sharing something.Hopefully, could inspiring our girls, let them know, they can do anything if they wantta.

At Nov, can I say it was my huge busy month in Sias campus, Specially in the bridge cafe (this new cafe is location at Peter Hall , which building you lived in, and I have to tell you the turth, there are lots of great taste coffee ^_^) , you know, what did I do? hoho.I invited somen froeign facuties to help the World Academy (WA) out. Cause, since Susan and Robert back to America, we got the gap of the fascolitator, the facilitator who will come but she got a bad healthy during that time, so she must delayed it. And then Jerrie is creative thinker, I would like to say, she chose the On Line Education, which means via Skype teaching us one hour each day. So the rest time, I have to ask some teachers help whatever she or he is english-speaker or not, and you know , I schdueled my time on every hour , and made the appiontment with them at lobby in bridge cafe, and explained what's going on in WA frist, abd ask them for help, it was a big chellage for me at frist, but not any more. at last I had successed in inviting 26teachers for helping, and some teachers just enjoyed it and ask me if I need any help, Just ask her. So wonderful. 

At Dec, at the frist two weeks ,Sias teacher helped us, and the thried week is Andrea's family. Andrea and her husband Ed and her handsome son Phillip visited Sias for the whole week , so they taught us at that week, and then was high time to finish this semester WA class. 

Wooh. you know , when I thought back this semester, I just think it is unbelievable, such as when Shriley came here at Sep, her plant (SHE MEANS PLANE) would arriving at 11pm at the middle night, I and Monday (Our second member) at the air plane and picked her up, and her plant  just delayed for six hour ,so I and MOnday just slept at airport ,hohoho,

And Now I am writing the email to you ,and at the same time , review my subjects, ;ots of examations, OMG, I have to deal with them now .

I will email you more funny things, eager to get your repley.

Take care,

Best,

Olivia

Give Women Voice

Give Women Voice

SIAS University

Henan Province, China

Spring 2012

 When I asked my students, which UN Millennium Goal was most important to them, Trina said the goal to empower women was most important.  Here is her written response:

"I interested in promote gener equality and empower women. The reason who is that there also have some areas women can not share their opinions and they don't have social status. I want to help them, give women voice! I hope they can do themselfes (sic).  I also hope the women can be a leader in company. Because they are more careful and more considerable than men leaders. If they be a leader, they can do things better."

Trina

The Old Bike

 

 

The Old Bike

Henan Province, China

Winter 2012

 

I saw this bike cart on my first day in China and I have never seen anything so worn out in my life.  A frail, old man rode this rickety, old cart.  I wonder which machine will die first: the man or the bike?

 

World Academy for the Future of Women

Sias International University

November 2015

I am back at this university to teach again in the WAFW.  I was here 3 years ago and the program has grown substanially.  I have 100 students in the first year group, 30 males in the Men's Academy for the Future of Women and 40 students in the Advanced Academy of WAFW.  That means at any one time, I may have 50-60 students in my two hour evening class. So far, no one has fallen asleep which I will view as a measurement of some success.

Facing Change

                                                                        Facing Change

Sias University

World Academy for the Future of Women

                                                                         Spring 2012

At the beginning of every class, I have the students write for me.  Today, I posted this on the board

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, 

but nothing can be changed until it is faced." 

James Baldwin, U.S. Author

I asked the students to write a free response to this quote.  Here are some of their responses:

"In our life, we meet many, many things that is boring, difficult.  At this time, what things should we do?  Crying, waiting.... No! No! No! We should stand up and dare to fight with it.  Come on!”

"The surrounding is not easy to change. Rather than stay there and complain, it is a wise choice to change our way of thought.”

"You should take every opportunity that will make you grow.  Everything is not by chance, it will take a consequence and it's a new start, a new story.  If you give up, you missed is not just an experience. It’s a colorful world here, all kinds of surprises inside.  And at last maybe you fall, that just because of your misunderstanding about your true heart.  So believe yourself and go ahead, you can!"

"If I try it, I might face a change.  If I don't do it, I might never face a change.  Sometimes changes are waiting for us; we never know what will be going on if we lose confidence to make an effort.  We should try our best to make it change. Even though we can’t change at last, we have the process to make progress."

"Not everyone can change everything but if one can try his or her best, something may happen in the way that she or she wants.  Just as a huge mountain which looks like not being moved. If there are many people working hard day and night, it can be moved in some day. So, no matter how terrible the circumstances we are, we should not give up."

Congress Street IPA

 

Congress Street IPA
Trillium Brewery
7.2% Alcohol
Boston, MA

This beer has a very satisfying taste.  It's full of favor but not filling. I could easily drink this beer all day. It has a lingering hops taste to satisfy us IPA kooks.

Vanilla Porter

 Vanilla Porter

A Recommendation

November 2012

OK, the pumpkin ales are gone.  And that is ok because now I am getting ready for my next favorite time of the year:  winter ales, Christmas ales and porters.  I just love this time of year.

I had my first porter for the season: Breckbrew's Vanilla Porter.  And it was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this porter. It is almost a dessert beer but I hate to think of beer as being dessert.  IT should always be the entree.

www.breckbrew.com

The Dissendent

 The Dissident

Ale Brewed With Cherries

in French Oak Barrels

2016 Reserve

Deschutes Brewery

Nope, not my style.  Get rid of the cherries.

Life Is Treating Me Well

Life Is Treating Me Well

A Message From One of My Chinese Students

SIAS University

Henan Province, China

Fall 2013

 From: Gloria Pan

> Sent: ‎Tuesday‎, ‎November‎ ‎19‎, ‎2013 ‎9‎:‎55‎ ‎AM
> To: Bridget
>
> Dear Bridget,

> Since I decided to pursue a further study of Master of Science in
> Marketing, I've been focusing on the personal statement and resume and
> the preparation for GMAT exam. The process is really difficult yet
> exciting. I begin to have fun in math which is a surprise to me! :)

> Life is treating me well.

> Do you know about the Springfield College? what do you think of it?

> If you have leisure time, would you please consider looking at my
> resume? I have revised tens of times and look forward to professional
> suggestions.

> Love,
> Gloria
>
> --
> The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.
>
> －Franklin Roosevelt

Vita's Story

Vita's Story

SIAS University

Henan Province, China

Spring 2012

I taught leadership skills to college women at a university in China.  Most of the women were from rural China and frequently were the only people in their village to go to college.  I asked them to write their stories and this is what Vita told me.

 I was born in a not small village. My village has gorgeous scenery. There are many pear and apple trees. In my memory, there are many clear rivers. In summer, we even swam, catched fish in the water.

     I have a big family, my parents,3 elder sisters and I. In fact,I have 4 elder sisters, my parents can't afford 5 children, so they agreed to let others to bring the 4th child. I even know nothing about that sister. My mother always cry when she talked about it. In many villages, elders think that son is a treasure, daughters will leave home to marry to others sooner or later. I am the first college student in my family. My sisters all graduated from junior high school, not goinging on their study. Then they worked outside to earn money to help to support the fanily. And two of them are married.

    I have a happy childhood for I have so much play mates. But as time goes by, most of them droped out, they think that shudying is boring. I am so sad ,many of them are  married and live a hard life. It is normal in village that they work outside ,after they earn enough money, then get married.