Although she is in the military, this trip to Italy is for pleasure. She is fortunate in not having to worry about lodging as she will be staying with a friend. Her friend is also Air Force and lives off base.

Tidbits of advice I have so far is to make copies of passport and leave one at home or when using check card or credit card may get you at an acceptable rate but you may be imposed with fees.

Recommend travelers checks? What about using her current cell phone or ditch it for a pay as you go phone once she gets over there? Any advice appreciated!

What CSAs (Community Shared Agriculture) projects would you recommend? I’m an old, fat man who isn’t willing to work on the farm to cut his costs, and who is deathly afraid of programs that mandate that I go to a specific place within a 45 minute window once a month or lose my food.

What would you recommend?

Anybody out there have a specific story they’d like to share? Particularly if it in some way ties into your experiences living here? (If you’ve ever had This American Life aspirations, this might be a good time to give it a shot) I’d love to do the recording and producing, and perhaps Kip might be interested in also doing a portrait. Also, if it’s not a specific story, we could just sit down and chat about your experiences here.

(Also, the clock’s ticking on January, so if this idea at all interests you, get in touch soon!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3n2yZl-nns

I say a) let the Vikings drop dead; or b) build the stadium in Duluth on the US Steel site and make it a stop on the Northern Lights bullet train.

Oh, wait–this was due yesterday, wasn’t it? Whoops. Still, you have to admit either of my ideas are way better than anyone else’s.

Yours truly,
The Big E

Wednesday, Jan. 4
Lutsen Mountain’s Snowball Festival kicks off today and lasts through Saturday. This year’s festival features Dead Man Winter, Roster McCabe, Wookiefoot and more.

Friday, Jan. 6
Zstudio’s Grand Opening will host free classes throughout the day with a master class in the evening. The Fractals play at Player’s Sports Bar.

Saturday, Jan. 7
Zinema 2 kicks off its Family Saturday Movie Matinee series with The Muppet Movie. Minnesota’s premiere Beatles tribute band, The Revolution 5, plays at the Teatro tonight and Sunday.

Sunday, Jan 8.
Yoga North will have free classes and more at their annual winter open house.

Keep checking the calendar for more awesome area events.

Celebrate the arts in 2012. Get to know your local artists. And remember that you don’t always have to understand a work of art to be moved by it.

(apologies, as I’m not really a good poet…)

Here is the original:
There once was an old maid from Duluth
Who wept when she thought of her youth
of all the missed chances at her school dances
and once in a telephone booth.

The Trip: May 15-30, 2012 in China
Costs: Approx. $3,450. This includes flights, 3-star hotels, most meals, visa, travel/emergency medical insurance, and entrance fees. Does not include 2-credit tuition, passport, some meals and spending money.
Course: GS 1200 Explorations Abroad: China (2 credits). Class is eight weeks long (3/12-5/7). Hybrid/Online course — no need to be at LSC’s Duluth campus.

Here’s your chance to “know your world.” Join fellow students and History/Political Science Instructor Paul Richgruber on a trip to Beijing, Guilin, Yangshuo, Longsheng County, and Shanghai, China. You’ll be able to walk along the Great Wall, view Beijing’s centuries-long history and feel its modern vibe, experience rural China’s people and natural beauty, and lastly, witness the “over-the-top 21st century glam” of Shanghai.

Students will take in the art, visit with college students, and develop an appreciation for the Chinese people in China’s emerging global influence.

“China is a fascinating nation that is surprisingly easy to travel around,” said Richgruber. “It’s one of the oldest cultures in the world, but has a changing, dynamic society. This trip will help students build their skills as a 21st century, global citizen.”

Richgruber has extensive familiarity with China; he studied Chinese history and culture in graduate school and has been teaching about China for twelve years and visited the country on several occasions

Travelers limited to 20 students and nearing capacity as of 12/07/11. For more information, e-mail p.richgruber@lsc.edu or call (218) 733-7741.

Tags: China, Dorian Beaulieu, Paul Richgruber, Study Abroad