Back to the Blog

     After a loooong Blog hiatus, I am back to record and blog about some more of my experiences and misadventures while overseas.  I like to write about things like sports, history, travel, unique aspects of different cultures, etc… but I also enjoy writing about everyday life.  Human interest stories really drive a lot of my content.  I like the quirky side of life, the unusual, the “Road less traveled” if you will.  After this initial post, I plan on posting lots of pictures, so look forward to those coming very soon.

      I have neglected to blog over the past two years or so mostly due to time constraints from coaching, teaching full-time, family life.  Maybe one day, I will find the time to chronicle some of the other trips I’ve taken over the past few years.  My backpacking trip with my son Kodie to Iceland, Finland, France, and Germany last summer would certainly be high up on my list.  I might also include the journey to the Turks and Caicos Islands last May with my wife, probably one of my favorite trips of all time.  In any case, a few things have changed since the last time I was blogging.  

      I am now living in West Virginia with my family and teaching physical education full-time at Potomac State College.  I coach youth and high school football, and do a little writing on the side for a sports website, and a regular travel writing column for a regional community magazine in Maryland. 

 The reasons that I write are still the same.  It is a way for me to record what I see, and capture the moment in much the same way as a photographer does.  As I get older, I am getting more forgetful, so writing is a good way to keep track of fleeting thoughts and foggy memories.  I find writing to be cathartic in many ways too.  It gives me a way to examine and understand myself and others around me.  When I put pen to paper or fingers to keys, I hope to somehow inspire others to laugh, cry, and be more curious about the world around them.  I want to educate and entertain, and also share my experiences that have emanated from meeting so many interesting people.  Traveling the world has been the best textbook that I’ve ever opened.  What I’ve learned about people from various cultures can be summed up in a few sentences.  Even though many people speak different languages, eat different foods, have different traditions, etc… most of us seem to be searching for similar things.  I would define these things as someone or something to love, something meaningful to do, and something to look forward to.  Along with my faith, these 3 core beliefs motivate me on a daily basis. 

 Now it’s time to get started!!  My blogs over the next month will cover my recent time in England, Greece, and the Czech Republic.  I am currently coaching football in Prague, and tomorrow I will start my TEFL class.  Hope you will join me for a new adventure!!