Category Archives: People

Eyes in the Back of my Head

Posted on October 10, 2015 by maryannniemczura

Young children sometimes think their parents and teachers have a super power, a way of knowing and seeing things even when their backs are turned. Using humor, they explain to children that they have these eyes in the back of … Continue reading →

Posted in children, eyes in the back of the head, laughter, medicine, parents, schools in Germany, teachers | Tagged best medicine, children, eye glasses, eyes in the back of the head, humor, parents, schools, teachers | 7 Comments

Free German University Study for American Students

Posted on February 21, 2015 by maryannniemczura

It’s that time of the year in our American school district for 6th graders and their parents to make decisions regarding which world language to study. I would like to offer reasons to study German. The emphasis these days is … Continue reading →

Posted in 6th grade registration for world languages, About the book, Colorado, education, Foreign Language Learning, Free German University Study for American students, Fulbright Teacher Exchange, Germany, languages, Massachusetts, parents, preparing world leaders, school, schools in Germany, Teaching, Teaching in Germany | Tagged arts, business, car manufacturer's internships in the US, careers in science, college loans, engineering, German language, German teaching, importance of learning German, jobs using German, literature, medicine, study abroad programs, university study | Leave a comment

Our Lives Were Forever Changed

Posted on February 7, 2015 by maryannniemczura

During the first Fulbright Teacher Exchange Year in 1990-91 when I taught English as a Second Language in Neresheim, our son, Thomas, turned seven in February. His younger sister, Emily, turned three at the beginning of the Fulbright year in … Continue reading →

Posted in birthday celebration, children, customs in Germany, education, family, Fulbright, Fulbright Teacher Exchange, Germany, Oscar Mayer, parents, schools in Germany, Teaching, Teaching in Germany, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Tagged culture in Germany, family, Fulbright Year, German kindergarten, German Schools, Koesingen, Oscar Mayer, remembering, rural towns and villages, teaching in Germany, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | 6 Comments

Quick thinking…

Posted on January 24, 2015 by maryannniemczura

As part of being a teacher, parent and a mother, I have grown accustomed to “assuming blame” when something has been misplaced or heaven forbid moved somewhere such as sweaters or a sock. Even my husband claims he put in … Continue reading →

Posted in : Critical Thinking, languages, life lessons, Mother, parents, Problem Solving, Teaching, Thinking Outside the Box | Tagged children, German vs. English, humor, laundry basket, parents, problem solving, skills, teachers, teaching, tools | Leave a comment

Languages Reveal Cultures

Posted on January 17, 2015 by maryannniemczura

As a German language educator for some forty-eight years now, I am still intrigued with languages and words and recall as a young girl in Massachusetts how we used certain words for everyday things. When I was ten and moved … Continue reading →

Posted in children, Colorado, education, family, Foreign Language Learning, Fulbright Teacher Exchange, influences in life, languages, Massachusetts, parents, rural America, school, South, Sturbridge, Teaching, Teaching in Germany, Western Massachusetts | Tagged bag, childhood, childhood play. Massachusetts, Colorado, countries, cultures, education, family, foreign languages, Fulbrighter, Germany, poke, regional differences, remembering, rural towns and villages, sack, teaching, words | Leave a comment

Happy New Year 2015!

Posted on January 3, 2015 by maryannniemczura

A new year promises new beginnings and these things I wish for family and friends, both near and far away: health to enjoy your days in comfort love of family and friends beauty of nature and its changing wonders wisdom … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Deen, careers, Center for Creative Leadership, commitment, Dr. Jerome F. Melvin, education, family, friends, life lessons, love, New Year, People, Teaching | Tagged ability to delegate, ability to inspire, confidence, creativity, honesty, intuition, leaders, parents, positive attitude, role models, sense of humor, Superintendent of Schools | 2 Comments

2014 in review

Posted on December 31, 2014 by maryannniemczura

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,000 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it … Continue reading →

Posted in About the book, family, life lessons, Nostalgia, People, Uncategorized | Tagged annual report, Colorado, family, friends, Germany, nostalgia, San Francisco cable car, stats helper monkeys | 2 Comments

The Meaning of Family

Posted on November 29, 2014 by maryannniemczura

What is a family? We could attempt to define this within the contours of logic, but it would only be a concept in the mind. And concepts typically don’t compel us to travel vast distances to be with our families … Continue reading →

Posted in family, gratitude, impermanence, life lessons, love, Musings, parents, People, Thanksgiving | Tagged bonds, family, friends, gratitude, impermanence, nostalgia, nuclear family, Thanksgiving | Leave a comment

A Letter of Gratitude to a Stranger

Posted on November 27, 2014 by maryannniemczura

Tasked with writing a letter expressing gratitude to someone who changed their lives but whom they never thanked, my students have a project this Thanksgiving to write the letter of gratitude and to surprise the person they are thanking by … Continue reading →

Posted in a stranger, education, family, Fulbright Teacher Exchange, life lessons, love, People, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, writing | Tagged gratitude, reading the letter, showing kindness to others, teaching, Thanksgiving | 4 Comments

Nostalgic Reminiscences

Posted on November 8, 2014 by maryannniemczura

Windswept landscapes abound in Central New York and in Colorado. I am reminded of zigzagging tumbleweeds choking driveways and highways in the West while here in Upstate New York, we prepare for winter’s harsh onslaught of weather. The last place … Continue reading →

Posted in About the book, birthday celebrations at school, education, Fall, family, friends, May Day tradition, Nostalgia, parents, People | Tagged cursive writing, Dick and Jane readers, Fall, family, friends, nature, rural towns in Massachusetts, schools, Sturbridge, unstructured child's play | Leave a comment