RotaryAmbassadorKris

I'm a global gal with a southern accent, always longing to be on the road. You'll often hear me harping about tourist traps. Of course, one must see the sights of the beaten path; life is not complete without La Tour Eiffel, Big Ben, a gondola ride through Venice. But don't linger too long. The true gems of travel are the hole-in-the-wall pubs with story-telling bartenders and the artist conclaves on the back streets. Monuments and museums can only say so much, but people, when coaxed and listened to, can change your whole world.

I recently received the wonderful news that I am going to Budapest, Hungary, for my Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, starting in August 2007. I am sponsored by the Birmingham-East Club of District 6860 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, and will be hosted by the Budapest clubs of District 1910. I will be studying for my Masters in Nationalism Studies at Central European University, hopefully...I have to get accepted. :)

For now, I will be taking a trip to Eastern Europe this January...a little taste-test before the big move next August.

Wondering about the bear? It began as a joke, but I'm seriously considering turning it into a permanent gimmick. I will have to find a smaller bear however, or sacrifice a pair of shoes on my next trip...Yep, smaller bear...