By Yvonne Nelson
August 26th, 2008
Kirwan's return to birthplace for vacation
(From left) Sean Kirwan, 10 and his mother, Poh Lai Kirwan, visited Malaysia for nearly two months of vacation in June. Sean said, "It was the most amazing vacation I've had. Malaysia is the birth place of my mother and I. We had the most wonderful time visiting relatives and friends. I ate the most delicious food I ever tasted. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country, hence the variety of food is amazing and mind blowing. They also have lots of fruits I have not seen before. The most interesting fruit was the durian which the Malaysians called the king of fruits. It is a thorny fruit which when pried open exposes the most creamy and luscious fruit I've ever eaten. However in the west they called it the stinky fruit. It wasn't stinky for me and I loved the taste! It was also the first time I tried para sailing. I had a real good time and I told my mom I would like to go back every year if I can." Sean and Poh Lai rode the funicular train and are pictured at the peak of Penang Hill, a popular tourist attraction.
For summer vacation, Poh Lai Ng Kirwan (left) and her son Sean Kirwan spent nearly two months in Malaysia. Read the rest of this entry »
By Yvonne Nelson
August 20th, 2008
Teacher, former student vacation together
(From left) Jackie Hathaway recently joined Virginia Coleman of Southaven and her daughter Ruth Ann Bledsoe on a tour of Anchorage, Girdwood, the glaciers and Sea World in Seward. Hathaway, a resident of Nashville and ninth grade home economics student of Coleman's, is currently a teacher in the Nashville metro education system.
Dixon's travel to Beijing
(Top) Sardis residents (from left) Lee, Conner and Katherine Dixon are pictured near the Great Wall of China at Badaling during their week-long vacation to Beijing. Visible in the background is a "One World, One Dream Beijing 2008" sign for the Olympics. Not pictured are Lee Dixon, Rosa Lee Dixon, Carlton Dixon and Rhonda Dixon. (Bottom) Rhonda Dixon, (From left) Katherine Dixon, Lee Dixon, Rosa Lee Dixon, tour guide Gary Chen, Conner Dixon and Carlton Dixon of Sardis are pictured in front of the Summer Palace in China. Conner, 8 and Katherine, 15 are the children of Carlton and Rhonda Dixon. Carlton and Lee (not pictured) are the children of Lee and Rosa Lee Dixon. This was Lee's first trip, Carlton and Rhonda's second trip and Lee and Rosa Lee's fifth trip to China.
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By Yvonne Nelson
August 8th, 2008
Somers' cousins travel to Streaked Mountain
(From left) Tate Somers, Sara Somers, Emerson Somers (cousin) and Marley Somers, show on top of Streaked Mountain where they picked blueberries, visited family members in Paris Hill, MA during their summer break. In addition to enjoying spending time with family and the cool weather, the children hiked and went swimming at Lake Pennesseewassee.
Middle Baptist Church Whitehaven angel choir's annual trip
For the past several years members of angel choir at Middle Baptist Church - Whitehaven have attended a youth retreat. In July, the group visited The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson in Old Hickory, TN. Pictured in the garden at The Hermitage are (from left) Summer Gayle, her mother and trip chaperone Wilma Wilson and Benjamin Jones. Summer and Benjamin are members of the Middle Baptist Church angel choir. The group also traveled to Louisville, KY. While in Kentucky they visited the Louisville Science Center, Louisville Zoo, and Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.
By Yvonne Nelson
July 31st, 2008
Jackson heads west for summer vacation
Jackson Ryan Byrd, 14 is pictured at the Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, CA in June. While there, Jackson, his sister Paris Byrd and family friend Brianna Boone took in the sights. In addition to visiting the Exploratorium and Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, they saw soccer star David Beckham in Union Square, took the train to Palo Alto to tour Stanford University then toured the University of California at Berkeley before taking the coast Starliner train to Portland, OR to visit the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the Pearl District and several gardens. Jackson and Paris were accompanied by their grandparents Sonny and Avalon Robinson.
MCS teacher Fernando Branch travels to China to study
Southwest Memphis resident and Sheffield High School geography chair and social studies teacher Fernando Branch (kneeling, front left) was among a group of teachers selected to participate in the Confucius Institute, a nonprofit, public institute with the goal of promoting Chinese language and culture and supporting local Chinese teaching internationally through affiliated Confucius Institutes around the globe. The University of Memphis is home to the only Confucius Institute in Tennessee and the first in the Mid-South. While there, Branch gained firsthand knowledge about the culture of China through five weeks of studying and traveling to historical Chinese sites. Of the trip Branch said, "It was an out of this world experience and an excellent teaching tool to enhance our district's teachers understanding of the Chinese culture." Read the rest of this entry »
By Yvonne Nelson
July 30th, 2008
Long-time friends travel to the Bahamas for birthday fun!
For her 37th birthday, Memphian Marcie Waites (left) took her first trip out of the country with long time friend and frequent traveler Josie Gelman of Cordova. The two celebrated Marcie's birthday in Freeport, Grand Bahamas, July 10-13. The highlight of their trip was swimming with dolphins Andros (left) and Indy. Waites had such a good time she is already planning her second excursion!
Hidden treasures at Pensacola Beach
You never know what treasure you might unbury in the white sand and blue water beaches of Pensacola Beach, FL. Millington resident Landon Brawner, 5 found SpongeBob SquarePants while on vacation June 29 through July 3 with his grandparents, Butch and Debi Pennington of Cordova. Read the rest of this entry »
By Yvonne Nelson
July 17th, 2008
Look out Cabo, we'll be back soon!
Memphis residents (from left) Gloria Watson, Malcolm Garrett, Thomas Tyler, Antoinette Tyler and Betty Jefferson traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for an extended weekend June 6-9. While there, the group lodged at the all-inclusive beach front resort Riu Santa Fe hotel and took a glass bottom boat tour to Lover's and Land's End Beaches where the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean meet. The highlight of the trip was a sunset dinner cruise through the Bay of Cabo to the Arch of Poseidon.
Bob Westbrook and singers enjoy trip to New York
A group of 41 students from all over the U.S., that are members of the Bob Westbrook Singers, recently enjoyed a week in New York City. Activities included singing solos at Carnegie Hall, dancing with Jennifer Lopes’ chorographer, master classes with the original Christine in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and Ariel and Flounder in Disney’s Little Mermaid on Broadway, and performing songs from Legally Blond on Broadway at the Steps Dance Studio. Memphis area students who attended were (front from left) Lillie Burrow and Bob Westbrook; (second row) Katie Sneed, Hannah Mead, Gabby Bringle, Sarah Cull, Madeline Lane, Suraj Parthasarathy, Anna Claire Sneed; (rear) Julie Marshall, Sarah Wilkinson, Suzanne Chapman, Maddye Regis, Rachel Cockerell, Savannah Gibbons, Molly May and Mary Catherine Hughes.
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By Yvonne Nelson
July 11th, 2008
A house divided...
(Above) Memphian Tripp Ray, 3 recently traveled to St. Louis, MO with his grandmother Barbara Ezekiel of Halls, TN and parents, Dawn and Tom Ray (not pictured) to watch the Cardinals take on the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium. With his mother and grandmother being lifelong Cardinal fans and his dad being a born and bred Cincinnati fan, Tripp was a bit confused about who to root for. His loyalties were tested, so he had a special shirt made by Grandma to commemorate the day and show his love for both teams! (Below) Wearing a special shirt, made by his grandmother Barbara Ezekiel of Halls, TN, to commemorate the day and show his love for both teams, Tripp Ray, 3 attracted a lot of attention from fans at the St. Louis Cardinals/Cincinnati Reds game recently held at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO.
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By Yvonne Nelson
July 3rd, 2008
Alaskan cruise to Juneau
08/24/08 ran Travel
Woody Husted (left) and Keith Salter of Cordova, took their second Alaskan Cruise the last week of May. They especially enjoyed the tram ride up Mount Roberts in Juneau where this photo was taken.
Patricia Patrick - More than a (retired) French teacher...
Recently retired Bartlett High School foreign language teacher Patricia Patrick (center) led a group of travelers to Belgium, France and Switzerland June 16-24. The group visited Brussels, Bruges, Amiens, Paris, Lausanne, Montreux and Gruyeres. Two highlights of the trip were dinner at the Eiffel Tower and traveling through the Alps to the area of Gruyeres where the group sampled cheese. Patrick, who travels with companies that organize educational student travel, has been taking student and adult groups to Europe since 1978. Pictured at Chillon Castle are (from left) Bartlett High French students Paul Scherer and Dillon Belew; Patrick; daughter Tish Martin and cousins Ashley Garner and Dave Garner (rear).
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By Yvonne Nelson
June 26th, 2008
Bills' family visits Walt Disney World
08/24/08 ran Travel
Jackson Bills, 2 takes a good look at Goofy (left) as his sister Brianna Bills, 10 poses with Pinocchio during their first family outing to Walt Disney World in June. Jackson, who participated in the Disney World parade, and Brianna were accompanied by their parents Brian and Erica Bills of Arlington.
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By Yvonne Nelson
June 20th, 2008
Wilson's visit Vegas
08/17/08 ran Travel
For vacation this year, Bill and Queen Wilson of Bartlett drove three eight hour days then spent four relaxing, yet eventful and entertaining days in Las Vegas. During the trip home, the couple are pictured as they stopped by Hoover Dam June 7. They also visited the Grand Canyon.
