Growing up in a Multicultural City I was blessed to grow up in a culturally diverse city. Miami in the 1970s opened a window onto a much wider world. My classmates represented countries from Costa Rica to France, Korea to Venezuela, Spain to Jamaica. Our elementary school classrooms were like the United Nations. I lovedContinueContinue reading “Seeing My Global Future at The Fontainebleau Hotel”
Category Archives: Janet’s Stories
Helping in the First Grade Classroom
In sixth grade at Miami Shores Elementary School, I had a special privilege: I was chosen to be an assistant in a first grade classroom. The program was called Teachers of Tomorrow, most often known as TOTs. Becoming a Teacher of Tomorrow Sixth-grade students were selected for a TOT role or a Safety Patrol roleContinueContinue reading “Helping in the First Grade Classroom”
A Passport, a Piccolo, and a Summer I’ll Never Forget
In 1982, I was in 10th grade at Winter Park High School. Back then, high school in Florida started with 10th grade. I played flute and piccolo in the band. The annual district solo and ensemble music contest was a big deal, and I had experienced that scene for two years in junior high. InContinueContinue reading “A Passport, a Piccolo, and a Summer I’ll Never Forget”
Frozen Pillows and Porch Ice Cream: Summer Evenings with Mom, Dad, and Taffy Cat
Summer evenings in Miami were hot and muggy throughout my childhood in the 1970s. The hotels along the beach blocked the ocean breeze. The inland neighborhoods wilted in a steamer. But we had a beautiful evening rhythm in our home, buoyed by the sweet scent of the jasmine hedges that wandered through our neighborhood ofContinueContinue reading “Frozen Pillows and Porch Ice Cream: Summer Evenings with Mom, Dad, and Taffy Cat”
Hurdling Hedges and Finding My Voice: A 1970s Miami Summer
The hedge that enclosed our side yard seemed too tall for me to jump over. But every summer morning, I took a running start and cleared the hedge on my way to the rec center across the street. No one could figure out how I hurdled that hedge—even when they stood there watching. But IContinueContinue reading “Hurdling Hedges and Finding My Voice: A 1970s Miami Summer”
My First Cars in High School and College
For the first two years of high school, I took the bus to school. It was fine because I had good friends in my neighborhood, so we rode together. I wasn’t thrilled about how early we had to be at the bus stop. I’ve never been a morning person. Other than that, it wasn’t soContinueContinue reading “My First Cars in High School and College”
View from a Glass Box: Transit through Sweden 1988
In my senior year of college, I did a semester abroad at Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza in Poznan, Poland. It was January to June 1988, about a year and a half before the Berlin Wall fell. The new wave of uprisings in Poland had just started. It was a rough time and place for thisContinueContinue reading “View from a Glass Box: Transit through Sweden 1988”
Childhood Summer Vacations
You might wonder where people who live on a Florida beach go for vacation. The answer is simple: They go to a different Florida beach! I grew up in Miami. It was very different from the Miami of today. It was quieter, less crowded, calmer. Absolutely beautiful. I grew up in paradise, and I knewContinueContinue reading “Childhood Summer Vacations”
When Rain Came through Miami
Growing up in Miami, I got used to storms. Fast ones. I could smell the rain coming. It was a distinct scent that clung to the screen door. A storm was on the way and would arrive within minutes. In the summer, we could count on a daily afternoon storm. It blew in quickly fromContinueContinue reading “When Rain Came through Miami”
Favorite Playground Game When I Was Young (1970s)
This is the story of how volleyball started out as a game I didn’t like, and it turned into something I loved. In elementary school, we had physical education class (phys ed or PE) every day. I didn’t like the class. Both coaches acted mean. They didn’t teach us basic skills. And they favored theContinueContinue reading “Favorite Playground Game When I Was Young (1970s)”
Exploring Generations 