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Guam Day 2 – Wow!

by admin on March 7, 2008

Guam Day 2 - Morning Room View 3-7-08

Friends:

The above picture is the morning view from my ocean front room at the Fiesta Resort Hotel. Wow!

My day began with Cyndy Pruski picking me up (she’s with the Guam Reading Council) to head to Finegayan Elementary School in the northern part of Guam. Again, there was a warm welcome. The school made a beautiful sign for me, based on the artwork of my “Jambalaya” CD, presented me with a HUGE gift basket, and placed a gorgeous Kukui nut lei around my neck.

Guam Day 2 - Finegayan Welcome sign 3-7-08

I performed my “Jump, Jiggle & Jam” show and it was a hit. The audience was fabulous as were the teachers and staff. They also prepared a small “merienda” (snack) for me following the show.

Guam

This is a picture after the hugs from the Finegayan students. So sweet!

Guam Day 2 - Finegayan Hugs 3-7-08

After Finegayan, Cyndy took me to Truman Elementary in the south of Guam. I learned so much about the Chamorro culture from Cyndy, who served as my impromptu tour guide, as well as from the Chamorro displays at the schools.

Guam Day 2 - Chamorro Display 3-7-08

The teachers at Truman prepared a tasty fiesta for me. I even tried a Chamorro specialty – chicken keliguin, a spicy type of chicken salad. Mmmmmm!

Guam Day 2 - Fiesta 3-7-08

After the fiesta, Evelyn, one of my other hosts, had a special Chamorro storytelling presentation performed for me by her second grade students (performed in the Chamorro language). It was delightful. On my way to the auditorium, where I was to perform, I was serenaded with a ukelele by a fifth grade boy named Anthony. What an honor!

Guam Day 2 - Truman Serenade 3-7-08

I performed to a packed house!

Guam Day 2 - Truman audience 3-7-08

After my performances, I did a little shopping (Thanks, Cyndy!). Then I headed back to my hotel for a little R&R on the beach. Breathtaking!

Guam Day 2 - Beach 3-7-08

I ended the day with an interview with Sonya Artero, a local newscaster on one of the TV stations in Guam. She was a complete delight. We just clicked and hit it off. Then I had dinner at a Chinese restaurant with Tina Buendicho and her 13 year old daughter, Edriana.

Guam Day 2 - Tina & Edriana 3-7-08

The people of Guam are so warm and friendly. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Until then,

Warmly, Dianne

P.S. Love to Antonio, Soleil & Eliana!

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Going to Guam – Hafa Adai!

by admin on March 6, 2008

Friends:

The first part of my travel day did not fare well. Going through airport security in New Orleans, TSA lost my blue tooth earpiece. It went into the little blue bowl and into the x-ray machine. The blue bowl came out empty. Needless to say, I was a little upset. I will have to file a claim with TSA. Still, I couldn’t let that incident taint the rest of my day.

I flew from New Orleans to Houston International Airport, where I then boarded a plane to Tokyo (Narita). It was a looooooong flight – 14 hours (plus the hour from New Orleans to Houston)! Here is a picture from my window over the wing of the Boeing 767 overlooking the beautiful snow-capped mountains in Washington (just past Spokane).

Guam -Flying over the Snow-capped mountains in Washington 3-5-08

I sat next to Irene, a lovely woman from Guam. She and I were on two flights together – Tokyo and Guam. This is a picture of Japan, just as we were arriving…

Guam - Flying into Tokyo 3-6-08

When I arrived in Tokyo, I had to go through customs and security again to continue my transit to Guam. Fortunately, I had a 2 hour layover. I ate at a noodle restaurant near my gate and met some Japanese “tomodachi” (friends). I didn’t speak much Japanese and they didn’t speak much English but we communicated and they were a delight – Reiko, Keiko and Eikeishi (sp?). We bonded over udon (Japanese noodles) and umesyu (plum wine – talking about it, not drinking it). LOL See, language doesn’t have to be a barrier. They were on their way to Brazil for vacation.

Guam - Tomodachi 3-6-08

After another four hour flight to Guam, I finally arrived at nearly 10:00 pm on Thursday, March 6. My clients from the Guam Reading Association greeted me so warmly. Pictured from left to right: Tina Buendicho, Cyndi Pruski, me, and Evelyn Topasna. They welcomed me with a gorgeous handmade banner of woven grass and tropical fabric, and two fragrant Plumeria leis.

Guam - Hafa Adai Dianne! 3-6-08

“Hafa Adai” means “Hello” or “Welcome” in Chamorro, the culture of Guam, much like “Aloha” is used in Hawaii. I was so moved by their warm welcome. Cyndy’s daughter and son-in-law also came in on the same flight from Houston! Unfortunately, our paths never crossed. Cyndy left with her family while Tina and Evelyn escorted me to my hotel, The Fiesta Resort. I have a lovely room with a view of a tropical palm grove and the ocean! You can hear the waves dancing on the shore from my balcony.

The room is very “Zen”, a few well-placed furniture pieces with clean lines. I love it. Here is a picture of my welcome gifts – Plumeria flowers, the 2 Plumeria leis, and a bag of goodies from Guam. (Thanks, Tina!)

Guam - The Gifts 3-6-08

Tina, a first grade teacher, and Evelyn, a second grade teacher, stayed for a while and we talked about our passion – connecting children with stories through storytelling and reading. They are remarkable women. We all connected from the moment we met. I can tell I am going to enjoy my visit here. We’re already talking about a return visit. :)

Tomorrow is a big day. I have presentations at two schools including a cultural dance presentation for me by the students and a lunch fiesta. It’s going to be so much fun! I can’t wait! After nearly 24 hours of travel, the shower and the bed beckon…

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

P.S. I love and miss you already, Antonio, Soleil & Eliana! XOXOXO!

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Soleil Receives Scholarship Offer!!!

by admin on March 1, 2008

Soleil is Offered Loyola University Scholarship! 2-29-08

Friends:

I am ecstatic to make this announcement: Soleil, my 17 year old daughter, received a $72,000 scholarship offer from Loyola University in New Orleans!

The letter said, in part: “I am very pleased to inform you of your selection as a Loyola University New Orleans Scholar. As a Loyola Scholar, you will receive a merit award of $18,000 renewable upon review of your academic standing at the end of each Spring semester for up to four years and a total of $72,000. Only a small number of entering students receive this highly competitive scholarship each year, which is awarded for excellent academic performance and a record of service to school and community.”

Needless to say, Antonio and I are absolutely thrilled!! In addition, Soleil was also accepted to Savannah College of Art and Design, one of her dream art schools. She was also invited to return to Girl State Louisiana as a counselor.

We are so proud of Soleil! We love you, Soleil!

Warmly, Dianne

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Organized and Energized! Part 2 – The Entry Way

by admin on February 10, 2008

ORGANIZED AND ENERGIZED! PART 2 – THE ENTRY WAY
By Dianne de Las Casas

The Entry Way
This is the first point of entry for the entire family. Organizing this area is vital, especially if you have kids, where shoes are kicked off, coats are dumped, and backpacks are plopped on the floor. It’s easy to organize the entry way, especially if you “zone” everything.

If you have a large entryway, consider investing in a “mud room” storage unit. It is equipped with individual cubbies (for hats, gloves, scarves, etc.), a drawer for shoes, hooks for coats, and a bench for purses and backpacks. Target carries them (lower end) as does Crate and Barrel (higher end).

If you have a small entry way, like me, maximize the space with individual organization tools. Train the kids to bring their backpacks to their rooms.

Hooks – Install hooks for coats and purses (coat racks are bulky and take up too much space – they also tend to “collect” items much like the treadmill in the bedroom ends up being a clothes hanger).

Entry Way Table – Find an entry way table that fits your wall space. Use labeled bins and baskets to collect keys, cell phones, scarves, gloves, hats, etc.)

Umbrella Stand – A large vase works well as an umbrella stand, tucked away in a corner.

Sorting Bins – Provide a bin or basket to collect mail. Sort through the mail and junk the junk immediately. Bills should go in the bill paying area right away. Magazines can be distributed to the bedside or in the designated magazine area.

Organization: Entry Way 2-10-08

There is a Shaker saying that a friend of mine taught me, “If it can be put down, it can be put up.” Put up the clutter; don’t put up with the clutter! This is your year to get organized and energized. Here’s to beautiful spaces. Here’s to beautiful you!

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Preparing for a Residency

by admin on January 31, 2008

Friends:

What a busy week it’s been. There is always so much going on! In addition to completing revisions and updates to The Story Biz Handbook: Managing Your Storytelling Career from the Desk to the Stage, I have been working on updates to my website (check out the front page). I have also been working on new story theater scripts for a residency I am doing in February. This is what my desk looks like when I am doing story research…

Story Research

Story Research

Sticky notes on pages, notes in a notebook, not to mention the research on the Internet…

I am working with a school in my local area doing a “Louisiana Story Fest” residency. It’s based on the story theater methods from my book, Story Fest: Crafting Story Theater Scripts. It will be so much fun working with the third, fourth, and fifth graders at this school. Each class will be performing one of my story theater scripts, all based on Louisiana folktales. The residency will culminate in peer group performances (the classes in each grade will perform for each other – a third grade class performs for the other third grade classes, etc.).

Louisiana stories I worked on include: “Take Care of my Cabbage” (a cumulative story much like”The Old Woman and Her Pig”), “Elephant and Snake (a story with a Compair Lapin [Louisiana's equivalent of Brer Rabbit] cameo), “Jean Sotte” (A “Foolish John” story), “La Petite Fourmi” (“The Little Ant” – another cumulative tale like “The Mouse’s Wedding” or “The Stonecutter”), “Petit Pouce and His Dogs” (a Louisiana version of “Wiley and the Hairy Man”), and Poucette (A “Tom Thumb” tale that is reminiscent of both “Hansel and Gretel” and “Jack and the Beanstalk”). In addition, the students will also be performing “Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby,” which is in Story Fest.

It was so much fun working on these stories. Once I started writing, I was on a roll. I finished them all in one night! Whew! In another blog, I’ll post one of the finished tales. Now, on to the next project on my million-mile long to do list!

Happy Tales to You!

Warmly, Dianne

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