This summer, Dr. Aaron Bruce (second from right, in the first row) took a group of students to the Dominican Republic.

First you should know, I’m sick. Which means, I’m miserable.

Miserable with a capital “M.”

I’m in agony, actually. All because of the common cold, which is very irregular when it comes to me. Because I never get sick. I get the flu shot ever year so it’s impossible for me to be sick!

But maybe there are exceptions. Like now. And I know exactly who to blame for giving this wretched cold to me. (I’m talking to you, Trisha, Clare, Lois and Barbara! You did this to me and for that you’ll pay!)

Until then, I want to chop off my nose to spite my face or something like that. Because I can’t breathe. I’m hanging on by a thread. My eyes watery, my throat, raw and scratchy. It’s just me and my stuffy nose and all the tissues in the world can’t do a thing to stop my uncontrollable urge to–to–

SNEEZE!

Gesundheit!

So, while I lay here, comatose on the couch, indulge me, won’t you?  Please read a post I just wrote for the Huffington Post, on International Education Week and my good friend and colleague, Dr. Aaron Bruce, who is passionate about giving all young people an opportunity to study abroad.

After you read it, please share with me what you plan to do to “keep it global.”

So here’s a bit of it to get you started:

Keeping It Global for International Education Week

Before you start getting ready for the holidays, take a moment to think global. In fact, take a week.

For International Education Week is just around the corner. From November 16 to 20, students and educators everywhere will be finding a multitude of ways to keep it global.

IEW, which is designed to promote cross-cultural learning, started with President Bill Clinton. In 2000, he made it a joint initiative between the US Department of State and the Department of Education. Today, it’s celebrated around the world, in over 100 countries.

Which is a far cry from when I was a kid. Back then, as a student enrolled in a public school in Queens, New York, there was little emphasis on international education. In fact, about the only thing on anyone’s mind was what to do if the Russians invaded.

(read more please)