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valerie arena
Location: coconut creek, florida, United States
Member Since: 27 April 2005
Professional Associations
Travelwriters.com
Introduction
For 40 weeks a year,I am a high school Advanced Placement Literature, Advanced Placement Art History, & Humanities teacher in Coral Springs, Florida, a city somewhere between Fort Lauderdale & Boca Raton. When I am not teaching,I am traveling to Europe,hence I go by the name Europhile. I am totally in love with most of Europe. Since 1982,I have been there over 52 times. The first time I ever went, I discovered a new section of my soul I reckon this wasn't a very unusual find since my ancestors are from Italy & Ireland. Although I have a northern Italian appearance, my heart is in Ireland. Since I love teaching and traveling, I refer to myself as the T&T lady! I started writing about my travels for EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL REVIEW a publication from ACIS in BostonMA, in 1996. In my opinion,my best article was about the "Running of the Bulls" because I think I had a very unique "take" on it since I delighted in the partying part of the festival but the culminating bull fight transported me back to ancient Rome's Colosseum where the citizens held their thumbs down so the victims could be brutalized by gladiators , lions, or bears,oh my! This summer,June 2005 I will write about Luxemburg's 60th anniversary of the Americans liberating them from the Nazis. Soon I will reverse my life to mostly traveling,some writing & some teaching!
Experience & Expertise
I started travel writing in 96 but ,however, it is not my first vocation,as I am a distance -learning teacher,which means I teach Advanced Placement Literature,Advanced Placement Art History and Humanities via videoconferencing .
I have been to Europe over 40 times as it is my passion. It seems like there are travel magazines that cater to the wealthy & travel mags that cater to the budget-minded. Alas! What about those in the middle? Initially, it will be my aim to expose those places where one can experience middle class luxury,as oxymoronic as that may sound.
Publishing Credentials
Sun,Sentinel Educational Travel Review
Awards Received
2004 Globe Scholarship,July,London,Eng. sponsored by the English Speaking Union 2003-Teacher of the Year 2000 Winner of Florida Humanities Center scholarship 2000 Won a trip around the world from ACIS in Boston,Mass. 2001 Chosen to facilitate T.R.E.K. workshop for teachers in Naples,FL 1997 Finalist in USATODAY as Outstanding Teacher in USA 1999 Assistant facilitator at BECON for International SCHOOLS FLOR SUCCESS 1999-2005 Clinical Education Trainer 1998 Target Scholarship 1997-2001 Vertical Team trainer 1997-2002 Wrote European travel articles for Educational Travel Review 1986-89 UCLA Media Workshop Awards 1982-83 advisor to student-directed & produced TV talk shows sponsored by Selkirk Cable,Fort,Lauderdale,FL 1970 Student Body President Mount Saint Mary College 1966 Annual West Point Award-New York Dept. of education
