Pre-Departure Plans?

Going to bed at all?

Our trip has the distinction of leaving the earliest in the morning of all the GCP groups this year. While the Wales group leaves first--on Thursday at around 5 pm--we meet at the Student Center at 1:30 am for a 2 am bus departure. Did you catch that? I said: A. M. What are you going to do between bedtime (presuming yours is prior to 1:30 a.m.) and our meeting time? What will you be doing during the half hour we're waiting for our van to depart? And, most importantly, what do you think you'll do during the long slogs at Dulles Airport and on the planes (yes, that's plural: we're taking three planes directly to Tobago). Shall we bring playing cards? Meet at Sheetz at 1:20 for mega-coffees? Ideas? On the flip side: once we land and begin our adventure, we'll decide the wait was worth it!

Trinidad --> MIT --> DC --> Cupcake Warriors

McIntosh and Ambrose, The Sweet Lobby

Take a look at this NPR article on two Trinidadians, brother and sister Timothy McIntosh and Winnette McIntosh Ambrose, who earned advanced chemical engineering degrees from MIT, then opened a boutique bakery in Washington, D.C., and then went on to win the "Cupcake Wars." Sadly, we'll not sample their wares in Trinidad, but check them out the next time you're in D.C.

What are You Packing?

Piarco International Airport, Trinidad

We're zero-minus-one-month before departure now and I'm having a difficult time not dragging out my suitcase right now. So, since I'm mentally packing, I thought you might be as well. What are you Trinidad and Tobago Trippers planning to bring? I thought that our sharing might help each other out. For example, if I mention that I'm planning to bring hiking boots and flip flops, then someone else might remember to, too. So share your packing lists... and add more later as needed! And don't forget to check out the packing tips listed on the left side of this blog's homepage.

February is Black History Month

Celebrate Diversity

February is Black History Month. Every year, SU celebrates the month with a different theme. This year's theme is "Black Women in American Culture and History." I hope that you'll take advantage of the opportunities below to learn more about African American history and culture this month at SU. I hope that our immersion in Afro-Caribbean history and culture in Trinidad and Tobago will underscore the importance of celebrating all of our diverse histories all year around.


EVENTS AT SU IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 8, and over the course of four Wednesdays, Worship Arts Coordinator DeLyn Celec leads a Harambee Bible Study for all interested members of the campus community. The first Bible Study each Wednesday begins at noon and another follows at 1:00 p.m. Grab a lunch and gather for this Black History Month discussion. Register by contacting Celec at (540) 665-3485 or goodsonchapel@su.edu.

Performing Arts Live presents Ladysmith Black Mambazo at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14, in Armstrong Concert Hall. The performance is now sold out, so I hope you got tickets!

The community celebrates the life and music of Winchester native John Kirby on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the John Kirby Jazzfest. Featured performers are Shenandoah University's musicians playing authentic John Kirby Sextet arrangements: trumpeter Logan Desabrais, clarinetist Cody Leavel, saxophonist Ryan Ratliff, bassist CJ Fiandra, drummer Rocket Jackson and jazz professor Robert Larson on piano.