Jeff and his Sherpa atop the Summit of Mount Everest, May 14, 2011

If you love inspiring stories, you will be thrilled with this one. Jeff Gottfurcht was the first person with rheumatoid arthritis to climb Mount Everest. Right now he is climbing Mount Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America, and his blog is documenting his progress every day. Jeff is the founder of a wish-granting charity for children with arthritis, and he climbs to bring awareness to his cause.

Darwin, AKA Dardie, Chocolate Standard Poodle XXL

Having a huge and adorable dog is really an attention-getter. Sometimes I enjoy being stopped and answering all the questions people have about Darwin when we walk together. But literally, for every block I walk, I get stopped a minimum of 4 times.

People slow down in their cars and yell stuff out the window at me.  One car’s driver was staring at Darwin and not paying attention to a large curb. She tore a big chunk out of her car and ended up dragging a side panel under the car. Another driver failed to stop at a busy intersection, because he was fixated on Darwin. He almost plowed into oncoming traffic. He stopped in time, but his car spun completely around. Many drivers also pull up behind us (off the road) suddenly and without warning, scaring the heck out of both of us (just to see the dog and ask questions). I know my pup is special and darling and big, but he is not the only standard poodle in this country.

Here’s a few comments I’ve received from strangers:

• “What kind of exotic breed is that?”  Me: “A poodle, actually one of the more common breeds.”
• “Now yours is a toy poodle, right? And there are two larger sizes of poodles, right?” Me: “You are kidding, right? This dog is 5 ft. 3 inches from the top of his head to his feet. You believe there are 2 larger sizes – perhaps a pony and a Clydesdale?”
• “What kind of mammal is that you have on that leash?” Me: “I sure hope it is a canine, or the more familiar word, dog. “
• “I have to ask, are you a FULL-sized person?” Me: “I have to answer that I am somewhat offended. But yes, I am a small, full-sized person and this is a large, full-sized dog.”
• “Aren’t you terrified of your own dog? He is humongous!” “Me: “Watch as I pry open the dog’s mouth and stick my head in there. Can you tell that I am not afraid?”
• “What the F is that? You’ve got some big SHI- there!” Me: “My dog is not impressed with your limited vocabulary.”
• “What a gorgeous animal!” Me: “Thank you. I work out a lot and watch what I eat, but how do you like my dog?”

Gemma Sokol

Were you born in the US?

Yes, I was born in Los Angeles, but moved to Frankfurt, Germany at the age of 2.

Why did your family move abroad?

My Dad got a job in Frankfurt while working for CitiGroup, and the opportunity was too good to pass up.

Did you attend English-speaking schools in Germany?

I was little, so I went to a bi-lingual Montessori school, where I became fluent in German. My parents took German classes too, so we could all learn together and speak it at home.

You were very young when you lived there, but do you have any special memories of Frankfurt?

Yes. There is a big shopping mall called NordWestZentrum with a spectacular glass ceiling, and in that mall was a cool post office. As a little girl, it was a really special treat to go shopping and then mail packages back to the states at that post office. The indoor swimming pools in Frankfurt are some of the best I’ve ever visited!

How old were you when you left Germany?

We moved to London when I was five and a half and stayed there for six and a half years.

What were the British schools like?

My parents had me switch schools a few times to find the best one for me. One private school I went to had required church services, and we sang hymns. It was a good learning experience, because my family is Jewish, and I had never been exposed to church before. In order to go to secondary school, there is a very long application process. You have to sit for exams, write essays and fill out long and involved applications. It is very competitive and somewhat stressful. But I made it through the process, and it was all worth it!

Gemma and her brother, Coleman, in London

Are the academics different in Britain than they are in the US?

In British schools, students learn foreign languages early. I took French from third through sixth grade. Then in sixth grade, I took German and Latin. Throughout my British education, religious studies were part of the curriculum giving me the opportunity to learn about a lot of religions different from my own. The schools took us on field trips to a wide variety of houses of of worship almost every 2 weeks for educational purposes. It was fascinating to learn about so many fascinating religions this way. I wish American schools did this as well.

So would you say the academics are better in Britain or just different?

Both. For example, in fifth grade, we took a trip to the Isle of White, and in sixth grade we went via ferry and bus to France, where we stayed and explored for 8 days. It was an amazing trip! I’d have to say the academic opportunities are better there. The education is very career driven. You must know what you want to study before you graduate from secondary school; college placement is geared toward specific career paths from day one. Students take exit exams in so many subjects and have to pass all of them in order to graduate and go to college.

Are there any other differences?

The overall environment is different in British schools. They do not have school spirit like we do in the US. I’d describe it by saying it is not as interactive as American schools.

Was it hard to make friends in your schools?

Luckily I’m outgoing and make friends fairly easily, no matter where I am. But every school I’ve been to has one thing in common; there are plenty of cliques. Kids everywhere just want to fit in.

How did you like British cuisine?

Because England has a large Indian population, there are countless Indian restaurants in, and around, London. Our favorite restaurant was family owned, serving Indian cuisine, located just around the corner from our house. There really wasn’t any food I did not like in London.

There are over 200 museums in London. Did you have a favorite?

My favorite is the British Museum. The Ancient Egypt exhibit is the best!

How did you feel about coming back to USA?

I was excited to go back to L.A,, with the thrill of Hollywood and the movie stars. I was only 12-years-old when I came back to this country so I had quite a strong a British accent. But it drew so much attention, and I constantly got so many comments that I made an effort to change it. It took me under a year to lose that accent, though it’s still here inside me. We had to rent an apartment for a while when we came back to the U.S., and I missed the spacious, multi-level house we had in England. But more than anything, I really missed the small town feeling of Europe, with local shops and cafes right around the corner and great public transportation.

Where have you traveled other than Germany, Britain and France?

I’ve been to over 31 countries. I have to say my favorite city in the world is Venice. Even though there are so many tourists there, it is a magical place. I love that there are no cars, there’s so much art, the architecture is phenomenal, and the food is incredible. I also love watching how Venetian glass is made. When I see films shot in Venice I think, “I’ve stood right there!”

What is the most exotic place you’ve been?

Cyprus is a most unusual place. It is extremely dry and also rather barren in parts, but there are many resorts, ancient ruins and groves of olives trees. It’s also not easy to cross the border into Turkey, and we were advised against it because we were staying on the Greek side and the two countries are in territorial conflict.

Gemma on a recent trip to Paris

How did living abroad change your life?

I have had so much exposure to so many different cultures. I couldn’t possibly have that experience if I had not lived overseas. I have great respect for different ways of life, cultural traditions, religions, laws and history.

You are getting ready to graduate from high school and go to college. Do you know what you would like to study there?

I’m looking into studying communications, art or cultural studies.

So do you feel that your multi cultural education gives you an advantage over other students who have not had opportunities to travel?

Yes. I believe the best way to learn is to experience things firsthand. I have learned to appreciate different ways of life, and being open to those ways – though very different from ours – makes life much richer and education much broader. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to experience so many diverse places in the world and meet people from so many unique cultures. That experience really shaped me into who I am today.

What advice would you give to another student who may be getting ready to live abroad?

No matter how different the culture may be in a foreign country, there are people you will meet who have something common with you. You will quickly acclimate to the different environment and learn the cultural traditions there. The people will be just as interested in getting to know you as you are in getting to know them. Visit all the top attractions, try the local food and learn the language, because this is likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Take advantage of all your experience has to offer, and you won’t have any regrets.

Gemma, thank you for sharing your experiences abroad with our readers. It isn’t often that one learns of life as an Expat from a young person’s perspective. Best of luck to you in college. I’m confident your unique cultural experiences will open many doors for you, and your future will be filled with more travel and adventure. Please keep in touch!

No matter where we took our dog, people of all races and sizes were terrified of her. It was common for us to see people run away from her or cross a street just to avoid walking by her.

Now we have Darwin, a horse-sized chocolate brown standard boy. His is HUGE. He stands 29 inches from his shoulder to the ground and weighs 85 lbs. He is about 70% larger than Gigi was. So one would assume people would be afraid of him. Wrong! People can’t get enough of Darwin. We get stopped by just about everyone who walks or even drives past us. People get out of their cars and bicyclists get off their bikes to see Darwin. Darwin is gentle like Gigi, but much more intimidating to look at. And his bark is much deeper and louder. Yet, people near and far come right up to him and pet him with no fear.

From my experience, people are much more likely to be afraid of a black dog than a brown dog.  What a shame. They likely do not even realize it. Isn’t that the same thing as racism?

If you don’t believe me, go out and get yourself a black dog and a dog of another color and try it out for yourself.

Gigi

Darwin

]]> http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2011/01/25/racism-and-dogs-are-you-a-racist/feed/ 1 http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2010/07/07/another-award-for-young-ca-artist-kevin-huo/ http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2010/07/07/another-award-for-young-ca-artist-kevin-huo/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:17:51 +0000 admin http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/?p=6089 You all remember Kevin Huo, the amazing 5th grader who won 1st Place in our “I Love Costa Rica’s Rain Forest!” Contest – 4th-5th Grade Category. Well now Kevin has done it again. He just returned from Washington DC  where he received the River of Words Environmental Art & Poetry “One Square Block” Grand Prize Award.

“Our goal is to help children become informed, engaged and inspired citizens of the places they live,” added River of Words co-founder and executive director, Pamela Michael. River of Words (ROW) is a Berkeley-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting literacy, creative expression and community awareness of our most critical environmental concern: water. It was co-founded by U.S. Poet Laureate (1995-1997) Robert Hass and writer Pamela Michael to help young people make a personal and lasting connection to the environment.

Kevin’s Entry, Birds Over the Bay depicts birds, inspired by the artist’s memories of seeing ducks in his yard and birds flying over the sea near his CA home.  You can’t help but smile when you see Kevin’s artwork. He uses vibrant colors and captures nature in such an inspiring and mature way. This is just one of many awards Kevin has one for his artwork. And he”s only 11 years old! Click here to read our interview with Kevin, which was published in January.

Birds Over the Bay

For the Grand Prize Award, Kevin received a trip to the River of Words Environmental Art & Poetry Award, Ceremony, where he attended a luncheon and public reading at US Capitol -  The Library of Congress – on June 30, 2010 The ceremony was emceed by River of Words co-founder, former US Poet Laureate,  Robert Hass, recent winner of the both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry.

After the ceremony, Kevin visited and met with California Senator Barbara Boxer in the Capitol, Washington DC, where he presented his 2010 One Square Block grand prize & 2010 River of Words Watershed Art & Poetry winning art work to Senator Boxer.

Kevin and his parents got to meet CA Senator Barbara Boxer following the awards ceremony

Kevin is not just an artist, but a true environmentalist.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who is looking forward to Kevin’s next artistic masterpiece.

Congratulations Kevin!

]]> http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2010/07/07/another-award-for-young-ca-artist-kevin-huo/feed/ 0 http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2010/01/18/happy-81st-birthday-martin-luther-king-jr/ http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2010/01/18/happy-81st-birthday-martin-luther-king-jr/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:12:04 +0000 admin http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/?p=4825

Public Domain Photo of MLK, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Born January 15, 1929
• Graduated high school at age 15
• Received a BA from Morehouse College in Atlanta in 1948
• Received a BD in Theology from Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951
• Received a PhD from Boston University in 1955
• Married Coretta Scott and had 2 sons and 2 daughters
• Awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at age 35 – youngest man to ever receive the award
• Assassinated April 4, 1968 in Memphis, TN

My favorite Martin Luther King Quotes:

“Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them.”

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically… Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

“Man was born into barbarism when killing his fellow man was a normal condition of existence. He became endowed with a conscience. And he has now reached the day when violence toward another human being must become as abhorrent as eating another’s flesh.”

“We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.

Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man’s sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

“If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”

• The Dani of Irian Jaya
• The Yanmami of the Amazon
• The Tasaday of the Phillipines
• Australian Aborigines

Australia Aboriginal Flags

http://webclipart.about.com

How many do your children know as well?

Countries

1. Afghanistan
2. Argentina
3. Australia
4. Brazil
5. Canada
6. China
7. Costa Rica
8. Cuba
9. Egypt
10. France
11. Great Britain
12. Greece
13. India
14. Indonesia
15. Iran
16. Iraq
17. Ireland
18. Israel
19. Italy
20. Japan
21. Monaco
22. North Korea
23. Mexico
24. Russia
25. South Africa
26. South Korea
27. Spain
28. Sweden

http://www.freshfreestuff.net

Answers*

1. Afghanistan: Hamid Karzai (President)
2. Argentina: Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (President)
3. Australia: Quentin Bryce (Governor General)   -  Kevin Michael Rudd (Prime Minister)
4. Brazil: Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva (President)
5. Canada: Michaelle Jean (Governor General)   -  Stephen Harper (Prime Minister)
6. China: Hu Jintao (President)
7. Costa Rica: Oscar Arias Sanchez (President)
8. Cuba: General Raul Castro Ruz (President of the Council of State)
9. Egypt: Mohamed Hasni Mubarak (President)
10. France: Nicolas Sarcozy (President)   Francois Fillon (Prime Minister)
11. Great Britain: Elizabeth II (Queen)  James Gordon Brown (Prime Minister)
12. Greece: Karolos Papoulias (President)  -  Konstandinos Karamanlis (Prime Minister)
13. India: Pratibha Patil (President)
14. Indonesia: Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (President)
15. Iran: Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamanei (Supreme Leader)  -  Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad (President)
16. Iraq: Jalal Talabani (President)
17. Ireland: Mary McAleese (President)
18. Israel: Shimon Peres (President)   -  Binyamin “Bibi” Netanyahu (Prime Minister)
19. Italy: Giorgio Napolitano (President)  -  Silvio Berlusconi (Prime Minister)
20. Japan: Akihito (Emperor)  -  Yukio Hatoyama (Prime Minister)
21. Monaco: Prince Albert II (Chief of State)  – Jean-Paul Proust (Minister of State & President of Governing Council)
22. North Korea: Kim Jong Il (General Secretary, Supreme Commander of Army and Chairman of National Defense Commission)
23. Mexico: Felip de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa (President)
24. Russia: Dmitriy Anatolyevich Medvedev (President) -  Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (Premier)
25. South Africa: Jacob Zuma (President)
26. South Korea: Lee Myung-bak (President)  – Han Seung-soo (Prime Minister)
27. Spain: King Juan Carlos de Borbon y Borbon  (Chief of State) – Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (President)
28. Sweden: Carl XVI Gustaf (King) -  Frederik Reinfeldt (Prime Minister)

How many did you know? How many will you remember?

*Source:  https://www.cia.gov