A Bit of Sunshine

January can be a dark lackluster month and this year seems to be no exception. To help with the winter blues and the unusually high level of stress this month, several of our colleagues shared their vacation photos and memories. Please feel free to peruse the photo gallery and read the recollections of a few lucky ones who got away. Send in your own scenic memories to chronicl@westga.edu.

Dr. Madhavi Sethna, Media and Instructional Technology

Waterfalls in India

I had an amazing tour of the state of India, which is the largest one in terms of land area and located in the center of the country. My father, who is 84 years old, joined me in Para-Sailing/Driving where a jeep pulled a parachute behind it and lifted us up for about a minute or so. That was amazing for him to want to do. Both of us fell down upon landing; he did not get hurt but I skinned a big chunk of my knee! This adventure could very well have become a misadventure but it did not - for him.

Our visit to the Kanha Tiger Sanctuary was also an exciting experience. We saw tigers, one on each of the two days we were there. We were told that was very rare because first of all, the tiger is a very stealthy animal who likes being unnoticed, and second, in this season, which was right after the monsoons, there is too much foliage to see any animal clearly, let alone a tiger. But, we did see one when we were sitting on top of an elephant and the other time when we were all in an open jeep.

The temples-Hindu, Buddhist, Jain etc., the Marble Canyons, archaeological caves/digs from 10,000-12,000 years ago, etc. were all very educational and we all had a wonderful time.

Tammy Crews, IT Services

We went to San Diego to visit my husband's brother who was house sitting for a friend (the brother is also from Carrollton). We went to LaJolla, traveled up the Pacific Coast Highway all the way to Oceanside and visited Coranado Island and the Hotel Del Coranado. The Pacific Ocean water temperature is very cold compared the Georgia/Florida coastal waters. We spent a lot of time on the USS Midway Museum, which was very interesting. The Gas Light District reminded me of Underground Atlanta but not underground. The weather was great, everyone was friendly and I would love to go back.

Linda Bittner, Campus Planning and Facilities

This was a memory to last a lifetime. My husband and daughter share the same birthday, right at Thanksgiving. Our daughter moved to Mexico to teach last year, so in an effort to celebrate birthdays and Thanksgiving together, another daughter planned a trip for us, rented a house on the beach, and brought us all together there. We spent seven glorious days dining, shopping, sightseeing, basking in the warmth and enjoying the balmy breezes.

We stayed in Puerto Morelos, visited Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum and the Isle de Mujeres. The sun was high in the sky by 6 a.m., so early rising was a must. We walked to town to catch buses and taxis with the locals of Puerto Morelos and joined in their festivities. It helped to have our daughters translate for us and read the menus. We discovered the beauty of the country but also learned of the hardships. We watched the locals as they lived and worked and came home very thankful for our blessings here at home and with a prayer in our hearts. Will I go back? Absolutely!

Suzanne Durham, Ingram Library

Emerald Isle, North Carolina: Over the New Year holiday my beau and I visited his oldest friend who keeps a beach house there. It was cold and wet but still beautiful. I’ve never gone to an Atlantic Ocean beach in the winter, and I found it has its own rewards. There were hardly any people on the beach so we could let our dogs off leash. They ran like greyhounds and gleefully chased the terns and seagulls in the surf. At night, snug in bed with the doors and windows shut tight, the soothing sound of the surf was still audible. The photograph reminded me of a Japanese painting.

Julie Lineback, University Advancement

My mom celebrated her retirement by renting an apartment in Florence, Italy, for three months. My husband Dan and I couldn’t let her celebrate alone! We spent two crisp, clear weeks in Firenze with a side trip to Venice. We saw many famous works of art, including Michelangelo’s David, and sampled authentic Italian cuisine and gelato. Mangia! On Thanksgiving Day we went to the Tuscan countryside and enjoyed a walking and wine-tasting tour throughout small villages that surround Florence. Watching the sun set behind rolling vineyards and olive trees is a vision I’ll never forget.

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