Reclaiming Europe

Barcelona

Image credit: Don McCullough‘s “Barcelona”

I’m sitting in the Toronto Airport right now waiting for a plane to Barcelona, Spain for the European and Distance E-Learning Network (EDEN) conference this week. This will be my first time presenting in Europe, and I am pretty excited about that. I’ve been following a number of people working in edtech across Europe over the last ten years, and it will be a real treat to finally be part of a European-focused edtech conference. What’s more, I’ve never been to Barcelona, and I can’t think of another city that everyone I talk to has been so unequivocally enthusiastic about. That has me excited for other reasons.

Trento-fountain_of_Neptune_and_Torre_Civica_from_southwest

Trento’s City Square

What adds a personal layer to this trip is that it’s a foreshadowing of things to come. As early as this fall, my family and I plan on moving to Antonella’s home town: Trento, Italy. This is something we’ve been talking about for more than a decade, and it looks like the opportunity is finally materializing. I’m pretty excited about the idea of bringing the kids back to Italy so they can get to know Anto’s culture more intimately, master the language, and spend some time with our family and friends there.

Being back on Long Island this weekend and seeing how grown up all my nephews and nieces are getting was a stark reminder how quick it all goes. I’ve been consumed with my work at UMW for the last decade, and in many ways existed almost entirely within that professional universe. I don’t regret it for a moment, but it’s high time take advantage of the wider world out there and begin reclaiming Italia, per bacco!

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4 Responses to Reclaiming Europe

  1. iamTalkyTina says:

    WOWSIES! There is a lot of stuff on your horizon, UNCLE Jim, now that you have resigned to it all! I think it is a great thing that those kids can learn Italian and living in that old town. Plus, Mario Bava!

    I bet it will be fun to follow your adventures, when you have some there, plus if you have a camera! Because sharing adventures, plus GIFs, is a fun thing for Friends. Does it have a drawbridge?

    Well, I know you will be around here still for some time, plus The Internet when you move. What time zone will you be, when you are in Italy, because you can do #ds106radio shows with the kids speaking Italian.

    Anyway, I am glad that I met you when you were here before you moved far away.

    Bye!

    • Reverend says:

      Your the best friend a doll can have! Thanks Tina, it’s good to know the #ds106zone just keeps on giving and giving and giving. I’ll be giving up the internet when I move to Europe, that’s one of my resolutions 🙂

  2. Ben Rimes says:

    Jim Groom give up the internet? Never!

    This is what I get for being lazy with my blog reading; people up and make plans to move to Europe and I miss it! Congrats on the move, and the amazing adventures that await you and the family!

  3. Leigh Ellis says:

    When I saw that the job for Executive Director at DTLT was opening, I was shocked! But I’m happy to hear that you and your family are on to such wonderful things. I hope your move to Italy goes smoothly.

    We’ll miss you in the US, so come back and visit when you can. 🙂

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