love of mine. While my husband was alive our
family traveled through most of the US, to Canada
and to a few European countries.
I began broadening my horizons about a year
after my
husband's death. I worked for two summers in
Colorado as a
receptionist at a lodge. Next, I was hired by
the US National
Forest Service in Alaska to oversee Indian teens
in building
hiking trails. For the following summer, I was
accepted at Oxford
University, England, where I did post-graduate
work comparing
US and British educational systems. The
following summer I
kayaked in Alaska's Glacier Bay with my grown
children before
going to Italy to study Italian Renaissance Art
and the Italian
Language as a graduate student. The next summer
I spent in
Denmark, comparing the Danish education system
with the US
system.
I have traveled extensively beyond the above
educational
pursuits. Iceland, Mexico, Switzerland,
France,China, Russia, Greece Turkey, Croatia,
Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic
are some of
the cultues that I have visited in recent years.
I have housesitting experience. I spent
three
summers housesitting in France and Switzerland.
My next assignment was after my retirement, and
thus I was able to spend August/September
housesitting in Sydney, Australia. Following this,
I housesat on the North Island of New Zealand.
With most of these assignments cats were involved.
My New Zealand family had three darling cats
that I learned to love. Each had their own
personality and opinions. I returned to New Zealand's South
Island just this summer. I spent 9 glorious weeks exploring,
hiking and getting to know the people. There were no pets
involved this time.
I am a dog lover, too. I have owned dogs
just about all of my life. Currently, I have an almost-two-year-
old golden retriever that I rescued from a very bad situation. His
life is much better now.
I can provide references if you are interested .
Toni Christen
Hamilton, OH 45014
USA, e-mail: toni.christen@fuse.net |
