Tag Archives: Mexico

Day 76: Meredith

21 Jun


Guanajuato, Mexico

Meredith Reynolds has been my daughter Alex’s advisor/internship program coordinator for the past two years. Alexandra’s course of study took a very different turn when she opted to study in Denmark during her junior year at Southern Oregon University (SOU). When Alexandra decided to tackle an internship during her second year abroad (still in Denmark), Meredith was there to help her navigate the necessary paperwork to ensure that she was on track scholastically.

Copenhagen, Denmark
Meredith knows all about studying abroad. She has attained near-native fluency in Spanish language and Mexican Culture. She taught at the Universidad de Guanajuato for six years (from 1980-86). Guanajuato is the Sister City to Ashland, Oregon and there is a rich relationship between the two cities. In fact, my Alexandra “won” a contest when she was in 4th grade and was allowed to go (for free) to Guanajuato with a group of people from Ashland. Alexandra was 10 years old at the time but she was fearless and eager to go. I think that she was born knowing that she was a child of the world. I, on the other hand, did not get that memo.

It is wonderful that Meredith and Alexandra share a love of travel and cultures. Meredith has an amazing kinship with the people of Mexico, especially Guanajuato. Alexandra seems to have found that same kind of kinship in a small country 6,000 miles from the place in which she was born. I think that this is just a part of our ever changing world. And I count myself fortunate to have visited both Guanajuato and Denmark. What I have discovered is that with every new person that you meet you are given the opportunity to make a friend.

Today my friend Meredith was packing up her office. She is retiring from her position at SOU. I know that this is just a momentary pause for her for she has so much yet to give. I brought a quiche to Meredith today to thank her for all that she has done for my daughter and for all that she has done for Southern Oregon University. We are truly grateful for her passion and commitment and look forward to her next endeavor.

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Day 27: Mr. Leo Meltzer

4 May

When I was a little girl, the principal at my elementary school, PS 14, was a man named Mr. Leo Meltzer.  The memory that I have of him is of a man who was always impeccably dressed – dark suit, dress shirt, tie and polished shoes.  He was well respected but also was approachable and friendly.  He would walk the halls of that old brick school house, nodding and smiling as he passed, and now and then he would visit our classrooms.

On one such visit he regaled my class with details of a recent trip that he had taken with his family to Mexico.  At that time Mexico seemed about as far away as the moon to me and I was mesmerized.  The hightlight of the story was when he told us that he had seen some folks eating sandwiches that looked delicious and he just had to have one.  He ordered the sandwich and ate it hungrily.  Only afterwards did he ask what exactly was in the sandwich.  What he’d thought were fried onions turned out to be fried worms!  The whole class erupted!  Imagine eating worms!  Yuck!  But here was Mr. Meltzer standing before us, alive and well and chuckling.  He had to be about the bravest person I’d ever seen!

I don’t know why I thought of Mr. Meltzer today, and since he died so many years ago, I could not honor him with a pie.  Instead, I tried to think of someone who shared some of his qualities: approachable, friendly, well respected, willing and able to laugh.  Today I decided to recognize the principal of Ashland High School, Michelle Zundel, with a pie  (yet another Strawberry Rhubarb – but I promise tomorrow will be different!) in honor of Mr. Meltzer.  Michelle earns her stripes everyday and I am very grateful for the care and effort that she puts forth to inspire, encourage and teach our students.

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