A pair of bloomers with lace ruffles catches the eye of Monika Knutsson as she strolls by a busy stall at a Brocante in Paris. Liam Hughes waits in the rain for the tide to roll out in County Waterford, Ireland in hopes of discovering another shard from a 19th Century plate.

Imagine the serenity of Jayavarman, layered with gorgeous papers, colors, textiles, stamps, wood, stone, and even a coin - all with a modern twist. Does this sound like something you'd like to see? Me, too.

I stood outside the door, eavesdropping on the conversation flowing through my classroom.  Though class was still five minutes from officially starting, I was disappointed.  I’d been hoping, had even expected, that my students would be conversing in English.  At the intermediate level, they had the abilities.  But instead, everyone stayed in their comfort zones, using Russian, their native language, to articulate themselves.

Though disappointed, I also understood.  Communicating in a foreign language is difficult.

In an earlier article, Bucket Listing Mt. Mera, I suggested that some of you who are working on your Bucket List might consider substituting Cho Oyu (8201m/26,906ft) for Mt.