Hope As Defined by an Adult Child

By Robert Waldvogel

Hope, a desire with an expectation of fulfillment and the hinge upon which life's possibilities pivot, is often replaced with despair by adult children who endured unstable and sometimes dangerous alcoholic, dysfunctional, and abusive upbringings, leaving them, as the designation implies, developmentally arrested between the child and adult stages.

"Alcoholism is a thief," according to a testimonial in Al-Anon's "Hope for Today" text (Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 2002, p. 12). "It robs us of our loved ones. It pickpockets job opportunities, close relationships, and physical safety. In my mother's case, it eventually stole her life. Alcoholism robbed my childhood of trust and safety. I grew up feeling like a counterfeit adult-well-adjusted on the outside, but lost and frightened on the inside."

Like those who contract the flu through exposure to it in a coworker or friend, even those who never allow the drip of the drink to pass the tongue are hardly immune to its effects.

"(The effects of the disease) can rob the joy each day holds," "Hope for Today" continues (ibid, p. 12). "Denial steals from me the ability to see my situation clearly and honestly. Stubborn self-reliance wipes out the guidance and comfort available from my Higher Power. Resentment erodes love and goodwill in my relationships with others. Obsessive worrying raids my willingness to accept and enjoy life as it is."

Hope follows help and that Higher Power may be the source of both. Especially for adult children, twelve-step programs in which members "share their experience, strength, and hope," serve as the threshold to the climb back toward Him, as inherently expressed by the second step, which states that "a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity."

"The second step is about possibility, about hope," according to "Courage to Change," another Al-Anon text (Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 1992, p. 156). "With this step we came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. We are asked to open our minds to the possibility that hope is available. Perhaps there is a source of assistance that can do for us what we have been unable to do for ourselves. We don't have to believe that it will happen, only that it could."

Hope is therefore that helping hand-that glimmer of light-that lifts a person from the quicksand of despair and paves the way to improvement in his life. It is that elusively definable, invisible force which touches his soul, jarring it from slumber, and pointing to the possibility of healing and the promise of more to come-of renewed strength and of a return to wholeness. It may not necessarily be a desire at this stage, but the hint that restored ability, confidence, and wherewithal will enable the person to pursue a better path often leads to the desires for more themselves.

Hope, coincident with gradual reconnection with the true self and others, slowly takes the person from his separated "outside, looking in" view to a "part of and partaking" one.

Like the increments on a thermometer, hope is decidedly higher than despair, and with it comes the emotional rise that offers the ever-enlarging window to possibility and happiness. Despair is darkness. Hope is light.

Whatever is lost, especially through a Higher Power, can be found, recovered, and restored.

From help comes hope. From hope comes healing. From healing comes possibility. From possibility comes fulfillment and happiness. And from a Higher Power comes all of them.

Hope, in the end, is the wrung in the ladder, which, when grasped, springboards the person to something even higher.

Article Sources:

"Courage to Change." Virginia Beach, Virginia: Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 1992.

"Hope for Today." Virginia Beach, Virginia: Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 2002.

Hawaii. An Island for All Seasons And of Memories

By Priya Garg

Traveling is a perfect excuse to bond outside of your comfort zone, get out of your busy and tight schedule, and spend some quality time together with family.

Hawaii, a heavenly paradise, is in one of the most beautiful islands in the whole world. Pictures do not even do justice to this place. It is simply breathtaking! In Hawaii, there are many islands such as Hawaii Island, Maui Island, Oahu Island, Molokai Island, and Kauai Island, which make this atoll a top vacation destination. Plus, it's also the perfect place to relax, unwind, and disconnect from your regular routine.

It will be difficult to know where to point your camera since Hawaii is overflowing with dazzling blossoms, gorgeous scenery, palm trees, shorelines, Aloha spirit, and mountains in each bearing. Each of its islets has its own vibe, so an excursion on separated Kauai feels altogether different from a trek to clamoring Honolulu on Oahu.

Let's take a look at these unbelievable island escapes of Hawaii that will make you want to pack your bags and catch a ferry to this beautiful island.

Hawaii Island
Volcano national park is the primary thing which makes this islet different from the others. Hawaii Island is also known as "The Big Island." You can see waterfalls, climb through old lava tubes, and watch the new lava oozes into the ocean. There are twisty drives both on the drift and in the mountains inland. Indeed, even the flatlands (east and north) of town are stunning and amusing to investigate.

Kona Coast
Love diving and want to go face to face with Manta Rays (12-foot wingspans)? If yes, then you must come here once. Manta rays lack stingers-a reality that merits recalling when you experience them off the Big Island's Kona Coast.

Oahu Island
Want to surf or alternatively, just want to watch surfers take a swift on the monstrous waves? Go and dive into Oahu islet, which is a surfer's paradise, with lumpy-bumpy waves that can reach epic heights. The North Shore of Oahu is the thing that you would expect in a laid-back surf group: Kids ride skateboards down byways, neighbors share mangoes over the fence, and viewing the dusk are must-do customs.

Kauai Island
Here, you can explore the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Waimea Canyon with a sort of crude magnificence is so picture-culminate that it can bait you into deserting some other arrangements you had for the day.

Maui Island
Be a witness of Humpback whales, which you can easily see on the Maui Island.

Molokai
When you go to Hawaii for a vacation, consider a mule ride to a Historic Coast, Molokai. The exquisite, exceptional, and alarming ride on the back of a mule will give you a panoramic view of Molokai's precarious north shore ocean from the trail.

5 Tips for Traveling by Train in Europe

By Udi Sharir

Research the different rail passes available

If you are planning to see numerous countries it may be wise to consider investing in an Interrail Pass, or what non-EU citizens call the Eurail Pass. An Interrail Pass will make your train voyage easier. However, if you are on a tighter budget, individual tickets may work out cheaper (especially if you're mainly traveling east of Germany). Consider your budget and do some research before you book your rail pass.

Try to reserve your seats

Train tickets and seat reservations are two different things. A ticket allows you to board a train, and a reservation guarantees you a seat on a specific train. Before your trip make sure you understand whether your train requires, recommends, or doesn't accept seat reservations.

If possible, try to reserve your seat, especially if you are traveling in uber-popular countries such as France, Italy or Spain. For most trains, you are not required to reserve your seat, however, boarding the train and hoping for the best is not a good idea. You could be told to get out of your seat mid-journey if someone else has booked it. By reserving your place, you can choose whether you would like an aisle or window seat. You can sit back and enjoy the ride knowing you won't be interrupted to move.

Keep your belongings safe

European train travel is known as one of the safest ways to travel. However, it is important to keep an eye out for pickpocketers, particularly with trains that stop in major cities. Don't leave your luggage unguarded on the train or in the station. On night trains, if you intend to sleep, make sure to secure baggage to the rack with a small bicycle lock. To have peace of mind, wear a waist pack under your clothes to keep your passport, phone and any important documents protected from any potential thieves.

Less is more - tips for traveling by train in Europe

Going from country to country or city to city is a fun and exciting journey. However, the trip can become tiring if you are carrying a heavy load. Pack the essentials and leave any items or products that are not needed behind.

Depending on the train you are traveling on, there can be limited storage space in over-seat racks and shelves at the ends of carriages. Instead of carrying a big and heavy suitcase, a quality lightweight backpack is another way to lighten your load.

Pack the right supplies for the journey

Traveling through Europe provides sensational views; however, it is a good idea to bring a few key items to help you pass the time especially if you are embarking on a journey of more than 2 hours. Read a book, watch a movie on your tablet, write in your travel journal or strike up a conversation with another passenger and before you know it you will be at your next destination.

Most trains have either a restaurant, caf� carriages or snack carts that come by selling sandwiches, soft drinks and more. But if you are on a tight traveling budget or you have specific dietary requirements, it is wise to bring some snacks with you on your journey.

Our website http://www.SaveATrain.com is the perfect place to make tickets booking for your next train or trains travel, we offer many trains that can help with your European travel.

Teach Abroad With an International Teaching Diploma Course

By Manika Saha

Teachers looking forward to go overseas with their teaching careers can choose from one of two options- start teaching at an International school or take up assignments at a private language school. For someone who has experienced both, he/she will always agree that being the teacher of an international school is a far better option after undergoing an International Teaching Diploma Course. Here are some of the reasons attributed to the same.

Considerable disposable income to work with

For someone teaching at a private language school, waxing their legs and buying paperbacks may be deemed a luxury. They will have to think about their expenditures at every step simply because their earnings won't be enough to cover the need for non-essentials. That also includes going on vacations even when there is the time to do so.

However, things change on entering an international school where they get to spend their salary as they choose and still be left with enough at the end of the month. This money could be invested as a savings deposit in the bank or towards future options such as house deposits or pension schemes.

Regular Paid Vacations

EFL teachers usually sign a contract running for the duration of an academic year or a calendar year. Though these contracts contain the provision for few weeks of holiday the candidates are expected to work for a larger proportion of the contractual duration compared to when they teach at an international school.

International schools typically have 12 months long teaching contracts out of which actual teaching is expected to take place for 200 days. The school remains closed for the rest of the year and during that period the educators are free to go on tours, thus earning themselves some well-deserved paid vacations.

Normal Contact Hours for Teaching

The schedule at private language schools specializing in TEFL courses are typically very crammed up. Students attend their lessons around other job or school commitments, so teachers find themselves working crazy hours. Things can be really bad as not every school management will be considerate enough towards the plight of the facilitators.

As far as international schools are concerned, they have well defined and regular school hours. Those who make a start early in the morning can expect their working day to be over sometime towards early afternoon.

Inclusion of Planning Time

Employment for TEFL teachers goes by the contact hours- the time spent in front of the students. It is worth noting that lessons do not simply drop out of thin air and the teachers are required to do a lot of homework in terms of preparing their lessons and organizing resources. For beginners, the time they spend in preparing for a lesson could be as good as the amount of time they dedicate towards teaching the same in a class, if not more. While their contract says they need to put in 20-35 contact hours a week, teachers end up working over 50 hours but are not compensated justly for these extra hours. Though this can contribute towards better planning efficiency it is certainly not the most ideal practice.

For international schools, the idea of teaching a specific number of contact hours remains but they get paid for the time spent in planning a lesson. The non-contact time is usually more, so this proves to be a major gain for those who build a career in international schools after undergoing an International Teaching Diploma Course.

Opportunities for Professional Development

Teachers who wish to develop themselves from a professional point-of-view and are working as EFL instructors will find it difficult if they approach the institutions to cater to their development expenses. For international schools though, they set aside a certain amount of money which is used in the professional development of their teachers. This can be utilised the most of by those who wish to equip themselves with new techniques for further advancement of their teaching careers.

Those teaching in an international school after taking an International Teaching Diploma Course have revealed their happiness and joy of being involved in the profession. They consider themselves to be more valued members of the teaching staff which helps them give their best performance in the classroom, thus aiding in the overall growth and development of the students.

Why Teach English As A Second Language To Children In Developing Countries?

By Shalini Madhav

Whereas education is very important in life and is the right of every child, a good number of children, especially in developing countries do not enjoy this very important right. Poverty is the major cause for such situations. Parents are not able to pay fees for education and even when they do the children attend schools that lack in resources. Apart from lacking the learning tools, most schools set in poor localities lack enough teachers to handle the children attending them.

English is one of the languages children should learn and it is actually the major language used to teach in most schools. But with the failure to get a good education or even have teachers to teach them, children from poor backgrounds may never really learn the language or even learn the proper English for that matter. But thanks to charitable organizations reaching out to developing countries, a good number of the children can finally learn the language through distance learning. The fact that they are taught by professional or native English speakers, the children become fluent in reading, speaking and writing.

But why is it important to teach English as a second language to children from developing countries and poor backgrounds for that matter?

1. English is the global language. It may have spread across the globe in very bad circumstances like slavery in some cases, but we cannot deny that it spoken everywhere. By learning the language, therefore the children become part of the world since they can comprehend everything presented in the language.

2. It opens up more job opportunities for them. With the language, it would be very hard for the children to finally grow up into good job positions. The truth is that most jobs require that you are fluent in spoken and written English. This is not only for formal jobs or high profile jobs, but even the odd ones depending on who your employer is.

3. Travelling is made easy for them. This is in the sense that once grown the children may have a need to spread their wings and try their luck in a different setup. With English as a second language, they will definitely have an easier time communicating and relating with other people from all walks of like wherever they go. The fact is that even in places where English is not the main language most people will still understand it hence communication is made easy.

4. English gives a chance for better educated. Children from developing countries may lack good schools and teachers, but with English language, learning on their own is actually made possible. Considering that lots of literature is available offline and online in English, they can become better educated if dedicated enough. They can learn anything they want, find answers and even join platforms to expand brain power.

5. The language improves their confidence. They need not struggle or get embarrassed when addressed in English since they can understand and respond in the right way.

  English learning non-profit organizations offer children from developing countries a chance to learn the global language to better their lives. You can donate to such    children charities to part of the change for the needy children. You can make financial donations or even buy merchandise to fund the worthy causes.