Inspiring Women SUMMER 2020

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After a few months, I joined the governing board as VP Finance, then VP Activities and now am the President. As Don and I look forward to retirement in the next year, it will be interesting to see what else appears on our horizon…in Annapolis, in the next year, where we are lucky to have a family home and where our three daughters, two dogs and one son-in-law are currently hunkered down during the COVID-19 confinement. What was the first step you took to get involved in the COVID-19 response? As the President of AWG Paris, our first response was to cancel our member Roaring 20s party at the Eiffel Tower with AWG activities. Our club hosts almost 200 activities per year with about 2000 participants! More importantly, many of our members are older and live here alone; the social interaction of AWG Paris is important to all of us. We immediately started reaching out to our members via email to create Friends & Neighbors Groups and to contact members by phone. While many of us know each other socially, we don’t always realize that another member lives quite close by, perhaps in our own neighborhood or block! Creating Friends & Neighbors groups provided our members a new opportunity to connect with another member who lived close to them, and, in case of emergency, could also drop off food, medication or smiles. We also began offering “virtual” coffees, Aperols, and classes to our members. Our first Zoom brought so many smiles to our members’ faces; it was truly the best moment of my “pandemic presidency”! Members have also found creative ways to continue AWG Paris’ participation in feeding the refugees and homeless. Sandwich making at home and then handing off delivery within 1km to a neighbor who then passes the sandwiches on to the next person…we are doing what it takes to stay socially connected while physically distancing! Since COVID-19 started, tell us about a typical day for you. In Paris, we must complete an attestation in order to leave our apartment. And while we are allowed specific activities (grocery shopping, walking a pet, brief exercise, going to the doctor, etc), we must stay within 1km of our residence. Spring is usually pretty grey and wet in Paris, but this year, we have been fortunate to have lovely, sunny weather. Getting outside every other day for a walk has been key to staying sane! Our Parisienne apartment is beautiful, but I miss the outdoor space of our sprawling home in Annapolis! What has surprised you most about life dealing with COVID-19? After a few weeks, my husband and I have settled into a routine of generally eating breakfast together but working in different rooms of the apartment. Giving each other privacy and respecting each other’s work space has been helpful! Honestly, if I don’t see him until around dinnertime, it’s not a bad thing! Learning to make duck magret in Sorges 12
What is the most important thing you have discovered about yourself, and others through COVID-19? The difficulty of COVID-19 is losing control of your plans for life. While our lives have often changed course, this unpredictability is definitely creating stress in our life and our families. The stress of the unknown impact on their futures, livelihood and family is hard to manage from overseas. While we Zoom and FaceTime frequently, sometimes it simply feels like we should be there hugging them through it all. One thing that amazes me is how accessible via FaceTime, Zoom, Skype and video conferencing everyone is, no matter their age. My 97-year old mother-in-law has learned to FaceTime…it is awesome to see her laugh and stay connected to her 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, even during these difficult times! At the Musée d’Orsay What do you do to keep on top of your own stress and mental health during COVID-19? Since only the grocery stores are open, I was thrilled recently to see my petit market has potted herbs for sale! These now fill my kitchen counters with greenery and lovely possibilities of delicious meals! My time is also filled with AWG Paris online meetings, reading, playing Mah-jong with my USA girlfriends and clapping every evening on our balcony in appreciation of the French health care workers. IN CONVERSATION WITH CATHY Tell us something about yourself that not many people may know. I have gone canyoneering that “if I died, he would definitely not be getting a tip.” here in France! While I love ziplining, sailing, scuba, white-water rafting, biking and If you could go back in time, where and what kayaking, I hope to NEVER go canyoneering Tribal dancing display year/decade in Nairobi would you go to? Living in again. Truly the most scared I have ever been in my entire life. At one point, I told the guide Japan in the mid-90s! Not sure if it’s because we raised our daughters there, or if it was the rose-colored glasses, but living in Tokyo was simply fantastic for our family. What advice would you offer to yourself five years ago? Stretch! We all need to stretch our minds when we are young and stretch our bodies as we grow older! Snowshoeing in Annecy with AWG Paris Who is the first, non-family, person you want to see in person when the lockdown ends? I can’t wait to go to our church, the American Church in Paris, and thank God for family and friends, and for His Grace and protection. Also USA girlfriends, our family dogs in Annapolis and my hairstylist…for hugs, doggie cuddles and hair color! 13
Page 1 and 2: 1 June 2020, Volume 4, Issue 2
Page 3 and 4: Inspiration From the Editor This is
Page 5 and 6: Sewing Masks in Germany TRACY MOEDE
Page 7 and 8: I had always thought what a day to
Page 9 and 10: 9 Celeste Bennekers “We’re goin
Page 11: A Pandemic Presidency in Paris CATH
Page 15 and 16: new school year will be a universal
Page 17 and 18: Ultimately, students are most affec
Page 19 and 20: Team Event Planning Swiss Style ANG
Page 21 and 22: nothing. We all know how it worked
Page 23 and 24: Airlines for travel in three days.
Page 25 and 26: For example, four years of direct e
Page 27 and 28: What do you do to keep on top of yo
Page 29 and 30: In addition, I hold down the fort m
Page 31 and 32: A Club Inspires: AWC Oslo The Ameri
Page 33 and 34: and education for children/youth wi
Page 35 and 36: The next TARGET PROJECT was announc
Page 37 and 38: What was the first step you took to
Page 39 and 40: 39 Earlier today, I attended my mot
Page 41 and 42: Creating Calm with an App in Colomb
Page 43 and 44: different companies to cope with th
Page 45 and 46: 4 7 3 9 5 H E A R T D IS E A S E ,
Page 47 and 48: Supplying the Frontline in Holland
Page 49 and 50: 49 Mary Stewart Burger Why overseas
Page 51 and 52: I am a member of AWC Antwerp, a fre
Page 53 and 54: from outside. As my neighbors were
Page 55 and 56: What was the first step you took to
Page 57 and 58: I don’t know about you, but this
Page 59 and 60: “Quaranteaching” in Germany Whe
Page 61 and 62: What is the most important thing yo
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I have discovered that I can actual
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acquired ASAP. A complimentary bus
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day. Having trust and staying ahead
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CORONAVIRUS - COVID-19 - PANDEMIC
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3. You move from day to day doing t
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What was the first step you took to
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If you are not living with someone
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Finally, is there any part of your
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Pilates. Cooking is quick for two p
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conflicting reports. People were be
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