And we are back!
It’s been a month since we last updated this weblog. Our last entry was on January 28 entitled Reading Maps, which was written while we were in Paris. For 22 days, we travelled around France and Germany and along with visiting several spots and sites, we were treated to a literary journey which included visits to two libraries – Bibliothèque nationale de France or (National Library of France) and Bibliothèque Mazarine- and a bookstore, Shakespeare and Company. I will be writing about the two libraries and the bookstore separately in the coming days.
We have been very fortunate to be able to travel in places that we desired after careful planning and discussion. We have also met several interesting people that have enriched our lives in so many wonderful ways.
After taking a vacation from our vacation, we have made some thinking and came up with the following changes and updates that will have an impact on this weblog. These are the following:
(1) Updates will not be on a daily basis anymore. This is because I (Cris Evert) is taking several classes for professional and personal enhancement and it is very challenging to work on this blog everyday noting the amount of time and effort I put into it everything I go online. Come August, I will also be taking up a new degree (Language and Literacy Education) and I intend to focus on it so that I can apply my learnings in my writings especially in the storybooks I am developing. This means that this blog will updated twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays) including Jeff’s Dad Speak which will come out every third Thusday of the month. Special posts might be published too.
(2) As you may see in the weblog, we have created the following page:
- Book Share is platform for book discussion and dissection. It will be in the form of a talk show and will invite book sharers who will talk about subjects or topics related to the book. Book Share is an initiative of The Reading Ruffolos in partnership with certain organizations and institutions.
- Dad Speak features thoughts, insights and views on anything about reading books and the habit of reading by Jeff Ruffolo, the Ruffolo Daddy.
- Let’s Read! This is our weekly update on any matter related to reading and storytelling.
- Picture Feature is a photo feature of storytelling sessions attended by The Reading Ruffolos as volunteers for the Inquirer Read-along program, The Basadours’ I Love to Read Project and Ate-Kuya Children’s Welfare’s initiatives. Picture Feature will also include storytelling sessions organized by The Reading Ruffolos.
- Twin Time takes you inside the world of the Ruffolo Twins – Nicholas Louis and Antoinette Elena.
(3) Jeff and I are working on our book called “Love Letters from China”. About 80% of the content is done since these are letters than Jeff wrote to me since 2012 but there are a couple of chapters that we need to finish so this will also be taking up our 2014;
(4) Of course, you already know about our big move to China. The twins already got their US citizenship papers and passports. On March 13, we will be picking up their Philippine passports and I will be getting my new passport too, where I am now carrying the Ruffolo name (so it is now Cris Evert L. Ruffolo); and
(5) We are working on at least two more Book Shares in March 2014. As a member of the Basadours, we will also be attending the General Assembly on March 1 (Saturday) at the Cebu City Public Library. On March 8, we will have the Basadours’ Strategic Planning and a Crash Course on Creative Dynamics Storytelling Style.
Several activities are lined up and we are truly excited about all of them, albeit with a drop of sadness since we will be leaving friends and family in Cebu. But we draw inspiration from the words of Danica Patrick which said:
Take those chances and you can achieve greatness, whereas if you go conservative, you’ll never know. I truly believe what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Even if you fail, learning and moving on is sometimes the best thing.
More posts coming up as The Reading Ruffolos is officially back!
