Footprints And Chapters
Jhuma Kanungo
My first year as a Summer School Principal
Danang Beach, Vietnam
In my classroom - first year of teaching!
Plane ride and landing on the glacier in Alaska
What Inspired Me to Start this Blog?
Welcome Family and Friends!
Ever since I retired in July 2025, I’ve been thinking deeply about how to document this next chapter of my life. I have always loved to write, and between the natural adjustments of retirement, the unexpected curveballs life likes to throw, and my enduring passion for travel, I realized I needed a dedicated space to capture it all. I often wish I had started chronicling my earlier chapters—raising my son as a single mother, working as a teacher of children with special needs, an instructional coach, an administrator in education, and exploring beautiful countries around the world. But as the saying goes, better late than never! I am so excited to use this blog as a living journal to share my ongoing life experiences and travel adventures with my cherished friends and family.
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
With a friendly tiger in Thailand
Packing for traveling to India for five months!
Preparing for five months of travel sounds glamorous—until the packing begins! As I get ready to leave the United States for an extended stay in India, with additional trips planned to Japan and Sri Lanka, I find myself in a constant battle between excitement and airline baggage allowances. Every item seems essential. Which clothes are absolute must-haves? Which shoes are versatile enough for sightseeing yet elegant enough for social gatherings? I need outfits for high school reunions, family get-togethers, and festive celebrations, including the magnificent Durga Puja in Kolkata—a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage celebration that deserves beautiful traditional attire. Then there are comfortable travel clothes for changing climates, from the warmth of Sri Lanka to the cooler autumn weather in Japan. Each time I think I have packed everything perfectly, I discover that my carefully selected wardrobe simply won't fit into the suitcases! Out comes everything again, followed by another round of unpacking, reorganizing, and repacking, hoping that somehow the laws of physics will change overnight. And packing is only part of the challenge. Before I can even think about boarding my flight, I have a never-ending checklist to complete: placing my cable service on seasonal hold, renewing my car registration, filing the ANU with the DMV, collecting all my prescription medications for five months, organizing travel documents, and taking care of countless other last-minute errands. The list seems to grow longer every day. I absolutely love to travel, but packing for a five-month journey through countries with different climates and occasions is undeniably stressful. My goal is to have every suitcase zipped shut by October 2, giving myself the luxury of a little relaxation on October 3 before I fly out on October 4. Once the suitcases are checked in and the plane takes off, all the stress will melt away, replaced by the anticipation of new experiences, cherished reunions, unforgettable festivals, and the countless adventures that await. After all, the memories I'll bring home will be far more valuable than anything I manage to squeeze into my luggage.