HOLMES BEACH – A local author has written a book about her 12 years as a teacher in five countries overseas, and is promoting it on Anna Maria Island.
Carol Hoffman held a book signing at The Sand Dollar gift shop on April 8. Her book started from journal entries she kept during her time in Turkey, Kuwait, Belarus, Italy and Armenia. Her initial goal was to document her travels so her grandchildren would know about the experiences of their “crazy grandma.” The journal entries turned into “Twelve Years Overseas.”
“The hardest part was when I went to Kuwait. I got there on Sept. 10, 2001, a day before the 9/11 attacks. I was there all by myself; my husband was still on Anna Maria Island,” Hoffman said. “I had just arrived after taking a job working with children with learning disabilities. My husband’s visa wasn’t processed yet, so I was alone. I wasn’t afraid of being in a Muslim country, I was more nervous that I was away from home. The people kept telling me that the attacks were not what the Muslim faith was about, and they felt horrible for our country.”
Being in Kuwait after 9/11 is one of many stories in Hoffman’s book, many of which are happy and uplifting memories of her time working with children and exploring places many people will never visit.
“One of the best times was when I lived in Italy and a man who worked many jobs at the high school with me choreographed a dance for the boys and girls in the small school,” Hoffman said. “It was probably the highlight of the whole experience to watch those kids dancing.”
Hoffman spent more than a decade dedicating her life to working with children around the world, and spent many years after she returned home to Anna Maria Island writing the book that would make those stories live on, not only for her grandchildren, but anyone who picks up the book.
Hoffman donated 30% of the proceeds of the sale of her book at the book signing to the Manatee Literacy Council. To purchase a copy of the book, visit the website.
