Teacher Treks is one more step in the right direction. Bravo to IIE and Hilton HHonors for recognizing the importance of travel and cross-cultural experiences as a critical teaching contribution.

Although I admit we focused on the delicious dishes at hand -- every one of them a tasty treat -- we also discussed China then and now. It was a rich family experience on many fronts.

More people in the world are bilingual than monolingual -- except in the United States. Something's wrong with this picture.

Parents can raise more globally-aware children by introducing them to multicultural cuisines early on; cultural festivals, library and museum visits can open up the world.

More and better geography education can help today's students become better world citizens -- and prepare them for a global future.

If the PISA test results give us the impetus we need to truly prioritize academic education -- in our families, communities, governments, and schools -- then all the hype will be more than worthwhile.