Ambassadors Sorin Ducaru and Elena Poptodorova Romania, Bulgaria Prepare for EU Membership by Larry Luxner Only a year after its induction into NATO, Romania has learned that itóalong with nearby Bulgariaówill soon join another once-exclusive club: the European Union. Both Romanian Ambassador Sorin Ducaru and his Bulgarian counterpart, Ambassador Elena Poptodorova, say EU membership will have a tremendous psychological impact on their formerly Marxist nations. more... Ambassador Katherine H. Peterson Director of Foreign Service Institute Training New Generation of Diplomats by John Shaw Katherine H. Peterson, director of the Foreign Service Institute, argues that U.S. diplomacy can be advanced by vigorous, career-long training programs that have been largely neglected in the past. more.... Hill 101: Do Your Homework Before Contacting Congressional Aides by Sanjay Talwani There are ways to effectively educate and earn the goodwill of key congressional staffers, and there are as many ways to alienate or irritate them or leave no discernable impact at all. more.... Knowing Differences Between Sunni, Shiía Helps in Understanding of Islamic World by Deryl Davis Ask Imam Yahya Hendi about the differences between Sunni and Shiía forms of Islam, and he may invite you to visit his mosque in Frederick, Md. There you can hear Hendi preach sermons invokin g both Ali, son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed, and Abu Bakr, a close friend of the prophet and early leader of the Muslim community. more.... Close Encounters of the Immersion Kind Promote Cross-Cultural Learning Exchanges by Carolyn Cosmos Three Washington-area schools recently gave students a firsthand look at the world beyond the nationís capital. more.... Juvenile Arthritis Often Can Be Misdiagnosed as ëGrowing Painsí by Gina Shaw For thousands of kids, the assumption that aching joints can be attributed to simple growing pains may be diverting parentsí and physiciansí attention from a far more serious problem: juvenile arthritis. more.... With Filibuster in Danger, Unique Chapter of Senate History May Be Coming to a Close by David Tobenkin The filibuster, a colorful and quirky practice of unlimited senatorial oration, has existed since the founding fathers created the Senate in the Constitution and is a unique feature of the U.S. political system. more.... Receiving Line Aschiana Flying High

Culture Section Check out the arts section for the latest in museum exhibits, dance, theater and much more. Spirit of Adventure Wine Getaways Can Make Next Vacation Something Different by Alan B. Nichols Do you want to spend your next vacation doing something slightly different from your usual trip to the beach or mountains? Would you like a learning experience as well as a fun outing? If so, California, Virginia and Maryland have just the thing to boost your spirits: wine getaways. more.... Checking Out Charm City From Fellís Point to Little Italy, Baltimore Makes Intriguing Day Trip by Christine CubÈ When visitors come to Washington, they picture the monuments, museums and other great attractions such as the shopping, restaurants and nightlife. They donít necessarily think of the day trips that can be had while visiting D.C. But locals know that Northern Virginia and Maryland have some fantastic, tucked-away places that many tourists never venture out to see. more.... Alluring Keswick Hall Is Just Right Fit for Exploring Historic Charlottesville, Va. by Anna Gawel Similar to Goldilocksís dilemma in the fairytale, some hotels offer ìtoo muchî and overwhelm travelers with amenities and activities, while others offer ìtoo little.î For those who find expansive, ìdo everything known to manî resorts a bit too exhausting, and others who find modest hotel chains too boring for their tastes, thereís a lodging medium: Keswick Hall in Virginia, which is just the right fit for a leisurely tour of the surrounding historic area of Charlottesville. more.... Rio de Janeiro Rolls Out Welcome Mat for Tourists by Victor Shiblie Maracan?, the worldís largest soccer stadium, and Copacabana, its most famous beach, as well as South Americaís most impressive art museum and some of its most dangerous slumsóall are parts of Rio de Janeiro, the number-one tourist attraction in Brazil and a city that must be visited at least once in a lifetime. more....