For some time now I’ve been gathering notes on conversations Dave and I have about the “Humanity of Travel”, waiting for the appropriate time to bring it all together in a post. And then just last week I was counting up our days abroad and realized our 100th day fell on Thanksgiving. Coincidence? Sign? Fate? Call it what you want, but it wasn’t lost on me. I thought I’d share some travel stories and pictures from past trips that will remind us all to be thankful and kind to others.
We have more in common than we don’t!
Since we left the US in August we’ve had the opportunity to travel to 12 countries – but in the 10 years together we’ve been lucky enough to visit a whopping 30!! Now that may seem like a lot, but it’s actually only 15% of the world. We’re only scratching the surface here people. Reflecting on this leads me to the realization that Dave and I always come back to – the world is so big, but yet so small.
The reason we say this is because no matter if we’re in sticking out like a sore thumb in Asia, feeling like a fish out of water in countries with different religions faiths, experiencing the loud and proud energy of South America, or the concrete blocks of Eastern Europe, any conversation we have with someone local is pretty much the same. People want an opportunity to be kind to someone else, and they always appreciate the kindness you show them. They want their family and friends to be safe and healthy and get to spend as much time as they can. Everyone wants to eat, drink, and be merry. Music is food for the soul. People want to feel protected and supported by their government. And lastly, they have pride for their country and are willing to share stories, meals, and their own homes to make you feel less far away from home. In summary, no matter how far you travel, we all want the same things, no matter who we worship, love or what flag we live under.
A little bit of kindness goes a long way!
If you read my last blog you would have seen that right now we should be in Bulgaria…welllll, were not. After driving 6+ hours from Montenegro though Albania to Greece we were denied at the boarder despite having a certified letter from the Consulate General of Greece and negative Covid tests. The sun had set and we were stranded in Albania (insert freaking out face). We scrambled reaching out to several Airbnb’s who told us we could stay, but Niya would have to sleep outside in the yard in 35 degree weather. Um, not no…but hell no! Finally after pleading with one host, he snuck us into his guest house so his mother couldn’t see her. He bent over backwards to help us in anyway he could. He ordered takeout and paid for it in Albanian currency and took repayment from us in Euros. He helped arrange another Covid test if we needed one, gave us directions, recommendations, you name it.
Whatever we needed he was there for us. We were so stressed and in such a vulnerable position to be taken advantage of or worse, but instead he showed us kindness and compassion. I will never forget and be sure to pass it along when the time comes. PS – We’re now in Slovenia!
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of ones lifetime.”
Mark Twain
Dave shared this quote with me many years ago and it’s one that’s always stuck with us and we frequently bring up when traveling. This quote pushes me to get out and see the world, I might just learn a thing or two. The thing about travel is that once you start it becomes a lot harder to allow hate, prejudice, closed-mindedness, and intolerance in your life. Experiencing other cultures and religions, food and music, sights and sounds, forces you to think. To think independently and ask questions being open to different answers. To think about more about others and less about yourself.
My favorite travel story of all time!
Back in 2013, Dave and I travelled to Cairo. It was my first meaningful departure from the United States and boy was I fish out of water to say the least. It was cultural overload! Everything and everyone looked different, tasted, smelled, and sounded different. I’ll never forget the little girls that came up to me to feel my hair, they were enamored by its long blond color. It was one of the oddest and sweetest things that I have ever experienced! This visit coincided with Ramadan, there holiest of holidays. For Muslims, Ramadan teaches them to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate, thus encouraging actions of generosity and compulsory charity, and we were lucky to experience that. We had booked a sailboat cruise down the Nile River and as the sunset our boat Captain politely excused himself to observe the Call to Prayer. When he returned back to the top of the ship he came back up with some food and a curious looking water bottle filled with a deep purple liquid. We asked what it was and he told us it was Hibiscus Tea, and promptly offered us some. We gratefully refused not because we didn’t want to taste it, but because during Ramadan Muslims fast from sun up to sun down. Here was this perfect stranger who had not had a bite of food or sip of water all day was offering us his first and last meal. The more we turned him down the more he insisted we try it. For him it was an opportunity for him to practice an act of generosity towards someone.
Thankful!
Growing up in our family, and I assume many others, at Thanksgiving dinner we would go around the table and share what we were thankful for. And while we can’t do that this year, and I assume many others, we thought we’d share what we’re thankful for.
Ashley is thankful for…
In the past few years my family has suffered the great losses of my Grandmother, my Stepmother, and my Uncle. Thinking about these deaths forces me think about my own life – which I am incredibly grateful for. Experiencing how quickly life can be gone motivates me to live every second of mine as fully as I possibly can. Having the opportunity to spend every second with my husband and dog for a year while traveling the world is something worth many many thanks!
Dave is thankful for…
I am grateful for a year of calmness and introspection shared with Ashley. I am also grateful for the contiguous time this year with her and Niya, getting to know them in an ever changing environment outside of what we know each day. And I am most grateful for the relationship I share with my wife.
I am grateful to have the relationship I do with my parents. I am grateful for the comfort and kindness of my dear friends.
I am also grateful for the time I have that is given to me each day even without the promise of that of the next.
Niya is thankful for…
Bones. Scratches. Naps. Kisses. Table scraps. Naps. Snuggles. Naps. Naps. Naps!
In all serious, spending this much time with her reminds Dave and I that all you really need in life are the basics. As long as she has food in her belly, a warm bed, and kisses from those she loves…she’s all good. We could all do better to remember that’s all we really need to.
We are incredibly thankful to have her with us for this year long adventure. She’s the glue that keeps us together and makes our little family whole.
Thanksgiving for us this year is obviously very different than those prior. We are away from the friends and family that mean so much to us and know that many other people are as well. But if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to be thankful for our health and the health of those we love. On behalf of Dave, Niya, and myself we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving filled with happiness and health!
From Abroad With Love – AG
