The Field I was sitting in the warm sunshine of a secluded field, surrounded by unfamiliar trees and bushes when it hit me. I’d done it. I had conquered my fears and mastered my trepidations, which lead me to have the most powerful moment of my life. I was proud of myself and in such … Continued
I was traveling at 160 miles per hour heading from Vienna, Austria towards Slovenia. It felt like I had been going at that speed for weeks as I trekked through Europe, seeing a new city every couple of days. Exhausted, I laid my head on the train window and began to rest my eyes. Some time … Continued
Ireland: More than meets the Eye The gravestones appeared to have the best view on the island. Comfortably nestled in the long, wild grass, they overlooked the ever-changing sea. It seemed a grand spot to while away eternity, at least from the perspective of a landlocked girl from Illinois. I gave in to a soulful … Continued
The Sun was still shining but I knew the light would fade fast. Our resort in Phuket-the Kata Beach Resort was still at least a 45 minute drive away from the Marriott but I was sure I knew the way. My daughter was crying, upset at having been dragged away from the toys she’d been … Continued
Edinburgh Castle—Rock Solid Symbol of Gratitude “Gratitude looks to the Past and love to the Present; fear, avarice, lust, and ambition look ahead.” ― C.S. Lewis While touring Great Britain, my group and I visited Edinburgh Castle, an iconic fortress that stood on top a giant rock dominating the Scottish skyline. I was part of … Continued
Apples of gold in settings of silver Wenatchee, Washington, 1999 Proverbs 25:11 reads, Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling (or word) rightly given.” I can’t say that I completely understand its meaning but thinking about a mere moment that I spent just north of Wenatchee, Washington at the Rocky … Continued
“You are my problem trekker,” smirked Lukas in a thick Czech Republican accent. Nodding in agreement, I knew I was their quarrelsome guest. Showing up hours past the first meeting will undoubtedly put a person into that mold. It was beyond my control, due to a nice surprise from my ‘legitimate’ Mexico-to-Guatemala bus company, which … Continued
“Ladies and gents, we are about to start our decent!” shouted the pilot as he turned in his squeaky seat just in front of me. Yes, there were no doors separating the pilot’s cabin from the main cabin of the tiny Blue Sky Airline’s operated Cessna Caravan 208B. Nor were there seatbelts, luggage storage or … Continued
Survivor, Sri Lanka By Paul A. Freitas Have you ever wanted to go somewhere that you have never been but have no idea which destination to choose? You just point to a place on the map and go right? This is exactly how I ended up white knuckling the rear door handle of a car in … Continued
Turkey’s Turquoise Coast I met John on a hot May night in a dive bar in Washington, DC, where we got into an argument about the Middle East. I had studied in Jordan, then worked there the next year, cultivating inspiring friendships and collecting rosy memories. He had worked in Pakistan during that same year, … Continued