............the children who came to play here could have seen the amazing places I visited in the the past few weeks! I hope someday they will have that same opportunity to travel the world and visit with people whose lives are so different, so far removed from anything they encounter in their daily privileged lives, so far away from the mainstream, and yet so rich in the natural order of things.
On Wednesday afternoons I've been taking my granddaughter to her voice lesson. The subdivision is a huge, quite pleasant, golfing community full of families with children. Many come to the playgrounds and swimming pools scattered throughout their comfy neighborhood. This Wednesday the sky was heavy with clouds but the air was pleasant. I grabbed a coffee and my book and sat here (iPhone pic) on a bench for an hour, reading in peace and quiet until the children arrived, noisy but having fun swinging and climbing as children do. I wanted to tell the children about my travels and how other children live. I wanted to instill in them the need to work hard at school, get all the education offered them, go out into the grownup world eager to earn, but save money to enable travel to amazing places. Travel is not cheap and should be done when young if possible. It will change lives, both for the traveler and the people they meet along the way.
Bering Island, Russia
Watching and listening, my thoughts returned to my travels and the children I met in Russia. These young boys and their lifestyle are especially memorable. I'll be sharing more of their story on this remote island in another post later. Bering Island receives just two cruise ships each year, ours (above) being one of them, and is blessed with just five, yes 5, days of sunshine annually.............someone was definitely looking out for us the day we visited, it was perfect.
.png)
Oh my, just 5 days of sunshine. It would be fascinating to hear more of the boys' story.
ReplyDeleteWe raised our children in Ecuador and I believe their lives (and ours) are richer for it. They see the world differently and have much compassion for those less privileged. Traveling opens the mind and the heart to so many things. What a wonderful world we live in.
Children would be fascinated to hear your stories, Mary. I wonder if there would be interest if you approached a school. For a class studying Antarctica or Russia or Japan, your first-hand accounts would be invaluable.
Wishing I knew "then" what I know now. I would have loved to travel at a younger age and bring my children to another country to live for a few years. I am looking forward to your post about the boys.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Penny
Oh how I wish you could come to my classroom and share with my children. They are young, but love to look and pictures and hear the stories that accompany them. I alway love reading your posts. Bonnie
ReplyDeleteWe worked for jobs that made traveling difficult, now retired we have done a bit and I want more.
ReplyDeleteYour post reminds me of the Mark Twain quote: Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness.
I wish everyone had the opportunity to travel, as it does broaden the mind when you see that people are the same all
around the world.