Enkounters

It’s 5:00 am and I’m up early with the thoughts of the current COVID 19 pandemic. Yes after so many months I’m not jaded and I’m still concerned. Here me out...Frankly, I’m shocked at how many have died from it, how many are still suffering from complications and how many of us are still alive. All of it matters but it’s this last fact that I want to highlight first....Just how many of us have survived in spite of it all.  Something happened during the pandemic that prevented the complete annihilation of the human race. As mentioned in another post , (on another blog) I’m pretty sure I caught the virus early on before testing was available and while folks in the Western world were still trying to figure it out.  Flash forward 9 months later and we are right back to where we started; record numbers of surging Covid19 cases. In spite of mandatory mask wearing culture, hand washing and sanitization campaigns, there is a resurgence.  Early on in the pandemic; something difficult was asked

You know how they say you never realize what you had until it’s gone? It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to travel internationally (ok it’s only been less than a year) and by the looks of it I won’t be able to go anywhere for a while (thanks Covid 19). Today when I woke up something just triggered fond memories of travelling and encountering new and different people and cultures. I don’t know if it was the smell of coffee or a glimpse of a sombrero. Whatever the case may be, it had me thinking in a deeply nostalgic way of how travel changed me and the lessons I learned from the countries I’ve had the opportunity to visit.  I’m mostly grateful for the way that I’ve experienced these countries and cultures; for the most part not in an overly touristy way but in a down to earth way familial way or as part of some service or community based group. The best way to explain is just to tell it... United States of America As a child through teenage years, much of my international tra