Along my way I met literally hundreds of people from all over the world who saw fit to share something big or small with me. Sometimes it was simply a good conversation, sometimes a wonderful home where I could stay. It’s extremely heartwarming to me to know of all the goodness that’s out there and I cannot possibly say enough to justly express it. All I can say is that it’s impossible to talk about my trip without recognizing the people who I shared it with. Without them there would be nothing much to talk about. It was them who compelled me to go on, enriched my experience, and made it all the more meaningful. It certainly wouldn’t have been the same without them and I most sincerely thank them all!
To the Sikh and to the scientist, the pro-soccer player and the river punter. To the concert pianist and the rally car racer, the mathe-mechanic, the architect, and the movie maker. To my Kiwi Christmas family. To the photographer, the teachers, and the perpetual students alike. To the journalist and the lovely movie critic, to the Russians in Egypt and the Swedish in Thailand. To the girls from Portland, one and all. To my old friends and classmates, discovered anew. To the Swiss dudes, the New Orleans tour guide, the engineer, the accountant and his entire flat, the archeologist, the barrister, the philosopher, and to the London copper. To the youth pastor and his wife. To the girl on the boat that time. To the nurse and his family in Flagstaff, AZ, the nanny in Cali, and the German translator in Northern Italy. To the maker of quiche, who was never once a pain in my ass! To the little babushka in Lisbon who ran the hostel on the hill, to all of the lost and found souls I encountered en route, and to the professional travelers who inspired my path. To all of you couch-surfers out there, official and unofficial. Thank you!
You shared your homes, your hearts, your families and friends, your inspirations and ambitions, your meals and celebrations, your beds, sofas, futons, cots, hammocks and floors with me. I’ve never felt so welcome as I often did with you. You showed me your compassion and your generosity. Many of you started out as complete strangers and it’s through your openness that I may find you now as my dear friends. You’re in my stories and my experiences of this year. I’ve taken more from you than you’d imagine and all I can promise in return is it won’t be soon forgotten. I have you in mind as I’m passing this on!
To the Sikh and to the scientist, the pro-soccer player and the river punter. To the concert pianist and the rally car racer, the mathe-mechanic, the architect, and the movie maker. To my Kiwi Christmas family. To the photographer, the teachers, and the perpetual students alike. To the journalist and the lovely movie critic, to the Russians in Egypt and the Swedish in Thailand. To the girls from Portland, one and all. To my old friends and classmates, discovered anew. To the Swiss dudes, the New Orleans tour guide, the engineer, the accountant and his entire flat, the archeologist, the barrister, the philosopher, and to the London copper. To the youth pastor and his wife. To the girl on the boat that time. To the nurse and his family in Flagstaff, AZ, the nanny in Cali, and the German translator in Northern Italy. To the maker of quiche, who was never once a pain in my ass! To the little babushka in Lisbon who ran the hostel on the hill, to all of the lost and found souls I encountered en route, and to the professional travelers who inspired my path. To all of you couch-surfers out there, official and unofficial. Thank you!
You shared your homes, your hearts, your families and friends, your inspirations and ambitions, your meals and celebrations, your beds, sofas, futons, cots, hammocks and floors with me. I’ve never felt so welcome as I often did with you. You showed me your compassion and your generosity. Many of you started out as complete strangers and it’s through your openness that I may find you now as my dear friends. You’re in my stories and my experiences of this year. I’ve taken more from you than you’d imagine and all I can promise in return is it won’t be soon forgotten. I have you in mind as I’m passing this on!
