Our trip traverse 7 countries, above is a rough map.
1 Switzerland
2 Austria
3 Germany
4 Holland
5 Belgium
6 France
7 United Kingdom
For the longest time, I have neither cared nor valued the need to travel. There were many reasons, but perhaps the most important one was financial solvency, second to debilitating health conditions. Everyone has travel down this road at one time or another in their lives, and in part some of these are derived from fear. We seldom talk about fear, because fear goes hand in hand with rationale and control.
Fear can be derived from infinite amount of situational variables. Of the most common Ive seen comes in three different folds. 1.) physical ailment - fear of some kind of debilitating health condition that derives the need to control all environment around them. 2.) unhealthy attachment - tying one's ability to function or self worth relating to other individuals, often times significant others or children. 3.) Psychological fixation - the need to be "organized" or the need to "plan everything".
We can rationally identify what activity we deem too dangerous, unsafe, or simply out of the reach of our logic spectrum. More often than not these logic are supplemented with social conditioning, which nullifies our need to reexamine our pathology.
We miss out so much of our world, as we build who we are and what we represent. Ironically, who we are and what we represent is build upon our experience and what we are expose to. As the saying goes "you don't know what you don't know". If you never been anywhere farther than the reaches of your own microcosm existence, you may be happy with the things that you are given and never ask for more. But given more, we must realign ourselves with the new information, and create a new equilibrium.
The question is never where I should go next, but rather the underlying question that people seldom ask after a worldly experience is "what do I do with the knowledge that is acquired?", and perhaps even more important "how is this knowledge impacting me in ways I have yet to understand?"
The original leader to student ratio is suppose to be 10 to 1. Instead we ended up with 49 kids and only 4 leaders. There were students of all ages, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. While some younger ones acted older, and some older ones acted younger, the group as a whole is eclectic beyond just the obvious maturity level. There were definite social economic differences, there was difference in home training, and then there is the defining segregation that always interest me the most; the difference of social emotional maturity with no correlation to the age or social economic stance of the individual. It is a defining characteristic between a leader and not.
We arrived in Zurich... Which is kind of ridiculous, because we end up staying here during the day, to only drive over to Austria.... for 3 days and then come back to Switzerland. Poor planning or money saving at the expense of the students.
At this point, I didn't know anyone's name. We have always let them pick groups since day one, I have always been a big proponent of not allowing people to pick their own group. Left to your own vices, people always pick the same group of kids they are most familiar with, they never branch out, because they never have to. This is the biggest problem of segregation by race and ethnicity, everyone just crowd around people that are most like them.
I'm still curious how to read this water table markings. If they are that at all.
I passed out on the stairs, everyone seem very amused at this... I already knew from the beginning that sleeping anywhere I can is the key to being on the top of my game. Cause you really don't know when the next time you can rest. Sure the kids will always have their break time, but as an adult leader, if duty calls I have to be there.
Verda always says "wow you are a really trusting person", (relating to the fact that I can be robbed or worse in a public place) but the reality is that I sleep very light, I never need anyone to tell me its time to go, because while I'm sleeping, I'm really only half asleep.
Switzerland was very pretty. Streets were clean in Zurich, and even later on in Lucerne it was very clean. I was pretty impress at the people on the street compulsively cleaning the light pole advertisements.
At day end, we are at the explorer hotel, and we walked up this light hill to dinner.
Next morning we gathered, the hotel is nice, but they want everything cash... Total bullocks, how can a place only take cash. Then they want more money for the wifi... 10 Euro for everything. That's more expensive than buying a monthly pass at the airport. What a joke.
I was rather amused to see the word bimmer on this building, which in the terminology I know, means BMW motorcycles affectionately known as 'bimmer'
Austria's sweeping countrysides, curvy roads, and endless mountains as far as your eyes can see. I miss my bikes. People think its an adrenaline junkie thing, and for some it might be, but for me its the freedom. Freedom to explore. Beyond the cookie cutter tourist attractions, there exist still a world of wonders for us to discover on our own; if you are brave enough.
Our first day was filled with adrenaline fun. I have to admit, i never felt more at home.
Many of the courses that were build would likely not be found in the states, or perhaps more out West is more likely, due to the litigious nature of Americans.
These courses were pretty challenging. Allison end up falling off at the end of the course. I cant help to feel like it was my fault. It was a blind zip line and I couldn't see if she was off the platform yet, and when I came down, I think it spooked her, and she slipped and fell.
We then hiked to the peak of Golm mountain. Well half of us did.
A lot of people came along on the hike. There are many little things I have to teach the kids, like if you are in the front you have to keep pace and look back regularly to not be too far ahead. Hydration was also a key factor, so you don't fatigue out early from dehydration.
As a group, and as a leader, you always have to watch out for others, especially those that may not be as fast as you. That in itself in a nutshell is basics of leadership. When you look out for others beyond yourself, when you are there to motivate and help others along. At that point, you officially moved beyond a narcissistic teenage brat to an adult. Ironically, many people never make that leap even when they are older.
Adrienne, stayed in the back of the line, and waited for kids that was much slower.
If I'm honest, I would say the food was mediocre at best. The serving size is the same for a 95 lb girl versus a 200 lb adult like myself.
I visited the cemetery when the scavenger hunt began. I really like cemeteries, I'm not sure if its the peacefulness or the reminder of our mortality that humbles me.
Eventually, I made my way to the outskirts of the city. I love their road signs, the pictures is so easily understandable, with no words of any kind.
I took a group of the kids at night for a long hike. We run up the stream and did some rock hopping. Everyone's shoes got wet. lol. I admit it was a bit dangerous for some whose balance wasn't as good. I told each and everyone of them how to dry their shoes.
1.) wring it out as best as you can
2.) remove the shoe lace and take out the insole
3.) put a towel in there and soak up most of the moisture, and remove after 30 min to 45 min.
4.) put dryer sheets at the very end of it, to soak up the moisture.
My shoes dried in one day. Theirs.... well they didnt pay attention, and only did 1 or 4 or 2 or 4. So theirs didn't dry for several days. #fail #kidsdontpayattention
And... we went back to Lucerne... Switzerland... didn't we come here already? yes... wtf... terrible planning.
My travel leaders! We had alot of fun together.
The whole gang.
We then did some community service
The ones who build the benches lucked out from doing yard labor. I think yard labor is a lot more strenuous than putting together tables. lol.
These guys worked the entire time, they were troopers. They weren't particularly good, but they kept at it.
Its no surprise, that most of them, if not all of them have never worked a day in their life. Two minutes in, they start looking around and start complaining. Some one... I wont say who, was like "Mr. Yang, you do this", first of all that's just rude and second I can do it 100 times better. So I showed them how to do it, and he just stood there and watched. But hey he thought he was clever with his constant passive aggressive behavior, what a douche bag. Apple never falls far from the tree, cause all these are learn behaviors.
I told the boys to walk the path, since they were building the benches. They ran through it. They were good sports and had fun.
The first of many castle that we visited... tbh... after the 2nd one they all look the same.
glass art was particularly amazing and caught my eye.
So we didnt have a volleyball... and they didnt have one for us... What kind of pool resort that have multiple volleyball court dont supply at least rentals? That totally boggles my mind... so if you want to, you have to bring in your own ball.
So we saw three older guys come in with volleyballs. I told the girls to go borrow them, and bam! we got a volleyball. lol.
Im full of bad ideas, I told the boys to surf the slides. So they all tried it and failed miserably. Then comes Suzanna who showed everyone up. lol. Later on the lifeguard told everyone not to stand up on the slide anymore. I knew that was coming, but it was worth it while it lasted.
The three day of Homestay in Germany was pretty bleh for me. My host was a teacher, women, who was super very wishy washy about showing me around. The husband was much more open. I didn't have cash for the dinner before, but the husband graciously paid for it. The day after the wife mention something passive aggressive about "oh its a cheap day for you". I hate it when people do that shit. Like seriously? its freaken 12 euro you spent on one day and 15 on another. If it was such an issue, you should have never volunteer to be a host family. So when I left I left them 50 Euros. Why? because I don't owe people favors. Either we are friends, and I will get you next time, or we aren't. In this case, we aren't.
They did however gave me a bed, and place to shower, so I am grateful for their hospitality, but seriously, I would have had a better time staying in a hotel and went out myself... some people are so uptight and rude.
Those arrows were so bent, I surprise anything actually hit.
Outside the cathedral. It was a pretty epic place... but again, we went to so many, by the 3rd one it was all the same. lol
We then arrive at Holland. Ann Frank house. It was very cool inside.
Un-impressed with the food, and the streets was so damn gross.
They have every kind of weed assortment here. Ean would be very happy. I would totally have tried some for fun, if I wasn't with the kids. Maybe that's for another time.
The farm petting area.
Then Joey discover the hay jamboree park. We jumped around. It was fun!
World Peace Center... We couldn't even go in... most worthless stop ever. lol
We got stopped by the police, because our bus driver... Mario over worked his hours. Man was Mario a horrible driver. He couldn't find his way, couldn't make 5 feet without Andrea helping him. What a fail.
They took their own photo on my tablet. lol So fobby.
The windmill, we rode bikes in holland. Its like those obligatory things to do. Even though we rode through the rain...
Belgium carriage ride
This is where the fight broke out... enough said rofl.
WWI museum, love the weapons.
Palace of Versailles. I could and would spend a whole day there if given the opportunity. But of course Mario got us lost, so we lost an hour .... he really is the worst bus driver ever.
Champ-Elyse - so cool. Now I've seen it with my own eyes.
Pole hopping, of course I went for the tallest one... cause 2nds best is just not the Asian way.
Me Rodney and Andrew ran up the steps before dinner.
The church me and Adrienne visited after dinner.
I took this sketchy side path down... it was mad sketchy. Two large men try to talk to me about buying either drug or what else. I stepped back when I saw them, and got into a defensive stance, because I didnt want to get butt raped. They backed off, probably because I was about the same height, and pretty decent shape and they thought probably it was too much trouble for them.
The Louvre, and Mona Lisa and me. I have to teach the kids how to squeeze in the crowds and how to use crowd control in groups to get photos. Nice guys do finish last, alas we were not nice. We all got our candid shot with Ms. Lisa. That's how you do it. :)
Ultra premium bathroom in the Louvre
That you can choose your own toilet papers... da faq
I might just quite my day job and start a premium bathroom business.
Iffel Tower
The Squad
Overlooking France
My kiddos. when we were gathering to leave, Andrea's friend Victoria, who joined us for both days in France, mention that the motorcycle base layer I was wearing "sedici" meant 16. I felt like the dumbest American ever... lol. She also thought I was one of the kids, rofl. She seems really nice nonetheless, it helped that she was pretty cute, lol.
The original cemetery site... only a few saw this, cause I end up roaming the entire beach myself and the ones I saw I showed them. The rest didn't
Our p2p offering
Normandy cemetery, its quite the site. And hell of a view off the ledge to the ocean front.
History lesson with other delegation. So many of the other group of kids thought I was a kid. lol At one point, I had to show them my ID to validate that I was indeed ancient.
Then we visited a WW2 museum. I was only interested in the jeep. lol
more Castles
Interactive castle board game. This was pretty neat.
London Eye... I can totally dig London as a city.
Lecturing... I swear he speak so fast with an accent, I could not understand anything he is saying. The material was super boring... at least to me. lol.
Met up with Henning the last night we were there. Its been 13 years. He looks the same... so do I lol. It was a great reunion.
Throughout the trip, I have consistently wonder if I was going to be homesick. Its been 3 years since I broke out of my cocoon I have build for myself. I still clearly remember the 1st time I took the trip to the dragon with Yermo. About 200 miles in, I was dying to go home. The dying need to go back to my safety area. The same way, Josh wanted to go home so badly on the return of the trip from the dragon this year.
Ever since that day, and 400 miles after, I have wanted nothing more than to keep going. With no aim, no direction, but only the desire of exploration. I felt free from the irrational burdens in my mind. Sure I have a lot of responsibilities at home. I have to mow the lawn, my credit score issue needs to be resolved, I just got hit in an accident and need my car fix, I needed to pay this bill and that bill, and the list goes on and on. For some reason, it didn't matter to me, where in the past it was a fixation that I could not shake. Now it passes with the next thought .
Sure I wanted to get rid of some annoying kids, but I have never wanted to go home. That melancholy feeling on the final leg of the trip was always the most unbearable.I can tell some of the kids will miss this family we have created.
Human emotions is an intricate web that often eludes us. We may find our feelings and emotions, work their way back to us over time, or be trigger by future situations. We may feel a sense of nostalgia when we least expected. We may chuckled or smile under our breath when others wonder why we are talking to ourselves. I relish those moments. But make no mistake, the moment does not last.
I rode 200+ miles on the first Saturday back. I enjoy every minute of it, but as I sit here finally winding down on the first day that I have finally adjusted back from jet lag; I miss my travel companions. I miss many people that I have interacted regularly. I miss most the kids who made a connection with me. I don't miss the trouble maker nor the disrespectful kids. But as always, I find myself missing people I wouldn't think I would miss. Its always someone that I didn't talk to that much or paid much attention to them. They never seem to mean much to me during the trip. Yet, unbeknownst to me, I depended on their presence, and in this case I am waiting patiently for her to start the count off.