SERVAS International Homestays

Ted.  Two challenges often arise while traveling. How can one reduce one’s spending and how can one meet real people in other countries? For some folks, an answer to both of these issues is Servas. Founded in Denmark shortly after WWII, members of this international organization believe they are creating “World peace, one conversation at a time!” The concept is simple. Servas travelers enjoy two night homestays with Servas hosts free of charge. Payment is made with time spent exchanging experiences, cultures and ideas. Judy and I have been Servas hosts and occasional travelers since 1981. Our son once said, “It would be OK if I never travelled again because the entire world has sat at our dining room table.” In contrast to programs like Couchsurfing, Servas travelers and hosts are carefully screened so that everyone is safe and positive experiences are the norm.  We have made lifelong friendships in several countries and all we had to do was open our home and show complete strangers good, old-fashioned American hospitality. To learn more about how to host international guests, or stay with hosts in other countries, visit usservas.org in the US and servas.org in other countries.  And yes, Servas homestays will be an important part of our future travel plans!

Tickets BOUGHT

Judy.  We have crossed the Rubicon!  Yes, the die is cast—bought our tickets for the first major trip, around the world.  Four plus months of travel:  Frankfurt to Vancouver (crazy, but saves us thousands) to Auckland to Queenstown to Sydney to Singapore to Johannesburg to Frankfurt. Fill in with trips to Malaysia, Borneo, Cambodia, Botswana, Cape Town, and tons of other places.  Then, when we get back to Frankfurt, on to places in Europe we’ve not been.  First big step of our great adventure is in place.  Nobody get sick, hurt, or otherwise messed up.  We are on our way.  Well, in January.

Encouragement

 Ted. We have begun to share our plans with friends and family. Reactions have been somewhat mixed and questions invariably arise. “Aren’t you keeping an apartment to come home to?” Are you buying a motorhome?” “When will you see your grandchildren?” 

Finally, the time was right for me to share our vision with my father. Raised in a Depression era immigrant family, he has always been financially conservative. Yet, my parents treasured their trips to countries throughout the world so I wasn’t sure how he would react.

Last week, Dad and I returned to a place that he and Mom visited often when she was alive and so it seemed right to relate our plans while we were in San Francisco. After hearing that Judy and I planned to sell everything and travel the world as long as we could, he became very quiet. At last he spoke; “When you get to the North Island of New Zealand, try the green mussels. They are excellent!”