Our Journey Around the World
I love to Travel, I love to see new places, new ways of life. I can't say that my kids do, but they tolerate my love for it. Usually because you just can not go somewhere new and not buy a souvenir or two, or three; and of course they get to buy things too. I won't tell you how many places we've been and gotten 'pretty rocks' from. In fact I bet the rock collector can not even tell you which rocks came from which place.
Partially thanks to the Army, we have enjoyed exploring Germany, Hawaii, Texas, and Washington. I say partially because I have many military friends who have lived in the same places and did not set foot outside the base.
Because we've lived in Heidelberg, Germany it made it easy to travel to London, France, Belgium, and other places to the west of Germany plus many different parts of Germany itself. Traveling by bus, train and car. Learning bits and pieces of the language, devouring the best chocolate around, and immersing ourselves in the differences between our cultures. Not to mention having my youngest two children born there, that will always be a part of their life.
Hawaii was wonderful. If you don't leave Waikiki you really don't see Hawaii. Since my circulation isn't great I loved the warm weather year round. We lived on the dry side so it didn't rain everyday like it does in other parts, and the beaches were so close and so wonderful. We packed up and went to the beach on Christmas Day and then called our family back home in Idaho and bragged about swimming, and then rubbed it in by asking if there was 3 feet of snow outside or 5 feet. I have 4 girls and they all took hula lessons and learned a little of the native language there. We got to take the time to understand their culture, that's not something you get in a week long vacation. I like to think we gave a little back to the Hawaiians, because we did foster care while we were stationed there. That was a wonderful opportunity for us, and hopefully for the children we took into our home.
Texas I wasn't excited about in the beginning. But it opened up the chance to drive from Idaho to Texas (taking the long way according to my kids) stopping at several National Parks along the way. Zion's, Grand Canyon, a Petrified Tree NP, and the Carlsbad Cavern's. While living in Texas we made two trips down into Mexico.
Another neat trip was last summer when the Army sent my hubby to school for 6 weeks in Virginia. I of course was not going to stay home so we drove to Virginia - again the long way. We first headed through Yellowstone (not a big deal we go there every year) then to Mt. Rushmore. We then made several stops at church history sites that are significant to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including Nauvoo, Kirtland, and Palmyra. Niagara Falls was thrown in there too. As we reached the east we dropped down to Virginia. However since I had traveled that far I could not let the chance pass to drive 4 more hours into North Carolina to meet up with a friend I had not seen since we both had lived in Germany.
This summer I will have to be content to small trips to visit family or such things as that. But next year; next year I'll be planning something big. . .
Partially thanks to the Army, we have enjoyed exploring Germany, Hawaii, Texas, and Washington. I say partially because I have many military friends who have lived in the same places and did not set foot outside the base.
Because we've lived in Heidelberg, Germany it made it easy to travel to London, France, Belgium, and other places to the west of Germany plus many different parts of Germany itself. Traveling by bus, train and car. Learning bits and pieces of the language, devouring the best chocolate around, and immersing ourselves in the differences between our cultures. Not to mention having my youngest two children born there, that will always be a part of their life.
Hawaii was wonderful. If you don't leave Waikiki you really don't see Hawaii. Since my circulation isn't great I loved the warm weather year round. We lived on the dry side so it didn't rain everyday like it does in other parts, and the beaches were so close and so wonderful. We packed up and went to the beach on Christmas Day and then called our family back home in Idaho and bragged about swimming, and then rubbed it in by asking if there was 3 feet of snow outside or 5 feet. I have 4 girls and they all took hula lessons and learned a little of the native language there. We got to take the time to understand their culture, that's not something you get in a week long vacation. I like to think we gave a little back to the Hawaiians, because we did foster care while we were stationed there. That was a wonderful opportunity for us, and hopefully for the children we took into our home.
Texas I wasn't excited about in the beginning. But it opened up the chance to drive from Idaho to Texas (taking the long way according to my kids) stopping at several National Parks along the way. Zion's, Grand Canyon, a Petrified Tree NP, and the Carlsbad Cavern's. While living in Texas we made two trips down into Mexico.
Another neat trip was last summer when the Army sent my hubby to school for 6 weeks in Virginia. I of course was not going to stay home so we drove to Virginia - again the long way. We first headed through Yellowstone (not a big deal we go there every year) then to Mt. Rushmore. We then made several stops at church history sites that are significant to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including Nauvoo, Kirtland, and Palmyra. Niagara Falls was thrown in there too. As we reached the east we dropped down to Virginia. However since I had traveled that far I could not let the chance pass to drive 4 more hours into North Carolina to meet up with a friend I had not seen since we both had lived in Germany.
This summer I will have to be content to small trips to visit family or such things as that. But next year; next year I'll be planning something big. . .
posted by Jenn | 10:40 PM
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