We Return to Europe!

Dear Family and Friends,

Ah, glorious progress. Our wanderers finally return to Europe and enter the last two months of the journey. We return to our friend Markus' home town of Dusseldorf, where we spend two nights reactimating to the comforts of Western civilization, and the euro-to-dollar ratio is at a new high in history, about $1.47 to 1 Euro.

September 20 to 21, 2007--Bangkok, Thailand,
to Dusseldorf, Germany

September 22 to 23--We Arrive in Berlin, Germany

At this time in 2008, into the third month after our return, Dani and Martha had just started new jobs in downtown Philadelphia. Today in 2009, we are still blessedly employed with challenging and interesting worklives. Our community grows in our neat little town. Love abounds as we watch our friends morph into parents, our families grow and mature, our life together enrich in our partnership.

Many blessings to you all, and thanks for reading! Look for additional postings linked to this page in the coming days.

In love and light,

Martha and Dani

Back in Blog Action for 2009!

Another two new ones (2.18.09):
Back Towards Bangkok for Time With Cindy Stew ...
and the Return of Kevin!
and
Last Days in Bangkok

NEXT: Return to Europe and Family/Friend Time!

Dear Family and Friends,

Friday, February 6, 2009, Martha underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right ankle to remove some fracture chips and take care of some other damage to the joint. The damage is not all recent, but is from injuries over the years since as early as 2000; the most recent third-degree sprain included fractures and has had her down since September 27, 2008. So, she's laid up at home with some time on her hands, allowing her to post the photos that are so time consuming in getting these blog postings ups. In other words, we're back in action for continuing this project!!

Here's the newest post, from September 13 and 14, 2007, when Martha and Dani enjoyed Udon Thani, Thailand. Martha's Dad was stationed nearby this retro-70s city during the VietNam War (or, the American War, depending on which side of the pond you're from):
Udon Thani--Martha's Dad's Old Stomping Grounds

So excited to continue sharing our adventure with you all. Please look for updates with additional postings in the coming weeks as "Gimpy" heals.

In love and light,

Martha (Gimpy) and Dani

Culture Shock in September

Hi Folks,

Check out last year's wealth of experience
(or at least a few kewl photos):
September 11-12, 2007, Luang Prabang, Laos,
and Our Return to Thailand

And now, message from our sponsors (that is, our author at home alone writing short essays) ...

CULTURE SHOCK
A year ago today was the day after we arrived back in Germany from three months in SE Asia. We awoke from under the softest, fluffiest, whitest duvets on earth, our skin chill from an open window in a cool, Fall-smelling room a mile outside of downtown Dusseldorf in the NW country corner approaching the Netherlands.

The hot water from the shower didn't splash onto the floor but into an actual porcelain tub. Multiple-hundred threaded towels and bathrobes snuggled our bodies. A continental breakfast stuffingly offered us an unending feast of eggs, pastries, muesli with chocolate chips, fruit, coffee refills, meats, juice. The linings of our stomachs stretched from the pressure of our first big Western-style meal. Everything else was, well, comfortable.

The disquiet stemmed from the contrast in creature comforts, and how exceedingly nice these aspects of our lives, so taken for granted, were the dog biscuits of our biggest organ--our ski--covering the us body with sensory perception, our ability to feel every brush of a pantleg, every drop that falls, every hand it holds.

The loudness was gone. Shockingly quiet sans beeping and Bangkok bustle. We enjoyed our morning meal marveling, chatting about our thoughts, our next steps, how to make it to Munich before Oktoberfest, how long we could explore Berlin, and where to stay when we got there. We noted the time travel we'd experienced from full-on summer to the color-turning trees of Fall, so similar to home. How'd it get so chilly?

Now, back at home a year later, the days get shorter, the work weeks longer, the time warp of mental exhaustion sets in more often. My longing gets stronger as I am firmly planted upon American soil for an indescribably terminal indeterminable amount of time. Stagnation notwithstanding, my amazement of the contrasts in cultures, societal expectations, histories, seasons, these continue. Memory feeds thoughts of far away, wishing I was there, but knowing here is where I need to be momentarily.

Fall arrives tonight, offering the Solstice I've been craving. I shall work to release my longing and be happy for the stability and comfort of my home, my people, my Love, most powerful of all.

When I snuggle into my bed tonight, I will think of how blessed I am to have all that I have in this life. And to think about what I might be able to do to shock the culture out of someone less fortunate.

Thank you, the end.

PS--I wish I was on the other side of the world right now!

In love and light,

Martha & Dani