Perpetual Change

Update

So, I just came off the 2 largest (non-custom) trips that Backroads has ever run. I didn't know that until I was half-way through the first one. So I am a record holder. Not quite to compete with the recently completed and impressive olympian records. 27 people (6 families) and then 28 (7 families). They were hectic, but good and challenging which is what keeps this job interesting. I worked with some great leaders too.

Then in the middle of the two, Backroads re-assigned some free time that I had to work in Hungary and Slovakia. Cool - new place where I have wanted to go. Not cool - more travelling. So in my gluttonous spirit for punishment, I take my last (eight) days off until I get back to the States, and I train to Ukraine. I really wanted to make one more visit, as this was my last chance in the forseeable future. I am writing now from my host families house near Kyiv (they are all at work right), and then I go on to Drohobych and the orphanage before getting to Budapest on Saturday.

As a heads up, I will be in South Florida from September 25 to 30 and would love to see anyone that can make time.

A couple of high (and low) lights from the last weeks:

The last night before I left, I went in to a favorite restaurant in Krumlov. There was a group on tour eating there that night, and the leaders (who worked with me on the above mentioned first trip) had 2 of my guests from a trip last year in Tuscany (pictured below, Cortona on the hill in the background). They were very surprised and glad to see me. They thought I made up most of what I had told them about Tuscany, but when they googled some of the more preposterous on their return home, they found that 'I cannot tell a lie.'



I had to buy 6 tickets to get from Vienna to Kyiv. Two came without reservations (not so good), but it all worked out. This was after I had spent 3 hours the day before trying to figure out the best combo of train and plane to get East. Apparently I am the only one that goes that way. I did get to have lunch with a friend, Jura, in Vienna who was conducting a group from Ukraine to Lourdes and was only in Vienna for the day.

I got to have a little dispute with a monk on the local train last night. He was looking to pick an arguement (not a fight, mind you) and I was impressed with how well he did it. I got rather incensed, but I was restrained in my words and actions, if not in my tone, in response. He was very critical of all my actions (reading a book, educating myself, not doing enough good works, not doing them for my "own" people, not believing how long I have been doing community work). He didn't believe almost anything that I said, and the worst part was that he was visibly drunk! He even asked if I wanted to drink with him. Luckily he got off in a few stops although he had said he was going to the end of the line (2.5 hours) as I was.
I felt as if I was being tested. I feel that I didn't pass so well.

posted by jjs @ 8:38 AM