From the Archives: Not Only Seeing the World, But Understanding It
“I don’t know about you, but after 55 years of LIFE, I woke up one day feeling as if a speeding merry-go-round spit me out, spinning to the ground, bruised and confused. Where was I? A glanced in a mirror shocked me. I screamed: “WHO IS THAT? WHERE DID THOSE WRINKLES COME FROM? THAT GRAYING HAIR? My hips ached. I tried to read a street sign but it was blurry. “WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?!? TO MY LIFE?”
My last clear memory was heading off to college. Then LIFE grabbed hold and I sped at warp speed through the milestones: job — romance — marriage — kids — buying a house — passenger jets — the station wagon — tooth fairy — hot flashes — graduations — finding and losing friends — cable TV’s 100+ channels — computers that fit on my lap — telephones with no wires — digital cameras — a grandchild or two — then retirement community brochures.
WHA’ HAPPENED?
Totally perplexed, I wondered how I could make sense of it all, how I could understand LIFE and the world around me, a world immediately present every time I clicked onto CNN all-the-news-all-the-time. Where did all these countries come from — Tajikistan, Rwanda, Kosovo, Myanmar? Where did Yugoslavia go? The Congo? Burma? East Germany? The world map barely looks familiar. What on earth is a Euro? Where did the franc and that beautiful lira go?
Then I discovered Elderhostel.
Exploring the catalogs for the first time, I eagerly read the description of each program, my excitement increasing as I realized Elderhostel was the perfect place to not only see the world but to understand it! Instead of ordinary tours, it offers wide-ranging programs to satisfy (or spark) the curiosity of understanding today’s world, and its wonderfully varied peoples, religions and cultures. But now I faced a new dilemma: how to pick out ONE program at a time!
Starting with Sicily, we were so amazed at the depth of knowledge and experience Road Scholar provided that we explored Russia, France, China, Mongolia (staying in a felt tent — the ger), India, Morocco, Spain, Portugal and three more programs in Italy where we immersed ourselves in Renaissance art, the Siena palio, Tuscany and Christmas in Sorrento.
My husband found Civil War programs, so we walked the Gettysburg battlefields and plan to explore more of them. The national park programs beckon; Yellowstone is next. When our grandsons reach ages 9–11, we will live the Harry Potter life in England with them.
Did that sense of confusion and bewilderment disappear? Yes. In its place is a sense of excitement and anticipation for the next Elderhostel program. Gone is the desire to wander on our own as we found the Elderhostel experience not only includes expert lecturers, unique access and a breadth of program that solo travel could never entail, but we also made many new, lively, curious friends. If we can avoid looking in mirrors, we feel like kids again, exploring the world.
Join us.”
—Judith Fernandez
Elderhostel Ambassador
Menlo Park, California
This story is excerpted from Elderhostel Odyssey, published in 2005.