Going Home

We spent an easy evening in the Sofitel and have now cleared airport security and enjoying lunch and a drink in the British Air lounge before boarding our flight home. I'm proud of us - we actually handled our own luggage (kind of, I called a bellhop for an assist but since I placed the call I deserve all credit for ensuring the luggage arrived at BA). Paula, with pen in hand, filled out our customs card. Tough duty but I guess we can survive on our own.

Some interesting facts; I had a drink yesterday evening with one of the onboard staff responsible for our luggage. We traveled with a staff of 16 people on the plane but there were multiple people in each city arranging transportation, handling luggage, immigration, guides, etc... Paula and guessed 150 people or so. No way, Susan told me that there were about 1,000 people involved in the 12 countries we touched coordinating our visits. Wow, no wonder it was hassle free for us.

This has been an incredible adventure for us and, in some ways, changed us forever. It will take some time to digest what we've seen and learned but this was much more than a sight seeing excursion. We were allowed to meet, touch, and feel the cultures we visited. In some cases we ate and lived among some people that, a month ago, seemed so foreign. Our world is a much more interesting place than I knew. We've glimpsed a small part of our beautiful planet and been exposed to lives and people so different than us that it gives me pause. Some cultures that I thought primitive and poor I now see as rich in culture and history. The "poor" naked children in Papua New Guinea have strong family and community bonds; they are loved and cherished more than the latch key children in our community. One size does not fit all nor is one culture or society better than another. I'm not nearly as smart as I was a month ago.

I hope you have enjoyed following us on this journey.

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Location:Heathrow Airport, London