Monday, January 21, 2008

The follow-up from travel

Four weeks ago, I was wondering—after so many months of planning, with details, details, and yet more details to arrange for our trip to South America. And during the trip, I was continuing to wonder—while coping with the stresses of being responsible for 18 other people's safety and of dealing with logistics that included last-minute changes in weather and itinerary. Would the trip feel worth the effort? Today, sitting at my computer on a rainy San Francisco afternoon, I can say with certainty—yes it was worth it. Or, as they would say in Chile—vale la pena!

I would like to thank the group members for their cohesiveness, for their gentleness with each other, for their willingness to "go with the flow", and for their energy and overall good spirits. I would like to thank Erika, Jon, and John for creating our trip blog; Alejandra, Carolina, and Viviana for sharing their knowledge of Spanish and Chile and for becoming everyone's good friends; Miro and Roberto for driving to the places I requested even when they must have wondered where some of those dirt roads were heading; Quilo for cooking us fabulous meals; and most of all, my husband Jay, for encouraging me to do this trip and supporting me along the way.

We'll all share a special bond, acquired during the rigors of the trip. And we'll have a reunion or two to celebrate our friendships and our accomplishments. And some just may accompany me in the future, when I get around to doing an excursion again!

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