I was only in Italy once, in the summer of 1976. I worked all kinds of jobs and sold all kinds of things--candles, potted plants, caramel apples, placemats--in order to raise enough money to spend the summer of my junior year of high school in Europe. Rome was my first stop. I also was in Florence and Pompeii, and took the train all about.
I really loved Italy--the fountains, the sunshine, the art, the town squares. The only thing I really didn't like were how the men would rub against young girls like me (15 and turned 16 over the summer) when they were passing through the corridors on trains. Really didn't like that.
When I think of Italy, I can't help but think of what a man told me about his daughter's wedding in a small mountain town in Italy. Les said that his daughter had married a young man from such a town. Accessible only by dirt road. A place where his family had lived for centuries. I am such the romantic that whenever Italy comes up, I think of the little mountain town I've never seen but I can certainly see in my mind's eye. Ah...
As I have previously remarked about Belarus, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia, and Ukraine, Lithuania is special, again only in my mind's eye. I have never been to the countries of eastern Europe, but I sure would love to go. I have romantic notions about finding something of "old Europe" there.
As a younger, healthier gal, I had romantic notions about Nepal as well. I could see myself trekking the highlands and having wonderful exchanges with Buddhist monks. Those adventures will have to wait for another life, I suspect, as I sometimes have trouble walking up stairs or a small hill, much less tackling mountains. High altitudes also compromise my breathing. Sea level suits me best.
Taiwan, again a land I have never seen, though I worked for many years for a Taiwanese herbal company, known both as Sun Ten and as Brion. I was the English editor for the nonprofit wing of the operations, the Oriental Healing Arts Institute, which published books and a quarterly journal on acupunture and traditional Chinese medicine. I would occasionally write or edit marketing materials for Sun Ten and Brion. As this was a family business, with the patriarch being the founder and his three children in various positions, this was an interesting cast of characters, to be sure. It is through the institute that I went to China, a trip that altered the course of my life.
So, welcome new visitors.
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