Trip Summary

I went from having no stamps in my virgin passport to having 16 passport stamps from a ten-day trip. 

My travel companions were amazing. I met Curtis last August on our family vacation. He was very nice, but very quiet. I met him again at the wedding, but he asked me all about me, and again, I didn't get to know him. And then we spent Christmas with him, but I didn't get to know him then either. He was at my nephew's baby blessing, but it wasn't until this trip I got to know him. He is very funny, playful, creative, insightful and smart. He drove the entire trip, and he should have a medal of honor just for that. The streets were narrow. Sarajevo is extremely hilly. Our rental car, Cleo, didn't have much power. Most of the time we were all a little short on sleep, but since Curtis was driving - no rest for him. He did a fantastic job and I was happy to get to know and appreciate my brother-in-law.

Andrea came for the first part of the trip. She was off to Ghana to work on a project for her MBA. She is so much fun. Interested in learning. Appreciative of the arts. Intelligent. I think the quality I like most about her is her kindness. I was sad she couldn't spend the whole trip with us.

I met Steve at my sister's wedding. I don't think I got acquainted with him at all, but when he showed up in Germany I recognized him. He functioned as both our trip accountant and navigator. And if you have any comprehension of how bad I am at directions, you will know that his unfailing ability to get us from point A to point B was quite appreciated. He was easy going, smart, and his judgment calls were generally pretty solid. He and Curtis were quite entertaining.

The last trip out of the country I took with Ginette about 10 years ago. This one was my favorite. I was impressed by her planning. She had researched the places we were going. Gotten the maps all set up. Talked to people. And along with the others, was excellent company and thoroughly enjoyable.

I always wonder before I go on a trip how and if this trip will change me. I would think it was a colossal waste to go on a trip and come back unchanged. Pretty pictures and selfies entertain you, but they don't change you. I certainly know more than I did before about the history of the Balkans and I am thirsty to learn more. I think the books, combined with the people we met, the conversations we had combined with seeing the area has expanded my perspective. Concretely, I think I will better relate to the Bosnians in St. Louis. The delivery man will be someone whose context I understand. I hope I will help out with the refugees of Syria more. I think my added perspective could help my immigration cases. I am more firm in my belief of the importance of free media, and also of the importance of not seeing people as "others." I think that is how people get dehumanized and humanity justifies unkindness. I think I will read a few more books about Bosnia. 

And who knows, maybe one day I'll go back.