Volken nach Frankfurt

People encountered so far in my travels

A spry Indian couple going to Brazil- I really nearly lost my flight out of Pittsburgh, because of these two; they were saccharine sweet and started giving me advise and stories about India (as well as an entire family history). They approached me because I was in the act of writing my last post and needed help connecting to the airport wireless. I had my glasses on and must have looked like I knew what I was doing. Ultimately, neither of us helped the other make their connections. Classic running to the gate with all of my luggage scene...

Peace studies Abby - A anemic looking girl from Morgantown, WV, who was seated next to me for the flight to DC; she, like most of the college students I have met, was headed to a study abroad program that spanned Switzerland, France and CROATIA!!! (Stirling - she said that she was head to Durbovnik and I almost screamed, "Dobs!"). She was a peace studies student from a school I was unfamiliar with... The parade of bullshit liberal artists begins (well, it began with me; I'm as big of a part as anyone). Her voice reminded me of Anna Weisberg, in fact, I think she might have been a Quaker, too .

Big Jim Russle - Just about the heartiest American go-gettin, gin-drinkin, conversation-coverin worldsmith that I could have the priveledge of flying with; sat next to me from DC to Frankfurt. Reminded me immediately of Randy Gorske (Ian and Jeremiah's dad) who is a real warm joker, and made conversation between us pretty easy. His wife even looked like Dar Gorske, which added even more to his supernatural air... planes are the easiest way for angels these days; and they take advantage of the free Lufthansa liquor. Just like Randy, he knew everything about obscure places, and had a hungry need to keep bringing in information. He read all of the Lufthansa magazine, watched all of the inflight shows, kept looking around as he talked and asked the stewardesses bright questions about everything that he didn't understand; and all things while talking, going on about theories and systems, secrets of the east.

Frances and Megan, eh? - Two Canadian girls from Bishop U. who were waiting for their friend to arrive in Europe, then a European tour, then study abroad in South Africa. Their saving graces were that they were cute, ignorant of the culture and generally very lost. This had already caused them problems with German men. We wandered around the city aimlessly; I had been awake (in some way) for nearly 22 hours and couldn't check into my room until later that afternoon, so it was really nice to have company to talk to. Innocents abroad.

AlsakAndrew - A guy that I won't go too into because I don't know about how I feel about the conversation I had with him. He was an American badass: from Texas, had travelled the world with small mission trips, including Russia, India, the Middle East and many points in Europe. He, like any of us that are exposed to it for too long, became disenfranchised and embarrassed of American Christianity. So, now he's meeting up with his mission contacts on his own dime, without a church affiliation, alone. What's more badass; to raise money for this trip he drove a semi 85 hours a week between California and Alaska. He heads to Prague tomorrow, and has no concrete plans after that... I hate to compare travelling friends to people from home, because every personality is singular, with its own manifestations and complexities...That being said, Andrew reminds me of my sorely lost trio who are still wandering the suderlands of Texas; Dave, Ian and especially Trix. Visions of Andrew hiking into the sunset with these anarchists. hmmmm.

Now just looking for a hot pretzel and a cold beer.

Om Shanti Frankfurt am Main Om

Stuck in outside of Pittsburgh with the darkly veiled somewhere blues.

Greetings my beloveds,



Today is an epic day in many respects. For me, it marks the initiation into the unknown soujourn; presently I'm sitting in the Pittsburgh terminal, looking out on the last snow I'm bound to see for the next ten months. My parents dropped me off less than an hour ago, and I will be alone for the next forty hours. Parting is a subtle art and a stage for our pretentions. I have been stoic throughout the process, keeping myself removed both emotionally and as company to many of my friends at home. I ruffled my parents away as soon as we got to the airport. Now that I'm here I need to start the process; need to really make this a journey instead of a vacation away from the life I know...I wish that I had expressed to them succinctly how much I actually love them, how much being home means to me, and that the last two years I've suffered a succession of realizations about how well they raised me abd how compassionate they have been....Instead we drove awkwardly (and slowly) down I-79 chitchatting, which is fine, but the condition of my life is wanting to discuss the biggest things and never finding an avenue to do so. How do you lay yourself bare in front of those that have known you for so long, invested so much in you, and loved you while not realizing how you've changed? How do I convince them that I'm becoming a man?..... One of my intents for this journey and a theme that will come up often is sincerity; not only telling the exact truth of your feelings and circumstances, but believing that the truth should be known.

During our long ride to Pittsburgh we fought against clouds and country roads to receive the inaugural proceedings. How fitting that in my life, two historic events (one politcal, one personal) would occur on the same day. One part of the President's (how exciting to address him as such, it's like dating a check on jan 2 and realizing that you are actually in the new year) speech that especially struck me, and I believe is pertinent not only to my travels, but to my greater beliefs about what must happen in this world was early on in the address when he said, "We are a young country, but as scripture says 'there comes a time to put aside childish things." This has great social and environmental implicationsfor our nation, maybe its about time to finally be responsible for all of our power..

In Frankfurt now, about to make a dash for an international hostel.
Much love from EUROPE!!!! What!

obviously more to come,
Mac