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