SI MONTHLY NEWS JANUARY 2006 Travel Host Reports
From SI Exco News
Travel tips for Africa
(from Servasnet)
Dear Servas community,
I recently sent a picture showing me with John from Uganda and John from Kenya, allow me to send you the link. This time you can see many more pictures and links to Servas and other organizations. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Also, some have asked for travel tips, especially how to find Servas people in Africa. It is all on the web site. http://Chem.QC.CUNY.edu/~aidsfree
Rolande, New York, US
Canada from South Korea
We are now back to our daily routine in Pusan(Busan) Korea with the beautiful memories of you and your country. It was an honor and a privilege for us having such a lovely time, but I missed you during the conference. In Alaska, we saw the grand and untouched nature. It was so grand that even the brave last frontiers couldn't get a slight touch on her. And we also saw the little city Anchorage of man made, compared to those of gigantic nature. On the cruise ship of Statendam of Holland America line, we embarked Seward and sailing down to the South. We approached, 0.2 miles of the face of Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay. We took private shore excursion tours of Sitka, Haines, and at Skagway on the White Pass Scenic Railway to Yukon and got a small bag of pure gold with our own panning at the Klondike gold-rushed village. Then, Juneau, Ketchikan, sailing through Seymour Narrows at slack tide of the inside passage to Vancouver. I had the honor of talking with captain Peter Bos in person. His detailed explanation of the cruise was impressive. I got the book, 'The Alaska Cruise Handbook.' with his autograph. The time was about to cross the Seymour Narrows, where the currents are so rapid and strong that even the whales are waiting for the timing to cross.
On Servas meeting, our attending the joint Servas Canada - US Servas conference held August 5 to 7 at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver was surprisingly good experience to us. First of all, I want to express my deepest appreciation of Penny Pattison of Servas Canada, Dan Rubin of Servas US and other Servas key persons those who are involved in organizing the conference for all of their hard work.
The conference was well organised, very informative and ran friendly feeling as if it is held in my own country. Even I missed some part of it due to the language barriers, I came to learn much about Servas with different approach by different culture. I enjoyed it very much. Everybody seems to be satisfied with the conference. One thing we regret is we failed to attend the walking tours of Downtown Eastside Orientation and Tour. We applied but we couldn't make it on time. In the evening Mr Gunther drove us couple, Roslyn and Phill Greene from the US to the beach to see the firework. The fire show was great. When driving back to UBC accommodation we got flat tire. Time was approaching the midnight. In the darkness by the road side when we were trying to fix it, one gentlemen stopped his car and came to help us. He's gone with our thanks. I felt the Canadian's love to others.
We introduced Mark to Christian, they discussed and he and his wife decided to join the Servas. When we heard of this, everybody was pleased. At the day of cruise, he showed up with new van for driving us to Seward. We tried to buy the tickets for the scenic railroad travel from Anchorage to Seward the tickets were all already sold out. It was so popular during the summer time, we were at a loss when we know this. Our disappointment turned out to be blessings. With Mark's driving we could see more and visited the cities and scenic areas we passed by.
At the first night in Vancouver, I and my wife were hosted by P and the other two couples with E. They came to the airport to pick up us. On the way home, the P asked if we go to the States for the dinner barbecue. We admitted it as a joke, but actually they have a summer cottage in Washington States. Crossing the border is unimaginable in Korea. Korean peninsula is surrounded by the sea and the only land bridge to the continent is blocked by the North Korea. We have been living totally isolated geographically and psychologically. That might be the reason that Koreans like to go abroad. We have 500 Servas families and 300 more standing in line to get the interview. The house was in the wood by the sea, we had wonderful time there. The barbecue was delicious and the wine was best with the talks. That late evening we came back to the Richmond, Vancouver crossing the Canadian - US border. When leaving for Korea, they came to the airport with my materials for my writing collected during our travel. I would especially appreciate them.
Mrs E's hospitality just moved the other couples. When we arrived at her home, she prepared the maps of BC and Alberta for our travel. She tried toshow them everything possible in the city. All the way on our RVing, they talked about her. They regretted they couldn't convey their gratefulness to her. They regretted they couldn't make phone calls to her. They described her life as a 'nice old life' in Korean.
In Victoria, R and S prepared big barbecue dinner inviting us 6 people and their sons, daughters, grandsons and grand daughters. So many people were gathered together and everybody enjoyed the evening gathering. We just became one of their family members feeling the strong family bond and traditions. The son in law, provided us a lot of info about the Vancouver Island. Janie, the oldest daughter was a poet and we liked her way of talking and the stories she told us. I and my wife stayed at there that evening, and others left for the RV in the West Bay RV Camp Ground.
Mr. Robert McInnes came to dayhost us the next day. First he drove us to his home and we could meet his lovely wife Betty. We enjoyed talks over a cup of coffee and some homemade bread. He said that he was sorry not to host us for his apartment is too small, but it was large to our standard. In the living room window, we could see a white crane walk in the river and flocks of birds on the grass down the front yard. They lead a lovely life. He drove us to the tourist attractions through the sea side routes and visited his son's house, who is working as a reporter for the Vancouver Sun. We visited the beautiful campus of the University of Victoria.
In Edmonton, A and S made us special guests with preparation of a lot of food and programs. Her collection of native artifact of so many countries she travelled were impressive. The house was a small museum. Before the dinner we all went to a garage sale and we bought several things. The other couples seem enjoyed that kind of sales for we do not have that kind of system in Korea. The evening feast was great. L a Servas neighbor came to attend with delicious fruit pizza of her own make for the dessert.
I could meet the Canadian and the US Servas key persons and got some valuable information and materials for Servas Korea. The US Servas NS generously allowed me to talk with. Most of all, he proposed joint-operation of Serva Korea and the US, which I took as a positive homework assignment. We need some time to talk with Korean key persons in October meeting. He also gave me applicable info about running the organization and the skills. I would also personally appreciate all those who shared their time with me in that tight schedule. It was most exciting time that Penny invited me to give a speech at general session on the ' Servas Korea.' The panel session organizer included me in one of the panelists on the title of 'Cultural Difference and Home Visit.' After the session, my wife pointed it out that I made one wrong answer. I wished her to be one instead of me. Anyway I was not sure I did my job good or not, but everybody seemed interested.
We were welcomed to the conference by Shatseeakum, an Elder of the Musqueum Nation, whose people inhabited the land the University was built on, and by a Vancouver City Councillor, a long-time peace and social justice activist.
Our RV(Motor Home) drove us 5366km. From Vancouver- victoria and Ucluelet- Tofino- Nanaimo- Whisttler- Clearwater- Jasfer- cefield parkway- Colombus Glacier- Edmonton- Drumheller- Calgary- Banff- Athabasca Glacier- Lake Louise- Lake Peyto- Miette Hotspring- Revelstoke- Peachland- (crossed border)- Washington State of the US-Seattle- Bellingham-( crossed border again)- Vancouver as port of call.
On Servas hosting, we would thank all those who hosted us and helped us hosting. We'll never forget their hospitality. Hosting 6 people at a home is not easy thing at all, we all knew it. But the Canadian hosts were gladly offered us the unique experience of 3 couple hosting. I and my wife had experienced it in other countries more than several times, but other two couples are totally new kids on the block. They are eager to experience foreign Servas host. They hosted foreigners at home Korea, but due to commanding very limited English, they couldn't dare to go out of country. They called me help them to go abroad to experience Servas host, I accepted the proposal and we made this itinerary together.
At Anchorage, Ms Christian Anderson hosted us beginning with the great seafood dinner and gave us a ride of her very old, but looks new classic sport car. One big female moose and her baby showed up into her garden and began to feed her flowers. She let them eat and we watched it. The show was a real great. We do not have moose in Korea.
Early next morning on the way to Seward, we visited P and M. They invited us for tasting beer of his own brewing and his bagpipe playing. He brewed the Guinness Stout, which I like best. Private brewing is not permitted by law in Korea and playing bagpipe is rare thing. For the Koreans both were interesting.
Mark Moraes, an American friend who visited me in Pusan(Busan) when in Korea and invited me to come to Alaska which is most beautiful in the world, came to the Anchorage International Airport to pick up us with his son Brendon. We went to the Anchorage RV Park where his camper trailer placed in. In the first evening he and his wife Julie brought us a rice cooker. The Korean ladies liked it very much. For they were not so happy to eat bread and meat for every meal. You might know that rice and Kimchi is Koreans staple food. We can't eat a single meal without it.
We all are happy that the other Korean couples began to speak in English. They came a little accustomed to the Western environment and they dared to speak in English. When A asked Mr L of his job. He answered that he managed Koreans' erection. Al seemed a little embarrassed. I corrected his pronunciation 'erection to election.' Everybody laughed. He got retirement two years ago from a high ranking Korean government official managing Elections. Everybody laughed and enjoyed the evening.
Sylvia asked me to bring two letters for Mr. Eum and Ms Lee who once hosted her in Korea. She didn't forget the warmth of Korean Servas. We loved her attitudes. This is a kind of model for every Servas travellers.
In Calgary, T and M hosted us as VIPs. T connected electric line to from his garage to our RV, for at least one couple should stay in the RV. I and my wife were lucky commanding English, we were excluded from the couple who should stay in the RV. After a long mountain life, we want to sleep on a stable bed, not swaying one and the other side all night. The other couple were smart enough to sleep in the house turn by turn. When I told this to my wife, she liked it. We were happy at their home. We liked their new wooden floor imported form Brazil for the colors, which most Korean prefer to live on. They were Jewish in blood, and we had many things to see and to talk with. Other couples showed their interests too, for they never met Jewish people before in their life. In Korea Jewish people are well-known for their education and religion. The next day we went to the 'Heritage park Historical Village' folk village of Canada. We saw the past and present of Canada. I visited the Freemason's Office in the town and talked about the past and present of Freemasonry in Alberta. I was eligible to visit the office as I am a Master Mason.
In Vancouver again to fly back to Korea, A and E J came to the Canadream RV company to pick up us with two cars. We were so glad to meet them again. It was already one month after the conference in UBC. One couple, Mr Lee from Seoul, went to their son by taxi who is studying mass media in Vancouver. Now we two couples are left after the long journey together. It gave me a kind of mixed feelings, sad to depart and a relief to get more space ourselves from 6 to 4.
The gardens of the jacksons were extraordinary. They keep just the wild ponds of Asia with the varieties of oriental wild weeds, water lilies, bamboos and oriental flowers. Two bronze cranes stood like alive ones. To our surprise, there was our national flower, the rose of sharon were smiling to us with vivid color of nature as if they knew us. Two more things to mention is that they keep a Korean Aemilleh Bell and a Korean gong, about the bell, a legend goes that the master bell builder couldn't make the bell sounding as he wanted, but obeyed to the instruction of a spirit in his dream to cast her only daughter into the burning iron. Not to mention about the killing of the baby, but he succeeded in getting the sound he had been desired. The original Aemilleh Bell in Kyungju still rings 'Aemilleh' or 'Maaaaam' to call her Mother sadly. And a Korean Gong, which is still being used for the farmers' music. My wife could never forget the whole beef, a cow, big loaf of beef---- prepared for us. They gave us rich information on the city which we used the next day.
The summer of 2005 was great for us 6 Koreans. We owe much to all those shared their time and talk and their hospitality. We love Servas. Peace is being built originating from one's heart, from every one's heart to others.
Jong Soo KIM , Young Og WOO , South Korea
