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I’ve been traveling since I was 8 years old, when I went with my grandmother from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to England, on one those stately old liners. We sailed from Cape Town to Southhamptom, stopping at the Canary Islands on the way.
I was well on the way to becoming a “Citizen of the World” and this idea and desire grew as the years passed—right from that young age I’d realized that one cannot live without any knowledge of other places on our earth and the other people who inhabit those places.
I was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and finished high school there. Then to university in South Africa, met and married Rod (another ex-Rhodesian), and we both worked in Pretoria, the capital of SA. Traveled as much as we could, had 2 kids, traveled some more, learned about wines, did a post-doc in USA.
A few years later, moved to the USA. Traveled a lot, drank more wines, lived in Australia for a year, stayed in Japan for a while (and learned how to shop for groceries and cook there), did a sabbatical in Paris, France. Traveled some more, and in between, we actually did work too! We felt we really were becoming citizens of the world.
Avid traveler, travel writer and photographer. In an earlier life I was a psychologist, but now am an ESL teacher. Very interested in multiculturalism, and how travel can expand one’s horizons, understanding and tolerance.
Our children, and now their families too, also caught the ‘travel bug’ and we often all travel together. Besides being a great family experience, this also gives another dimension and perspective to travel—having different generations travel together. Over the years, I have learned a lot from them.
But, much later, in the USA, we all changed our official identity and became USA citizens. This is a picture at Rod’s and my Naturalization Ceremony and 2 at the ceremony of our daughter, Nathalie.
( January 2006: me with a Galapagos Giant Tortoise on the island of Santa Cruz. One of the many wonderful places I’ve visited since my first taste of the world)
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Hi Vivienne, travelling the world is such an amazing hobby, thanks for sharing your stories! I’m so happy you are following Sunny District 🙂
I look forward to your new posts. Yes, travel is an amazing thing–to expand our minds and tolerance. But, I have to say that sometimes it’s also nice to come home for a while!
My history is much like yours, however travel for me started later in life at the age of 21. I discovered your blog through googling Pointsettias. Enjoyed your piece on this much forgotten flower out gracing the gardens in sometimes large bushes. Thks very interesting to read its history.
D.
Hallo Dee, Sorry for the very later reply. So happy you found my blog. Sadly, it’s been languishing a bit, due to pandemic fatigue and a family medical emergency. But, things are getting better again, and I plan to get it back on track.