20. Crossroads and our Trek Home: East Africa a New Life Adventure

Traditionally, teachers in the United States start looking for their year’s employment a few months in advance, and the time had for us to make some decisions. Either we were going to stay in Kenya or head back home to Idaho. Barbara and I were greatly concerned about how staying in Kenya would ultimately affect the lives of our children.  I had been offered a job at a Secondary School somewhere south of Nairobi which seemed a bit strange, as I personally had not applied or even visited the school. After mulling it over we decided to go back Home. I had left my teaching job in Boise with a Leave of Absence, so I did have a job if I wanted it. I am sure the Boise School administration never expected me to return.  

We planned our return trip through Europe, wanting to visit as many countries as possible. The Airline ticket provided layovers en route, so we had the agent start out with Israel; then Beirut, Lebanon. That was before Lebanon was too unstable and Beirut was a beautiful city. Then on to Istanbul crossing the Bosporus on a ferry, visited the great market and of course Topkapia.  Rome, where we had made arrangements to meet Barbara’s Brother Bill and do all the sites, then on to  Switzerland, where we rented a Volkswagon van and drove through the Alps, camped at Lake Vug where the wind blew so hard that we wondered if the tents would survive;  then north to Munich and Strasberg, Germany. Somewhere in this area we found a campground and settled in for a few days. That evening we discovered that it was a holiday in France and one of them camped next to us and tied his tent to the  bumper on our car.  This was July 1969 shortly after the moon landing, and we received many compliments as Americans for the accomplishment. 

I would like to revert back to our visit to Israel where we hired an Arab guide to show us the country. We had just witnessed a group of tourists being told a story about a cave that was sealed  by a large circular stone where Christ was supposedly buried. We stepped  back from the crowd discussing the hype we had just witnessed  when we were approached by the Arab guide mentioned earlier.  He had overheard our comments and offered his services as he suggested there were other places thought to be burial sites of Christ’s. This sounded interesting and we took him up on his offer. Our guide showed us four other sites the Christian tourists get their dose of hype. Then there were two more burial sites that were used by the Greek Orthodox religion. Then we went on a trip out of the city Jeruselem to the hills near the Dead Sea to see where the Dead Sea Scrolls had been found. Later on when we were at the Museum where the Dead Sea Scrolls were on display a young lady addressed me by name. Turning out of amazement the Lady introduced herself. She was the daughter of the superintendent  from Spangle Washington where I had been a teacher years before. We all marveled at what a small world we live in. 

Holland was the next country and we arrived there by train. We had no reservations and we found nothing available in Amsterdam. The station however had bulletin boards that listed private residences that would  take guests. Barbara called a few without success, after all there were 8 of us. One family said yes, but they were out of town about 20 minutes by train.  We decided to take it. Following directions we arrived at the station and they picked us up.  The host family slept in their attic to make room for all of us. This was a Bed and Breakfast arrangement and the meals were fabulous.  We stayed a few days and traveled the countryside by rail with the host daughter as our guide.  This way we got to see animals and produce markets as well as fields of flowers. On departure we had to insist on paying far more than agreed because of the great meals and service.

Copenhagen, Denmark, was next on our list. Our accommodations were in an enormous room with a Grand Piano in the middle of everything. I have no idea how the arrangement was made, whether it was the Airline Agent, Barbara, or her brother Bill, who was traveling on a EuroRail Pass, but it was in a great location. Tivoli Gardens, the amusement park, was on our list of places to visit, and it lived up to the expectations  with its roller coasters. I recall going to a circus featuring elephants, and I think it was at Tivoli. Of course we made the effort to see the Little Mermaid which was high on the list of things to do.  At almost every stop Kiva, our youngest child, began to ask, “Have we got to see things again?” and the answer was always Yes.

We flew across the channel to the next stop, London, where we visited the tower of London and the display of the Crown Jewels. This was quite an affair, the line to get in went around the block, and there was a constant push of the crowd to see the Precious Gems. As usual we had done our homework on what to see in England, but my memory is failing me. There were a variety of interesting things to do and we met someone of importance to us but all of that is a loss right now.         

The family boarded the flight home London to Portland, Oregon. This was the great circle route flying over the North Pole was the shortest distance from London to Portland.