Tomorrow morning, April 19^th, we disembark in Hamburg, Germany. Our journey started on January 2^nd in San Diego.  We traveled for 104 days – 56 days on sea, 48 days in 10 different countries. Boy howdy – what a time!

So, before we step off the gangway to end this journey, I think it’s time to express my gratitude.

Thanks Christy. You’re an amazing partner in life. This trip of ours would not have been possible without you. The vaccinations, the visas, the medical supplies, the AirBnB reservations…the list is long. You made it happen. You got us on board. And, then, you kept us going. Thanks for taking Tate to Hiroshima by train on just our second day in Japan. And for taking Lincoln to Shanghai Disneyland by taxi. And for connecting to everyone on a human level everywhere we went – the brilliant ‘middle class village’ girl in India, the mother and baby on our Myanmar trek, the soccer ball stitcher in Ghana. And so on and on….Thanks for your endurance! Thanks for your patience! Thanks for your openness! Thanks for exploring with the boys and me as we met lots of really cool people, went on adventures never before imagined, and formed memories that will be fondly recalled for a long time. The world awaits our next great adventure.

Thanks Tate. Our 11 ½ year old who always seems undaunted when faced with the grandest adventures. Want to sail around the world? “Sure.” Want to take a college level course in Oceanography? “Definitely.” Care to figure out the trains of Japan? “You bet!” Want to hand feed an elephant in the middle of Myanmar? “Of course, I’m a natural with animals.” Care to try to hand-stitch a soccer ball in the sweltering heat of Ghana? “Yep, and I’ll work until I get it done.” Oh, and how about adding some Japanese language instruction to your voyage? “I’m on it!” Tate, you’re a young man of the world. You are damn tough; curious; smart; and, perhaps best of all, very kind-hearted. To the one I call ‘big handsome’, the world awaits your next great adventure.

Thanks Lincoln. Our 8 year old son who has inner strength and clarity of mind that never fail to impress.  You climbed on the back of an elephant to give it a sponge bath. You hiked over seven miles through the hot and humid of Myanmar’s mountains. You climbed on the back of a camel to go for an hour walk through the high desert of Morocco. You took gymnastics on the ship and in a short time mastered the hand stand while the ship rocked and pitched. You ziplined across ravines in the mountains of South Africa without hesitation. On your own initiative and with your endearing charm, you made special friends of college students. You played board games, taught them card games and shared your favorite movies. And, you stood with the college students on stage during improv night – a natural spirit in the spotlight. You are an artist, an adventurer, a thinker and a doer.  To the one I call ‘smart, long and strong’, the world awaits your next great adventure.

Thanks Sona and PSU Colleagues. It’s unusual for an administrator to take sabbatical. And it’s very wonderful to have a boss and a set of colleagues who make it possible. I am deeply thankful for this opportunity; simply put, it would not have been possible without your support. You gave a gift, not to me, but to my family. For this, I am so deeply grateful.

Thanks Semester at Sea. You got a good thing going. A commitment to experiential learning; to intercultural immersion; to positive social impact. After this amazing teaching experience I am doubling down on my commitment to community-based experiential learning – I’m not sure there should be any other way. I’ve learned so much and become a fan.

Thanks Mom.  Yeah, I saved you for last. Why might a kid be so curious about the world? What might instill an unquenchable desire for globe trekking? Well, for me, it’s you. Your curiosity for the world never sleeps. Never. You and I have traveled to Colombia and Brazil together. You’re an amazing traveler. But, more importantly, you’re an extraordinary teacher and role model. When we visited the Heifer Project village in Vietnam my thoughts went immediately to you. You taught me the importance of such work long before I ever witnessed it firsthand.  On so very many occasions during this voyage my thoughts went to you. Although you didn’t get on the ship with us, you were on the voyage the whole way. I was so fortunate to have you along!