A Journal Entry About my Grandma’s World Trip

A trip to the past

For most of my generation traveling from one continent to another, switching between different languages, and getting to know new cultures is something as normal as drinking a glass of water.

But times used to be different. Flights weren’t as common or cheap and communication barriers between different cultures were huge. People barely used to leave their hometown.

Except for my grandma. Growing up in Romania she spent most of her years living in a small village at the base of the Carpathian Mountains. Just after socialism and the USSR broke down, her children moved to Germany. So did she, together with her husband.

Moving in 1990 was a bit different than today. While I’m just booking a ticket online, packing my belongings in two suitcases, and hop on another plane to my new home, she did face back then many other hurdles we won’t believe today.

She built up her new home in Germany, collected a circle of friends around herself, and was always everyone’s favorite in the neighborhood.

Then, her oldest and only daughter decided to move to the States and get married over there. For my grandma, it was a clear decision when going on the big journey. She wasn’t going to go to another country without being able to speak the language.

At the age of sixty, she signed herself into language lessons trying her best to learn the keys of the English language. She was by far the oldest one in the course but also the one the most respected for her efforts and dedication.

Over the years she has traveled three times to the States for visiting her daughter. Once together with her husband, once with my dad, and one time — believe it or not — all on her own.

Two journeys were before 2000, the last trip, together with my dad, was in 2002. I am not sure when she wrote this piece but I think it was in 1999 when she traveled alone to the States.

It was just a few days ago when my uncle stumbled upon this piece of writing she had prepared for one of her English lessons. The paper looks as old as I am my uncle said and we were only guessing the year. My grandma did remember the read she produced and how she presented it in class.

After reading it immediately I wanted to share it with the world. Because it is such an authentic piece of writing. It holds her feelings, perspectives, and experiences from this journey she went on. It’s interesting to see what was important for her, which details she mentioned, and which ones she left out.

There are minor spelling and grammar mistakes in her essay but I decided to leave the piece as it is. For you to read her writing and not mine. Remember, English was and is her third language.

My great world travel

I try to remember my long way two years ago. I started from Stuttgart, Amsterdam, Detroit to Kalamazoo. Here I was met from my daughter and my son in law.

Kalamazoo where my children live, is situated in the state Michigan, between Detroit and Chicago, on the 94 Motorway from Detroit to Chicago. The number of inhabitants is about 85,000.

This country has many small lakes, sandy beaches and rocky shores, beauty forests and rich parks. Here is the university of West Michigan.

From Kalamazoo we took daily trips, to visiting the surroundings. So we drove to Holland Michigan, situated on the lake Michigan. Here live the Dutch people. They came to Michigan 200 years ago, seeking religious freedom. They built communities that still reflect their native land.

Millions colorful tulips bloom bordered the street. We took a stroll through tulip gardens. Another attraction for downtown Holland is, America’s only authentic working Dutch Windmill, imported from the Netherlands and restored. It is driven by the wind to power grain milling.

Something special here is the Welfare factory, for mom’s for its beautiful handpainted blue and white porcelain. We admired the wooden shoe factory. On the street we watched Dutch folk dancers to the music of an historic Amsterdam street organ: “Tulpen Aus Amsterdam”. It was a pleasure for me.

In Grand Rapids, another town in this area we visited the “Meijer Gardens” with splendid exotic flowers. Here takes its place 1999 the sculpture of Leonardo da Vinci’s horse. Over 500 years ago L.d.V. planned this sculpture. Now, Nina Akama a great Italian master made L.d.V. dream a reality. This 24 foot bronze horse is the largest equestrian sculpture in the world.

An Indian village located south of Middleburg, Shipshewama, was our next visit. This rich farmland is a great place with Amish people. The Amish are a very religious Christian group who came from Switzerland and Germany. They speak a kind of German but they study English in their own schools. They do not like to have their pictures taken. They think the simple life is the best way to honor God. Also the Amish don’t drive cars. They use horses and buggies. They do not want electricity.

A large Flea Market with a variety of skilled artisans like Quilts pottery crafts and fruits, vegetables and flowers is famous for this little Amish town Shipshewana.

I was fascinated from all this sights and events and grateful to enjoy the nature in this beautiful peaceful countryside.

The nomadic genes are for sure running in the family and I am thankful for it. My upbringing brought me to where I am today and idols like my grandma are the reason why I have so much passion for travel and writing. She’s a great poet too presenting often her artwork at celebrations. The prose isn’t one of my strengths even though I’ve tried it in my younger years.

I hope you enjoyed this read on a grand travel journey when traveling wasn’t available for everyone yet and many were too afraid to go on such a big journey as my grandma did.

More writings about both of my grandmas and other adventures from around the world in my weekly newsletter.