Mother & Daughter Team Travel the World in 90 Days~Week 1
STUART, FL - Mother and daughter team travel the world in 90 days as part of a home-school final exam. While most of us are educated about foreign cultures and religions by watching the television, or a couple of magazines or movies, this inventive mother and daughter team found an especially creative way to learn about foreign culture.
Nancy "Rabe" Cogsil, and her 14-year-old daughter
Taylor, began preparing for the teen's
"travelmitzva" (coming of age celebration through travel), by planning this whirl-wind journey to 9 different countries early in 2007. The pair left for their life changing experience from Miami on January 29th for Germany, and returned from Japan via California on April 29th
, much different people. I have had the blessed opportunity to share in her stories, and look forward to many more conversations that I will be able to record. The adventure actually began with the months of preparation, that visiting 9 countries in 90 days would entail. Pack up your clothes. If you go during winter or autumn, bring many clothes. If you're going during summer or spring, don't bring so many clothes. As part of the home- school assignments for young
Taylor, she was required to research each of the countries that they had anticipated visiting, and help evaluate the multitudes of information that could be found on the internet in regards to advice in packing. Most of the information was found to be very useful, others sites recommended items and preparations that were not feasible or practical. Some of the information that they found included:
· Packing an umbrella and a jacket with a hood in case it rains.
· Pack a few snacks in case you get hungry. Don't bring any drinks. But remember, some countries do not allow you to take in food to their country.
· Pack a good book to read or some games. Pack also a pencil set and a journal.
· Think about options for money. You will need traveler's checks or something like a debit card which can be used to get cash from an ATM machine. Those in the US will find that major travel associations offer such a card. Taylor was responsible for all money transfers and cell phone SIM cards that were needed for each country.
· You might want to consider bringing an iPod, for the times that you do not have much to do.
· Pack of course your toiletries (toothbrush, shower gel, shampoo, towel, toothpaste etc).
· Plan to bring a pen with you so that you can write the journal with the pen.
· Buy an outlet adapter. American plugs wont work in Europe/ Asia, just as their plugs wont work in America. This will come in handy.
· Don't bring anything dangerous. The security will catch you doing this in the airport and it's just not safe.
· Don't bring so many suitcases or else you will have to carry heavy packs.
As carefully as the pair might have prepared weeks in advance of their trip, as most Americans, they found themselves at Walmart buying last minute items the evening before their Miami departure. As the flight to Germany was uneventful, and the two were anxious to arrive in Germany to visit with distant relatives,
Taylor began her pictorial and diary notes on the long flight overseas. Upon arriving in Germany, the pair was refreshed with the change in climate, and anxious to meet distant relatives. They traveled directly to Berlin via an 8 hour train ride, spending some time at the Berlin Wall. The pair then set off on Februrary 5, 2008 to meet with family in Garmisch, Partenkierchen, Germany.
What would be a trip to "snow-country" without a little skiing? Both
Rabe and
Taylor were excited to join family in skiing a few slopes before heading off to Munich. As fate would have it, the pair arrived in Munich for the World Cup, and exciting world-wide event. That would greatly influence the young teen's impression of international camaraderie and foster their gratitude to so many people from so many countries that displayed overwhelming hospitality to the mother and daughter team from the States.
While visiting with family, and "easing" into the transition between American and European culture, the pair was convinced that Germany was definitely the place to start their travels. Food, accommodations, language and the historical sights of interest were a gentle transition toward the 8 remaining countries on their itinerary.
As the pair left Germany, where they found comfort in finding street signs and so many natives that spoke English, the teen reflected upon some of her home-school research prior to the journey to verify her accuracy. Furthermore, was able to note how much she had learned about this culture, how much she could learn, and what impression Eastern Europe would have upon her in the years to come.
Rabe chose to accept the advise of a family member in Germany that recommended a homeopathic remedy to take daily to ward off any "travel illnesses" in the coming weeks, the recommendation worked like a charm, neither Taylor nor Rabe found themselves ill from food, water or other illnesses that international travelers tend to become infected with, they were healthy the entire journey. Germany would ignite the pair's curiosity of other culture's impression of the importance of family. In the coming weeks, this would become one of the most important life-lessons that the two would return to the States with. Leaving heavy clothes, boots and family behind, the pair boarded the train for Turkey to arrive on February 12, 2008.
Please consider joining us for the
"Around the World in 90 Days" Presentation on Sunday, August 24, 2008 @ 4:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church located at 2655 SW Immanuel Drive, Palm City, Fl. There will be no admission fee for this presentation; a free-will offering will be accepted for both
Taylor's adopted elephant, and their World Vision "Hope Child".
To find out how you too, might join us in this adventure, please see: