ZECO TRAVEL TALK

Last fall, one of our wonderful and generous long-time travelers, who wishes to remain anonymous, came to us with the opportunity to jointly offer a Zegrahm Travel Scholarship. Its purpose was to fund a trip for a worthy teacher or educator who could apply what they learned to helping young people better understand our world. To find this recipient, we sent out an e-mail announcement to our past-traveled clients seeking nominations for the scholarship award.

Needless to say, we received many terrific nominations and thoughtful letters which we turned over to the donor for the final selection. It was clear to this person right away who would receive the scholarship: Patti Richter, from Conway, Washington, a 4th grade teacher at Conway Elementary School. Her nomination came from a Zegrahm traveler—the parent of two students at Patti’s school.

The detailed and heartfelt letters from Patti’s students demonstrated the love and respect they feel for her—as a teacher and as a person. They wrote: “She is the nicest teacher in the world…” And, “She is welcoming new people to another world of excitement…” And “She is very very very smart…” And, “She will be the happiest person that she will ever be…” And, “She deserves to have the time of her life…” And, “When she walks in she always puts a Big Smile on your face…” And, “You should pick her!” Read more

You may have seen J. Henderson knitting sweaters during Zegrahm Expedition trips. She introduced me to the Knit for Kids project on a voyage in 1998/99. Many of you have asked about the project and for information on to how to become involved.

If you go to the website www.knitforkids.org you will find the directions for the sweater. There is one standard sweater that the groups request and they ask that you only use their patterns so the sweaters are all the same when they arrive in a village.

On the map and in the photo album you can see where sweaters have been sent around the world and in the United States. Sweaters are sent in large boxes with a variety of sizes so there is something for everyone. Kids like bright colors. White is not recommended because in some countries white is a funeral color; in certain countries the sweaters will be washed on rocks in a stream.

Sweaters can also be crocheted. In the most recent Knit for Kids newsletter update, Ohio prisoners have learned to crochet and are shown with the sweaters they have made.

As of this date, Ms. Henderson is finishing up sweater #88!

D. Traver

Circumnavigation Of The Black Sea

We had a wonderful time on board Le Levant, a luxurious cruise ship, circumnavigating the Black Sea for two weeks in September. The history and culture of that part of the world are fascinating, and the lecturers on board did a great job.

When we received the brochure for the trip from the MIT Alumni office—who sponsored a group of 22 people—we knew right away that this would be our 8th MIT-sponsored trip. We also knew that we had an extraordinary personal opportunity that no one else on the trip would have—to visit the city of Varna, Bulgaria, the last port of the trip and the birthplace of our adopted grandson. Read more