Many of us have had the opportunity and privilege to travel internationally. Crossing borders – where we come face to face with unfamiliar languages, foods, and time-honored customs – can be both wonderfully exciting and intensely unnerving. The joy of discovery can be tempered by some fear of the unknown. What are the right words to use to communicate basic messages? What if I say the wrong thing? How will I handle it if I become lost? What does it mean in this country when I shake my head sideways? Under the best of circumstances, border crossings can be a real challenge. In today’s politically charged environment, border crossings have taken on new meaning, as we hear from Darlene Van Straten.
Darlene Van Straten, who before retiring spent her career as a technical writer, comes to us from Portsmouth, RI.
