by Fein, Judith
People who go to Grand-Pré often say that the place is an affirmation of life. It refuses to give death the final say. The Acadians represent the strength of human will and the ability to bear and overcome tragedy. There is always hope—not some blind, romantic hope, but a concrete reality, as evidenced by the survival of a decimated people.
Couples can survive the difficulties of marriage. Babies can be fortified to endure the slings and arrows of life. Older people can be brave in the face of loss, disappointment, aging.
Above all, Grand-Pré communicates an authentic history, rather than one whitewashed or compromised to make it easier for visitors. It tells a terrible story, but the spirit of the courageous and enduring people who lived there has been allowed to remain. The site is restorative. Visitors learn how the Acadians worked in harmony with the land and transformed salt fields into fertile farmland. Anything can be transformed. Fields. Tragedy. Life itself. Anything seems possible.
For me, the Acadians’ story is a human story. Any of us can be stricken, but we can rise again and flourish. And we can celebrate that: our own survival and the survival of people and groups of people around us. We can live through physical and emotional disasters, trauma, pogroms, diasporas. Not only can we survive, but we can thrive.
Grand-Pré reminded me of the importance of history. It’s axiomatic that if we don’t know and learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. In a sense, we have different technologies from our human ancestors, but the emotions, moods, needs, wants, and errors of today are the same as they always were in the past. When I am walking and talking with a friend, I sometimes imagine for a moment that we are in ancient Rome, wearing togas, walking in the shadows of a temple, having the same conversation. I am sure that our human essence has not changed over time. People have always complained about their children, their leaders, their parents, their spouses, their work, repairing their homes. They triumphed and failed. History is about people as much as it is about events. I think that the more deeply we penetrate history, the more we understand both.
Some folks learn history from books, others from TV or the Internet. Sometimes it comes through the oral tradition and is passed down in stories and legends. To me, the most powerful and direct way to get involved with history is through travel: wherever I go, I learn about the people who live there and where they came from. I learn all I can. I immerse myself in a culture and try to absorb and remember everything people say about their origins, ancestors, heroes and heroines, migration patterns, mistakes, triumphs, defeats, trading, leadership, allies, enemies, warmongering, peacemaking, challenges, and adaptations to the ebb and flow of existence. I listen because I am inspired by their history and mystery. I listen as though my survival depends upon it because I believe it does.
Every time I travel, every time I encounter people whose lives and cultures are different from mine, I am amazed at how their existence on this blue marble we call Earth adds depth, breadth, perspective, meaning, and joy to my own life.
About the Author
Judith Fein is an award-winning international travel journalist who lives to leave. She resided for more than ten years in North Africa and Europe, where she ran an experimental theatre company and was an actor and director. She is an alumna of the Sundance Institute and worked as a film and television writer in Hollywood for twelve years. She has had ten plays produced in the U.S. and Europe, and one of her short plays has been performed around the world. She was the recipient of a grant from Opera America to create the libretto for the enthusiastically-reviewed opera “Hotel Eden” with composer Henry Mollicone.
Judith has a passion for adventures that are exotic, authentic, quirky, historic and immersed in local culture. She has written travel articles for more than ninety prominent magazines, newspapers and Internet sites. She was a regular reporter for “The Savvy Traveler” on public radio for six years, is Travel Editor of Spirituality and Health magazine, senior travel writer for the San Diego Jewish Journal and Contributing Writer for Organic Spa magazine. She is the editor and co-founder, with Ellen Barone, of the popular website
http://www.YourLifeisaTrip.com. She is an acclaimed speaker for many venues and is known for her informational, humorous and inspirational talks on a wide variety of subjects. She is Vice President of the Travel Journalist Guild and a member of the Society of American Travel Writers. With her photojournalist husband Paul Ross, she produces travel videos, slideshows and does travel performances. Judith and Paul teach travel writing and photography around the globe and sometimes invite friends and appealing strangers to come on trips with them.
Judith’s website is: http://www.GlobalAdventure.us
Acknowledgements and Thanks
To Paul Ross, my husband, partner, soul mate, colleague, friend, editor, clown, teacher, support team, chef, masseur, photographer, videographer, voice-over coach, consoler, shrink, inspiration and man who schlepps the luggage.
To Spirituality and Health magazine, where I am the travel editor. Years ago, I was moaning about having such rich, soulful experiences with other cultures and how difficult it was to place stories about them. “You can write for us,” said editor-in-chief Steve Kiesling. And he meant it.
To everyone I mentioned in the book for gracing me with their time, energy, insights, generosity, knowledge and open hearts. In the past year, Maori elder John Wilson, the High Priest of the ancient Israelite Samaritans and Paca from Sahagun passed away. May their good deeds on earth earn them a peaceful rest.
When one travels as much as I have, it’s easy to feel disconnected and out-of-the-loop when one comes home. Over the years, having meaningful and long-lasting relationships has been extremely important to me. I want to thank my friends for understanding when I am too deluged to talk on the phone and switching over to email. Thanks for the parties, dinners, outings and invites that make us feel cared about and connected.
To Nancy King, who put down her own books to climb inside the soul of my book and offer me brilliant, inspired, generous and spot-on editorial advice.
To Jennifer Hanan for her powerful insights and above-and-beyond-the-call-of-friendship media help.
To Ellen Barone, my partner and co-founder of www.YourLifeisaTrip.com
To Andrew Adleman, who surprised us one day by providing us with www.GlobalAdventure.us, our website.
To my editor, Betsy Robinson, who approached the book with both head and heart.
To my publishers, specifically Victoria, Paul and Matt Sutherland, who committed to Life Is A Trip as soon as I gave them the manuscript.
To friends who have supported my flights of fancy, stayed in touch with me during my travels, kept the home fires burning and made me feel welcomed when I came home: Louise Rubin, Jade Gordon, Debbie Band, Judy Crawford, Devorah Leah and Berel Levertov, Brett Goldberg, Deb Finkelstein, all my Tuesday night buddies.
To friends who have traveled with us to exotic destinations: Judy Backenstow, Kitty Miller, Linda Lenhard, Maida Rubin, Jeremy Faust, Nancy and all our travel writing students.
To friends who welcomed us into their homes: Marla Frumkin + Peter Stelzer, Christine Wilson, Stacy and Todd Sabin, Bob Linden, Abe + Gulhis, Elyn Aviva and Gary White, Benny and Miriam Tsedaka, Ann and Oded Kleinberg, Marc Dupuis.
To my “twalking” (walking and talking) partners: Jennifer Hanan, Jean Ross, Mark Bradley, Susan Paradise, Jill Schwarz, Jan Eigner, Jim Terr, Bobby Mogill, Maura Studi, Erika Eckerstrand, Therese Williams, Paul White, Susan Berk, Linda Braun, Judy Herzl, Aysha Griffin, Jann Huizenga, Barb Alpert.
To much-appreciated cheerleaders: Jodie Rhodes, Maren Rudolph, Barbara and Tim Rogers, Marlan Warren, Wes Studi, Linda and Gary Storm, Diane Lobel, Artemes, Tone Forrest, John Rochester, Tony Grieco, Phil Hoffman.
To all my editors who gave me space, time and income.
To Ellen Valade, who started packing for me when we were in college.
To the Travel Journalists Guild, my travel writing colleagues and friends and the writers on w
ww.YourLifeisaTrip.com
To my mother, Miriam Burstein, and my father, Edward Burstein, who instilled in me a life-long love for travel.
And to the world of friends I have yet to meet and travel with.
The End