Jumping continents: Storytelling between friends

If I smell of woodsmoke and feel a little tired from waking to see dawn then generally I have just enjoyed a wonderful time. The sun broke through midwinter for our 3 days together which were packed with storytelling; less of the places each of us have ventured to, more about all the incredible people we have found there.

While working in Greece Guni became friends with her reflexologist, who is Iranian and had been one of its first female engineers and teaching in a university until she raised her firey voice too loudly against the revolution and fled with her 5 year old son across the border. Of course she was immediately abandoned by her driver, who also took all her possessions, documents and money with him and so she and her boy were standing alone with the fist full of money her brother had secreted into pockets during their farewell hug. By strength and via an apple picking, refugee status an IT business and eventually reflexology, she survives in Athens, where Guni met her and eventually travelled to Iran with her, to see her home village. Just one story of a remarkable journey of people who prompt and inspire and give courage and reminders of humility as we freely enjoy our ability to roam the world.

Guni said she was happily return to Iran by herself; she was warmly welcomed, enjoyed incredible hospitality wherever she went, whether alone or not. It is something to think about for a new adventure.

Almost everywhere I have travelled, I have ended up going twice, despite never expecting to see the place again. It took 14 years to come back to South Africa but it was a wonderful luxury to have the chance to see these phenomenal mountains again, and to meet the women who first imbibed a huge sense of possibility into me.

Thank you Deutschlanders & Co!