Last winter, while visiting family in California, Colby and I went for a walk to kill some time, enjoy the sunshine and to talk. Most of our conversation revolved around his latest idea to do more traveling - not a surprising topic of conversation for anyone who knows my son. This time the plan was not just a January Term trip abroad, like he had done before, this was for a full semester of study at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. As parents tend to do, and like Sandy and I had done before, we met this new idea, initially, with many reservations, questions, and doubts.
By the time Colby and I started our walk, We had begun thinking of the trip as a genuine possibility. As Colby and I talked, we tossed around some crazy ideas related to his trip. One of the crazy ideas was for me to come visit him during his break in the middle of the semester. At the time we laughed about it, but the wheels had begun to turn and we both knew it was an idea that wasn’t going to simply fade away.
As details for Colby’s semester in the Netherlands came into focus and the possibility turned into a reality, the idea of my visit resurfaced from time to time. As we threw out possibilities, there was the persistent perception that these were just crazy ideas destined to fade into oblivion, like so many crazy ideas before. At some point, however, Sandy began to take the ideas seriously and finally said, “you should go!”
I have an awesome wife!
Before I could really commit, though, Sandy needed to tell me many more times that I should go and convince me that the trip would be worthwhile. I had no problem understanding that it would be an incredible way to spend time with my son, but hearing Sandy express it gave the whole thing more credibility. She has been tremendously encouraging through the preparation, not just in words, but also in sacrifices she has been willing to make.
Did I mention that my wife is awesome!
As this crazy idea became a crazy reality, we all began talking in earnest about the trip. The one week visit in the middle of the term turned out to be too complicated and too rushed, so we discussed going early, before Colby’s school actually started. This seemed much more workable, so we started brainstorming. As the ideas poured out of our heads, one week became two and then nearly three as the list of things we wanted to do got longer and longer. For our final plan (together) we settled on 19 days, six stops, four countries (five if you count a train ride through Belgium), and minimal sleep.
And now it is just two days from happening!
It is hard to express how grateful I am for this trip. There are many elements to it that make it special, beyond the standard thrill of visiting other countries. Above all I get to spend extended, one-on-one time with Colby, something that happens less and less frequently, not because of anything bad, but just because that is how life works as your kids grow up. That is hands-down the best benefit of the trip.
The trip also gives me an opportunity to visit several historical sites from WWII. I plan to visit Utah Beach where my Dad landed five days after D-Day and Maargraten Cemetery where his brother was buried after being shot down during the war. There will be something special about seeing where my father was during the war and sharing that with Colby, so he understands the sacrifice that was made by his Grandpa, and others. It will, no doubt, be much different than just reading facts in a history book!
Having family roots in the Netherlands (the Wayenberg name is Dutch), has a special appeal as well. I have always thought it would be interesting to visit the country of my forefathers, just because. That also means that I have distant relatives there, including Marinus, who knew my father, and knows others in my family. I have never met him, but he has already made Colby and I feel like, well, family! I am looking forward to spending time with him and his wife Anja and learning more about the Netherlands.
Of course there will be some amazing attractions, totally unrelated to these things, but it is the time with Colby, and the connections to my dad and family that will, ultimately, make the trip most worthwhile.
During the next month, I am going to utilize my blog as a journal, of sorts, to chronicle my experiences and thoughts (“Planet Visitor” will take on a slightly different meaning!). Like much of what I write, I am doing this mostly for myself, but I am inviting anyone who is interested to “eaves drop” at your own risk. My hope is that the trip will be more than a sight-seeing tour (although there will be plenty to see) and will stimulate some unanticipated insights. I have no idea what that might be, at this point, but hopefully there will be something worth writing and worth reading!
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