Hello
everyone.Ever wonder why we love to travel so much? We can’t help it. We were born with wanderlust and curiosity and science has now confirmed it. The need to travel and explore is in our DNA and we simply can’t help it.
This week I read a couple of articles about the Wanderlust gene. For you science fans, the gene is identified as DRD4-7R. Those who have this gene share a history of traveling among other traits. It is estimated that about 20% of the population has it. (Should we consider DNA testing to identify potential new members for FFD so we can recruit them?) It is more prevalent in societies where people, including their ancestors, have migrated longer distances and is more common in North and South America. Look at the backgrounds of the people in these places and it is easy to see that most immigrated or had ancestors who migrated to these continents.
There is more to this gene than just a need to travel. David Dobbs of National Geographic said a mutant form of the Wanderlust gene “…results in people who are more likely to take risks; explore new places, ideas, foods….” People with this gene “…generally embrace movement, change and adventure.”
I know this gene runs in my family. My favorite aunt and her daughter were always on the go to see new places and have new adventures. Her favorite saying was “Let’s go!” and off she would go. I have this gene too. I am truly happy when traveling or planning my next trip. I’m always trying new places, especially new ethnic restaurants and cultural fairs. I now believe this gene influenced my career. I went into international law so I could travel. Unfortunately, I started this work at the same time technology lessened the need to travel for work. Was my timing off or what? But, I could email or phone anyone anywhere in the world for work and I did many, many times. I traveled vicariously through the work we did in other countries, in emails and calls with employees and other people in those countries. I met some wonderful people this way.
Does this describe you or someone you know? Like everyone in Friendship Force? I’ve told you my story. Now tell us how this gene has influenced you. I know every one of you has a story and understand yourself better now you know you have the Wanderlust gene. Send us your story and Felicity will print as many as she can in the next edition of this newsletter.
In friendship,
Mary Latham
Comments:
Pat Andeweg
As a child, we lived all over England and Scotland on account of my father's work. I think I added up the number of schools I had attended once...13!! After getting my SRN (State Registered Nurse) it was off to Malaya for nursing with the Australian Red Cross mostly in the jungle and running a kindergarten from which I soon got fired… used to let the kids do what they liked whilst I read! Back to UK from Singapore with stops in India, Suez and a few other places.
After midwifery in London, shocked my poor mother by signing on with National Iranian Oil Company for a position in Iran. All my friends were headed for Vancouver but I thought that too tame. Two years in Iran with side trips to Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq then hitch-hiked back to UK, at least as far as Rome, when winter set in and I had no warm clothes so flew to UK but not until I had roamed Lebanon, Damascus, Turkey and Greece.
Then my brother, who had settled in Australia, suggested I join him so I decided to see the USA en-route. Met Frits and we married one month after meeting so, although I’ve made many visits to OZ and have seen much or that country, I’ve never actually lived there. However, Frits and I travelled and lived in in Europe and made various travels around the world.
Since he passed, I have catered to my more adventurous streak...Panama, India, the Amazon. Now I am in Scandinavia...very pleasant but a bit English...high tea and all that on a PO liner with OZ family. Can't wait until I set off for Indonesia in Sept. Got to make the most of every opportunity at my age!
Julia Cooper
Summer 1960 my family and I went on a 2 week car tour of Devon and Cornwall. It poured with rain every day and my sister and I constantly argued. Upon return home my father announced that that was our last English vacation. Next year we went to San Sebastian, Spain. I was 12 years old and I haven't stopped travelling since then.
At 23 years of age I came to Dallas, knowing no one, but as a newly graduated RN ready for an adventure. When Art was working hard, I took off often on an adventure alone. 2009 found me in a wonderful safari lodge in Zimbabwe. On arrival in Johannesburg most of my US Dollars were stolen. The Zimbabwean currency was completely devalued so no money in ATMs. Credit cards were not accepted. No souvenirs that trip.
2012 I took off to Kenya, again, alone. None of the safari tours were what I wanted. So, with the help of a travel agent in Nairobi, we put my own private tour together. There were a few low points (like the travel agent not paying National Park fees which were quite substantial) but the adventure was incredible…. being the only passenger in a 6 seater plane and circling around Mount Kilimanjaro several times or sitting on the balcony of my chalet and having an elephant walk by.
Travelling is definitely in my genes. My little granddaughter in San Francisco, at the age of 8, has already been to 21 countries. I hope I can keep travelling but I think, now, closer to home.
Paula Rose
I know I have the "travel gene". How?? In fourth grade viewing photos of Machu Picchu, I said ‘I'm going there someday’ much to the derision of my classmates in the little Texas town where I grew up. Well, I made it thanks to Friendship Force and Ray Enstam (El Rey).
Then I remember the song Faraway Places with Strange Sounding Names and I took that to heart. Y'all know I have a song for everything. This too influenced me when my classmates thought a trip to Dallas was the ultimate!! I will never forget singing this with Peggy Benton who also had the same inclination in her small Kentucky ‘holler’ when she heard it.
So fellow travelers, what are your stories of the travel gene and how do you know you have it?? This will be our topic at the Sat 8 meeting. Gerry Arens will present his trip to Norway. See you there.
Ray Enstam
Ray has translated and published another book by Arturo D. Hernández. This time it is a collection of short stories called Tangarana and Other Tales. The Tangarana tree in the Amazon has a symbiotic relationship with a particularly fierce form of fire ant. The tree provides accommodation for the ants while the ants protect it from other plants and animals … nothing grows close to these trees! In fact, according to one of the stories in the book, the indigenous people will tie an enemy to the tree, shake the tree and leave the ants to it! Now your appetite is whetted (so to speak)!
The book is available in digital and paper format on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.
Top
May
Meeting
There was no meeting as FF Birmingham AL came to visit us.
In March/April of 2018 we have a Journey going to AUSTRALIA - one week
in Sydney and one week in Gold Coast. (Dates TBA) Sydney visited Dallas
the last week in February this year and Gold Coast was here in Dallas in
2014. Both clubs are friends of ours and this should be a great reunion.
The Ambassador Coordinator is Mary Latham and she should announce dates
soon. Contact Mary 
International
Inbound
< Give one
like this (B card) to people from other clubs that we might like to
visit or have visit us.
FFI
International 
Other
When
you travel with another club you help fill their seats and make new
friends in another club as well as your destination club.