Holly Zimmermann

A home exchange? What a great idea! Right? Well, that depends on who you talk to. It's not for everyone, I suppose. Most of my friends said they could never do it, could never trust strangers in their own home. My response was simply that everything that I value is coming with me. And I wasn’t referring to what was in my suitcase. The preparations were intense. On top of the regular packing and planning for our trip, there was the additional burden of preparing the house for the other family. I wrote a four-page summary of information complete with instructions on the proper operation of the dishwasher, TV, washing machine, computer, navigation system, coffee maker, etc. Plus, recycling instructions, baby sitter telephone and emergency numbers. Of course the house had to be in tip-top shape, with fresh bedding and towels, as well as waste and laundry baskets emptied. By the time we left, I was exhausted. We swapped cars too. Why not? A rental would have cost n...

Sometimes I forget that I am living in a foreign country as I pass through my day without taking notice of the differences in my surroundings that had kept me so entertained when I first moved here. But then, when I'm not paying attention, I come across a scene which reminds me that I'm a long way from home.

Cuba Visited and written in 2003 Growing up in the USA we, as Americans, have the right to enjoy many freedoms including the right to travel, the right to speak our minds in a public forum without prejudice, and the right to open and run our own businesses. Oddly enough, one limitation to American freedom is that we may not travel to Cuba. Well, actually we are allowed to travel there but the Treasury Department has put restrictions on Americans spending money in Cuba because they believe that it slips through the hands of the people and ends up in the coffers of a government ruled by a Communist party. After just having spent eight days in Cuba, I can honestly say that I am a supporter of this policy, but for different reasons than that of the Treasury.

We ride our bikes along the old tractor paths through the fields of wheat, a gentle breeze blowing the grain in mesmerizing patterns. The way is covered with stones and ruts and sand making it a strenuous trek even for a mountain bike. Despite the effort I force myself to enjoy my surroundings, I look up and try to absorb it all, not only the golden fields but the tall dark evergreens in the distance and the blue sky beyond. There is no one here except for us. He looks back to check my progress, a little slower these days due to the pregnancy, and I smile at his concern. He stops a moment to check our direction and points out a bee-house on the next rise, breathe through your nose as you ride by as not to inhale one into your mouth, he warns me, I pull my T-shirt up over my nose and breath normally. The forest engulfs us again and the cool shade is refreshing. I search for wildlife among the trees, perhaps a jack-rabbit, deer or a wild-pig, but I see nothing except birds and ...

One week in Morocco is a wonderful, exciting adventure bringing to life images from great films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Othello and, of course, Casablanca. Two weeks in Morocco provide ample time to see past the beauty of the ancient kasbahs and clearly view the trash, filth, poverty and stench which makes one thankful for having been born in a developed nation which is exceedingly rich by world standards. Ok, that may be a little harsh. I loved Morocco, but after getting extremely sick from something I ate, not to mention being 5 months pregnant, I was pushed to my limits towards the end. Here’s a summary of our trip in 2001, the unabridged version. Overload? We landed in Casablanca on a Sunday afternoon and decided to immediately head south along the Atlantic coast to find a quiet fishing village for our first night of vacation.  Driving out of the city we were forced to share the road with donkey carts, black-smoke spewing diesel cars, antique motorbikes,...

This was written when I first arrived in Germany, in 2000, and actually quite a lot has changed since then. And though I make fun of the Germans, I have really grown to love them despite all their differences, or maybe because of them. Well, I've been living here in Germany for almost two months now and have made some observations of „the good, the bad and the ugly“ that I thought I’d share with you! It’s somewhat lengthy, but the best stuff is at the end so be patient! I’ll start with „the good“ and work down from there…. First of all, I now live in the most beautiful city in the world. Regensburg. The downtown area has buildings dating back to the 11th century and even has a portion of a stone wall which was built by the Romans in 194 A.D. The streets are narrow and cobblestoned, lined with little shops and cafes. There are tiny walking lanes which sometimes open up to courtyards filled with flowers in the window sills of the buildings. Everytime I walk downtown I find ...