We firmly believe that rich people have money while wealthy people have time. We wanted to be wealthy. Bette’s bout with leukemia three years ago reminded us how short life can be, making time even more precious. Also, the provisions of No Children Left Behind have made creative teaching obsolete. The only thing worse than bored students is a bored teacher.

3. You found out about Servas in the 1970s. How did you hear about this organization and what was your first travel experience like?

A friend, Mimi Rosen, took a three-year vacation from teaching in the 1970’s and learned about Servas in Australia. We thought it sounded too good to be true, but the organization has gone beyond our high expectations. We first traveled through Scandinavia, hitchhiking while meeting interesting local people from all walks of life.

4. What other countries have you travelled to through Servas? What kinds of people from what places have you hosted in your home? What makes Servas travel so special to you?

We have made Servas visits in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, U.S., India, Western Europe, Malta, and Singapore. A visit to Thailand is upcoming. Our listing says that families are especially welcomed. We’ve hosted many Europeans, North and South Americans, Indians and Japanese. Our cultural most distant visitor was a student from Bhutan. Servas allows people to see the places they are visiting from the inside. We come to understand what makes a society what it is: daily routines, wedding albums, leisure activities, meals, and raising of children.

5. Please tell us about your 3 favourite or most memorable travel stories.