Life in Paris

In a few hours, I will be leaving Paris and traveling to other places in France. My experience has been enlightening!  I admire the French detail in food, education, culture, the arts, and architecture. Properness and etiquette are highly valued...almost to perfection. This morning I even discovered "bikini sandwiches!" 

Out of Your Comfort Zone

     Each day, I am exposed to so many new things...new ways...new ideas...new flavors...new situations. I wonder, if I am making any difference in the lives of others or simply I am the one being changed. However, the other day, I prepared scrambled eggs for my host. My host was not familiar with this style of cooking, but requested that I scramble them a second day, as well, of course with goat milk, topped with goat cheese. We drank rhubarb juice for breakfast...and goat's milk, too! Tomorrow's menu is frog legs and snails...no I am not kidding!

On one occasion, we were traveling and picked up a hitchhiker. I was rather taken back by this move. My host stated that it was the right thing to do. The weathered woman we picked up had limited education and means but was quite grateful. I could not understand her French; I could see it in her eyes. Again, I am being changed.

Last night, I ate octopus for dinner. Anytime, I wonder if I should try something, my host asks me, "You came to learn about French culture, didn't you?"

Yes, this is octopus!

Goose, Mussels, and Sea Snails

"If you want to to understand the culture, 

then you must taste the culture!"

My hosts in France have been amazing, am I am certainly getting a taste of French cuisine!

Perhaps, I have been living a sheltered life in the US, but honestly, I never had thought about eating goose, mussels, vegetable cake, sea snails, mushrooms with veal and French lobster...not to mention pairing these foods with the appropriate wine. Yet, in the last couple of days, these foods have made their way into my mouth. I have enjoyed the various textures and colors.

One of the best moments is sharing the aperitive, prior to the meal. Tonight, the aperitive was cheese cubes, and a previous night, it was pistachio nuts. I like the meal time experience and going to the market for fresh produce, meat, and seafood.


These are individually wrapped cheese cubes, for aperitive. 

Veal with mushrooms

Wine is served several times, daily!

Goose

French Lobster

Sea Snails

Mussels

Imagine

Logic will take you from A to Z. 

IMAGINATION will take you everywhere! Albert Einstein 

Imagine...being in France and your host putting sea shale (from Italy) on your face! Oh...the adventures I am having!

I didn’t make it to Chicago!

Sometimes, it is best to take a different route than planned.

I’m in "The City of Brotherly Love!"❤️

Yet, I was supposed to travel to Chicago. I didn't end up in London, either. Sometimes, the strangest things happen. It is positive to know when to change the course.  Instead, I traveled to Philadelphia.

While in Philadelphia and on the plane, I met some very encouraging people. Robert, who works in television production; Ernie, who works for the airlines; Olga, a lovely, multi-lingual, Russian woman; and Sarah, an accomplished surgeon of ophthalmology. They, all, were encouraging and shared their stories with me, too! I am quite happy that my path crossed with these inspiring individuals! I would not have met them, if I had not changed my route.

This is Olga from Russia. 

Sarah, the surgeon. She says, "We have a choice to be positive or not be positive. Life is better when we make it better for others."

The sleep on the plane was restless. Next destination...Paris!

Don't Wait!

"Don't Wait. The time will never be just right."

Napoleon Hill

Well, it is now time for me to begin my travels. Today, I am off to Nashville, TN, then Chicago, IL, and sometime after midnight, I will arrive in London. By, tomorrow morning about 4:10 a.m., I will arrive in PARIS, France!

I'm excited and grateful for this adventure! It truly is blessing.However, I must admit, the journey ahead is truly a mystery. Perhaps, that is why I like adventure so much. It is like a tale that is unfolding with twists and turns. It makes one stronger...much stronger! 

After 6 months of planning, writing hundred of emails to host families, looking at countless train schedules, maps, and flights. I am ready to let this journey unfold.  Please follow along and see what happens!

Stay hungry for ADVENTURE!

TRAVEL POWER

"Why do you go away?" So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too! Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving." 

Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

In only 2 days, I will get on a plane. This journey will not begin, then...for, this journey began when the vision was put in my heart. Over the last 6 months, I have been reading, researching, and envisioning. Just like a detective, I have uncovered clues and pathways that I will search out. My written itinerary of thousands of miles is only the framework. For in reality, the paths that I actually take will undoubtedly include the twists and turns of adventure. A wise friend of mine once told me, "the essence and desire of all mystery is to be discovered!"

I am a member of "an international non-profit organization that fosters understanding of culture diversity through a global person-to-person network promoting a more just and peaceful world." A couple months ago, I hosted my first traveler, and my son, Jordan will be hosting a couple more in July. On my travels, I will be connecting with people from around the globe. After a series of correspondences by email and phone (often requiring translation,) I have made arrangements to stay with many diverse people along my journey. They include:

2 medical doctors

1 marketing professional

1 voice therapist

1 computer specialist

1 Feldenkrais practitioner

1 doctor of physics

1 professor

4 engineers

3 teachers

2 psychologists

1 journalist

1 music therapist

1 occupational therapist

No doubt, the interactions that I experience by staying in the homes of these intended hosts will be enlightening. I will learn in ways that I could not possibly discover by staying in my familiar routine.

So over the next 40 days, I have 12 flights organized, along with travel, by boat, train, bike, car, ferry, and foot. I will be in countrysides and big cities (Nashville, Chicago, London, Paris, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Munich, Copenhagen, Athens, Lisbon...and More.)

"There's a kind of magic about going far away and then coming back all changed."

                                                                                                                    Kate D. Wiggins

40 Day Adventure...Why?

What if travel is more than a vacation 
for relaxation and entertainment?
What if it is a tool to inspire the world?

Over the last 25 years, I have been teaching, counseling, and motivational speaking
to over 8000 adults, many who desire "more" for their lives.
It is exciting (every now and then) to change things up and
create a colorful life, full of potential, and adventure.
Perhaps, a kind word, smile or better yet, being an example of what it means to
"broaden your horizons" 
could make a difference!

So, I have decided to put this to a test. I'm going to

shake up my own routine

by traveling solo to foreign countries,

staying in homes of the locals, tasting the culture, and 

inspiring people along my journey.

I was born into this world and 
given the name,
Rita Rose Willke (pronounced Will Key)
Hmm... "Will ke"... let me ponder, but first...

"Rita" is for my "Latin-side." It is the side that 
motivate me to study abroad in Mexico 
and teach in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  

"Rose" is for the beauty within, and since many roses are red... the red represents 

my passion to inspire. Oh, and of course, roses have thorns,

which depict my “grit-girl,” fighter side. 

Now… "Willke" that’s something that expresses drive. You see “will” is a choice, and it is the “key.” This name represents the mental power

to go beyond the familiar; 

it involves tenacity, grit, desire, energy, passion and adventure. 

---Life is meant to be lived not merely tolerated.

For 40 extraordinary days...

I am going to put my name to the test.

 During these 40 days  of adventure (on a very tight budget,)

I am going to get out of my comfort zone, explore, and 

discover what it truly means to stretch myself. On my journey,

 I will choose to make a shift

from my daily routine and try something new, 

different or unusual, and  then see the direction my life takes.

 I will consciously look for others to inspire

 in the process. In order to really put this to a test, 

I must leave  the comfort of my home. Therefore, I plan

 to get on an airplane and travel solo

 thousands of miles with a large suitcase and good cheer.

Each day, I will choose to make 

 The "WILLKE IMPACT”... 

that “Po-Po-Patch” moment
 (Mom used to call anything special the “Po-Po Patch,”)

something that stirs hearts to smile!

 

Here’s Mom...My Encourager!

The “WILLKE IMPACT” must be something that
1. I have never done before.
2. It must make at least one heart smile!
3. It must positively inspire another human being

What serendipitous moments will result? We shall see..

I leave the USA in 1 week and plan to live life full of
passion, grit, energy, serendipity and 
calculated risks,
staying in the homes of people from other cultures.
I will be traveling in 7 countries:

ENGLAND

FRANCE

DENMARK

GERMANY

SPAIN

PORTUGAL
GREECE

Who Have Inspired Me?
The answer is simple...
many people! 
However, one couple, in particular,
has made a tremendous impact on me.

This couple is nearing 
100 years old.

He's 96 yrs. old, and she's 91, 
AND they have been together for 72 years!

They are my parents! 

Just a few weeks ago, I traveled with them in

THE GRAND CANYON. They had said,

We've Never Done This Before, So
We Believe That We Can."

96 and 91 Years Old Hiking 
in The Grand Canyon!

Everyone needs to be inspired.

I’m making it my focus to

1. Step out of my comfort zone.
2. Add spice and color to life through different experiences.

3. Inspire people to live life with new eyes.

Mom says, “Rita, do it while you can!”

My dog, “HAPPY” agrees!

Now I must finish packing!