"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers"

My last project when I lived in Korea in 2003 involved directing a production of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" (in English) with students at Dongshin University in Naju. Blanche DuBois' final line in the play is the powerful "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." I find the line quite meaningful, particularly in reference to my travels. Our experience 'seeing the world' this summer is no exception- our experiences were enhanced and facilitated by the kindness of strangers and friends.

So, thank you to those who helped us on our journey.

Thanks for the family and friends who offered travel advice. Thanks to our parents for being supportive of and excited for us. Thanks to Craig's mother for being our travel agent. Thanks to Leah and Zac for loaning us travel backpacks. Thanks to Hildy for bringing our books and things home from Israel. Thanks to our Pardes friends for making each Israeli Shabbat and our experience at Pardes special and wonderful. Thanks to Max/Mordechi and Lee for a fun lunch with the girls. Thanks to Pascale and her family for having us in their home for a Shabbat dinner in Paris. Thanks to David who traveled from Nice to meet us in Paris. Thanks to the Ceplers for taking us out for a delicious meal when our time in Paris overlapped. Thanks to Kate and Jen for taking us out on our first two nights in Korea. Thanks to Sukyoung for showing us the top of Namsam Park and the Seoul Tower. Thanks to Neil and Annette for meeting us late at night because it was the only time they could spare in their busy schedules. Thanks to my host family for opening their home to us and showing us around Naju and Gwangju for three days. Thanks to Dr. Lee for taking us around Damyang and the Bamboo Park. Thanks to Mrs. Lee for cooking us a delicious dinner. Thanks to the many kind and generous Korean strangers we met who offered us directions, food, drinks, rides, help and smiles. Thanks to the Epsteins for hosting us for a Shabbat dinner in Hong Kong. Thanks to Elaine and Joe for taking us around Kowloon. Thanks to Chabad of Bangkok for boisterous and fun Shabbat meals. Thanks to the front desk of the Buddy Lodge for overnighting our passports and my iPod to Koh Samet. Thanks to the Cantor and his wife for inviting us over when we first arrived in Sydney. Thanks to the Levinsons for establishing a special friendship with the Rogers. Thanks to the Rogers family for opening their home and generously being our guide in Melbourne. Thanks to Ros and Richard for being warm and kind hosts, and thanks to Jo and Darren for being our travel companions and tour guides.

I am certain that I inadvertently omitted others who facilitated our journey. The truth is that Craig and I are lucky to have each other, but we relied on the kindness of others to make this trip the dream-come-true that it has been.

Thank you.