Traveling with Fear
You might have guessed already what I’m up to because of my lack of posting or because you noticed on my Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat (@cuckoo4design) that I’m in Germany at my parents’ house.
I was more terrified to travel and fly than ever due to what has been happening in the world lately. The fact is though that if I want to see my family and hometown then I have to no matter how scared I am. We look forward to this trip every year.
My friends all talked some courage into me and told me that I couldn’t let this fear rule me and that they were sure everything would be fine.
I can’t tell you how glad I was when the plane finally landed in Frankfurt. Well then comes the fear of being in an airport and being amongst so many people.
The same day of our arrival something an awful ax and knife attack happened close to our town in a train, actually in one of my favorite towns and where I went to school for a period in my early twenties… Würzburg (I blogged about it HERE)… I used to ride one of those trains to get to school and work. It later was proven and clarified that it was an ISIS related attack (you can read more about it HERE).
It made me want to just hole myself up at my parents but my husband and son had already planned their annual trip by train to Hamburg and surrounding area, so I had to try not to think about what could happen and off they went.
The same day of their return I heard about the Munich attack while we were sitting in a beer tent in my hometown that holds several thousands of people. A large gathering of people like this now makes me fearful with another attack last night at a music festival in Ansbach (read HERE) which isn’t far away either. I’m trying to once again not think about it but I almost find that impossible. How can I not think about it when so many people get hurt?
On one hand you want to keep your family safe but you also want to see your family and enjoy spending time with them. Not only am I afraid of crazy attacks in the US but now in Germany as well where I used to feel safe. Due to the large amount of refugees now living in Europe the governments have lost control over who is in their countries and what they are doing there and I don’t see how they will regain the upper hand again.
We will however keep making the best of it and try to enjoy ourself with the hope of nothing else happening. I’m praying that fear, horror and hate won’t win but love, kindness and being able to live together in peace. Why can’t some humans see it that way?
On a lighter note, this is what happens if your sister-in-law and yourself have the same taste in clothing and don’t talk about what to wear when you go out. We end up wearing the exact same thing 😉
My children however, even though they hear about it everywhere are capable of just enjoying themselves without the constant fear that adults live with. Which is what my father told me him and his friends did during the war. Kids just don’t think about it all that much and live day by day which is such a good thing.
I have some more posts coming up including my son’s blog posts about his food and trips so stay tuned.
Tschüß
(Youleeya)
You can read more travel posts below:
2016
Bamberg
Upside-Down House, Wertheim
Hamburg – St.Pauli (written by my son)
Schwerin, Lübeck
Traveling abroad with fear
you and your SIL are so cute!!! love it! and i am glad you made it there safely! just focus on having a much deserved good time with people you love.
Thanks my friend! I’m trying really hard to do just that
Missing Germany and heart sick about all the attacks but particularly those in Ansbach where we lived. I am not a person who lives with fear and anxiety but the onslaught of non-stop reports in the media can be overwhelming. I try to stay away from listening to it as much as possible just to preserve my sanity. I think the world has been a horrifying place for all of eternity we just didn’t have to hear about it 24/7 in an dramatic format. I think it has also been a wonderful place with amazing, friendly, and loving people but no one seems to feel the need to share that part. Sure you can stay at home and “feel” safe but If you close yourself off to the ugly you also close yourself off to the beutiful as well. I choose to risk the ugly, savor the beauty, and share kindness with others. Enjoy your trip and eat a butter brezel for me!
Wow that was so well said Maggie and so so true
Julia, so sorry all of this has happened while you are in beautiful Germany. I too am fearful when traveling. It is so wrong that we have to fear one of life’s greatest treasures-seeing our beautiful world. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thank you Karen and I so agree that it is wrong and awful
I so totally agree with your feelings of fear of flying.
My husband has to be in Germany in october..i am already nervous…of the flight…of the train ride, of the convention hall. I told him to keep his head up,eyes open, back to the wall and…sorry….think “racial profiling” in the back of his mind.
Thanks for blogging. The fear can be paralyzing, personally I just stopped travelling but don’t feel too bad as I did a lot when I was younger (I am now 66 years old). Enjoy your visit, to do anything else lets ‘them’ win. Stay safe!
Thanks Lynn and I will enjoy my visit because it’s so so nice to see my family
Be safe!
thank you for calling attention to all of these examples-i just don’t see them trending on social media or anything over here. i am sharing them personally on my facebook, and i finally had to upload my vacation photos from austria/germany so there was something positive on my timeline about europe! maybe it’s b/c of the conventions, etc, especially being in philly that is all we are hearing and preparing for, but your sentiments were exactly how i felt in crowds while we were on vacation, and of course even at home. i hope you are able to enjoy yourselves, and sending thoughts for safe travels to your son and husband on their train ride.
I can understand the fear for sure! Luke and I’ve talked about that when we booked trips and I think it’s best to just go and have fun. Things will happen when they happen and we have no control. BUT, I do understand! Hope you are dealing with it and having a grand time!
I can imagine your fear Julia and I’m sure most people would feel the same way. Hope your time with your family is safe and enjoyable.
I am so Happy!! you & your family are OK. But our hearts are often not OK. If you choose not watch the news, it will still happen anyway. I like to stay current but it is a scary thing to watch everyday.
All we can do is keep our eyes open, be aware and keep going. With young children, we adults, can’t hole up and go no where. They would learn fear from us. Your children are learning to get up and move on. And how things are handled when there are troubles. Stay strong, and live your life. Your family is strong.
Have a great time and I love seeing the beautiful pictures.
I love looking at your beautiful pictures of Germany. It is just so picturesque. Thanks!
Beautiful photos, as always. 🙂 Safe and happy travels to you and your family!
Hi Julia, I completely understand how you feel. This year my family and I finally get to go home to Germany and this is what we face. The last 3 events you mentioned are waaay too close to my parents’ home, but, like you said, we cannot let fear rule how we live our lives or the bad guys will have won. So, as I prepare to fly into Munich soon, knowing that my older son and husband will be on the train through Würzburg at the tail end of their trip, I cannot help but think about what could have gone so much more wrong in Ansbach than it did. And with the Olympic games starting soon in Rio, I am always reminded of my very earliest memory of terrorism, the massacre at the “happy games” in Munich in 1972, when I was 8 years old. Terrorism is nothing new, but I sure do wish the people who are so intent on causing others harm would just realize that we are all in this together and that no hateful act will ever bring about the outcome they are bent on achieving.
so glad you made it safely! My aunt and uncle visited Turkey right after the airport bombing (and flew home the day before the attempted coup). They seriously considered canceling the trip, but decided they didn’t want to let fear control how they lived their lives. I’ve loved seeing all your photos 🙂
Oh my gosh, that is a scary thing in Turkey for sure. I don’t know what I would have done.