Preface

Herders visiting my campsite in northern Shaanxi Province, China, 1989. This was a 3-1/2 month journey I made alone following the death of my father.

Three years ago, my son, Sander, wasn't connecting in school. Wanting to connect Sander to many things (including school), I proposed going on a journey together. We decided on China and Mongolia via the Trans-Siberian through Russia. But we had to pay for it. So we took on extra jobs after school. Our early work was labor intensive and didn't last long. Raising the money wasn't easy and in order to make a journey at all we revised our plans for one we would more likely be able to afford. Because Sander expressed an interest in Mongolian, Tibetan, and Chinese cultures, we decided to travel to Qinghai Province where all three, among others (e.g., Tu, Hui, Salar), thrive. Finding a more affordable flight to China, and focusing on Qinghai Province, was far more manageable. When the local school district asked me to take on additional responsibilities for additional pay, I accepted. Then I landed a job teaching nights at the Community College of Vermont. After one semester, we had earned enough to purchase airfare tickets. So I did. That was in November, 2009. But that left us with little left over for our other traveling expenses, such as food, lodging, supplies, equipment, visas and various hidden costs we would undoubtedly encounter along the way. Nevertheless, we were determined to make the journey regardless even if Sander had to take his guitar and play on the streets next to a hat while I panhandled. Then CCV offered me another evening teaching gig. That was the clincher! By May, 2010, we had earned enough. It would be tight, to be sure. But it was just in time and after three years of moonlighting we had funded our journey which was rapidly taking on a life of its own.

Special thanks to DH, CH, CL, JH, SR, JL, and the many others who have offered wonderful support in many forms. THANK YOU!

As for our father-and-son journey, I suspect Sander will remember this for the rest of his life. I know I will!

Daryl and Courtenay will drop us off at the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak station on Saturday, July 9, where we will take a train to Penn Station in New York City before finding our way to the JFK International Airport for a flight taking off in the early morning minutes of Sunday, July 10.

This blog will document our journey from my perspective. It will be written in tandem with Sander's. If photos aren't posted during our journey, they certainly will be upon our return.

Brad Houk at home at the wrestling camp in Sullivan County,
Pennsylvania, 1994 (photo by Kelly Houk).