by Paula Giangreco Cullison

Our awesome trip was made so memorable by the warm welcome shown to us by Servas members in Poland, Finland, and Estonia. Gdansk, an important player in the Hanseatic League, was our first stop in Poland. Servas members Ola and Wlod Serwinski met us at the airport in Gdansk, Poland and invited us to spend a few nights in their beautiful home in Kielno.

During the next two days, Ola gave us a tour of the area: visits to Wiezyca, the forested area in the Kashubian region, and to Slawutowo, the medieval folk village. Ola also drove us past the home of Lech Walesa, President of Poland (1990-95) and leader of the Solidarity Movement.

Grazyna Zajder, a local psychotherapist, invited us to her home in Sopot for a delicious dinner. There, we met her husband Mariusz and tourist guide friend Anna Sola, who is also a member of Servas. The next day Grazyna gave us a walking tour of old Gdansk. We stopped to enjoy the local herring specialty at a waterside café.

We also met up with Servas member Wojtek Dabrowski, a retired engineer, who lives in a small house which he built and eats from the garden which he planted. The plot of land was allocated to him and others by the Polish government about 20 years ago. Wojtek met us at our hotel and gave us a walking tour of the Old Town peppered with historic facts. We then took the bus to his home.  Wojtek informed us that anyone who is a Senior can ride public transportation for free in Poland.

Grazyna contacted her colleague Michal and his wife Agata to meet us when we arrived in Wroclaw. Together we visited the Museum of Modern Art and then Tim and I walked through the Japanese Garden. At the hotel, we met a group of women from Ireland who were former marathon runners. Now they enjoy traveling together.

During our time in Krakow, we met up with Ewa and Andrzej Kowalunas at the main square and then headed to a local café that is frequented by members of the arts community. Both are educators. They informed us that education is free in Poland. One can study for as long as one likes – no age restrictions. 

Although we did not have Servas contacts in Warsaw, we did meet up with our friends’ daughter Hania Bethell and fiancé Paul Brzezicki, as well as Matthew Jernstedt, a friend’s former student who now works at the American Embassy, and his wife Kelly, a music teacher. Even though our visit to Warsaw was all too short, we did attend a Chopin concert.

While in Helsinki we met with Servas members Minna and Jarmo at their home for coffee, dessert, and conversation. Both are educators and love to travel. We also met up with Antti Belinskji, an environmental lawyer, whose childhood friend Olli Honkkila is the Honorary Consul of Finland in Arizona. Antti gave us a walking tour of Helsinki with a stop at their new and fascinating Oodi Library. 

In Tallinn, Estonia, we met up with Servas member Jana Reikop, a nurse, and Katrin Alliksaar, a lawyer, whom I’d met via social media, as we shared our interest in opera. Jana met us at our hotel which housed the KGB museum, and we met Katrin for dinner in the Old Town of Tallinn. Both encounters, like the others, made for a special trip.

Note - Click photos for larger view

by Gigi Wahba

Ed. NOTE – We ran only a portion of this article in January, as we missed content on additional pages. This article contains the second part of Gigi's trip with stays at Servas member homes. TIP - There are many photos ... click on ones you wish to see in a larger size.

I spent September and October traveling around the Iberian Peninsula.  I began in Porto and spent 14 days walking the Camino Portuguese, a historic pilgrimage route that follows both coastal and inland paths to eventually reach Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO site.

I traveled solo and stayed in dormitory hostels where there was ample opportunity to socialize but typically at a superficial level: Where are you from?  What language can we speak together? Do you have blisters?... etc.

The second part of my trip I visited Salamanca, Madrid and Sevilla.  In these towns I stayed with SERVAS hosts and took day tours of surrounding towns: Segovia, Toledo, Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas. 

In each home, I was warmly greeted, fed and spent many hours visiting, both in their home and around the towns. It was wonderful to get to speak English again!  While I can get by in Spanish, I missed the deeper conversations that come with fluency. 

My host in Salamanca lived just outside of the old town. Her balcony had a fabulous view. Her neighborhood was special in that they had an ongoing beautification project that hired local muralists.

It’s easy to walk around the small, old town.  I recommend climbing the Leronimus Tower to get great views, particularly of the old and “new” cathedrals that are built next to each other.  The Plaza Mayor is a must visit; it’s especially lively at night.  The areas beyond the UNESCO sites are quite lovely, especially by the river.

Note - Click on photos for larger view

Madrid reminded me of Paris.  Lots of bustling people and traffic, beautiful old buildings, remnants of mighty colonial days, fast talkers, public demonstrations, beautiful parks and art.

My host lived in a nondescript building, but her apartment was stunning--modern, open, well-lit with two balconies.  One had fake grass and beach chairs, which I found quite amusing.  We went out for the evening around 5:00 and stayed out till 11:00, taking the Metro downtown and then walking around.  We came across street performers, a protest march having to do with cancer treatment mess-ups, beautiful plazas, great paella and sunset at the Temple of Debod.  I highly recommend the Museo Reina Sofia which houses contemporary art. -- Picasso’s Guernica is there, now. 

Finally, beautiful Seville! 

My host was in the old Santa Cruz barrio.  Narrow streets with tiled murals everywhere. Her apartment had a beautiful courtyard and rooftop terrace.  We met at the University where she teaches.  Plaza de España is a must see. Moorish influence is visible throughout the city. I stopped for Tapas at a restaurant that clearly had excitement about Spain’s bullfighting heritage.

In the evening, my host and I rode bicycles along the river paths, got dinner at one of her college hangouts followed by a trip to an heladeria (ice cream shop).  We enjoyed great conversation on topics from farming to politics to art. It was wonderful!

by Gigi Wahba

I spent September and October traveling around the Iberian Peninsula. I began in Porto, Portugal, and spent 14 days walking the Camino Portuguese, a historic pilgrimage route that follows both coastal and inland paths to eventually reach Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO site. Santiago, St. James, is the patron saint of Spain.

I traveled solo and stayed mostly in dormitory hostels. There were ample opportunities to socialize but typically at a superficial level: Where are you from? What language can we speak together? Do you have blisters? Do you have a cure for blisters? And so on.

The second part of my trip I visited Salamanca, Madrid and Sevilla. In these cities I stayed with SERVAS hosts and took day tours of surrounding towns: Segovia, Toledo, Rondo and Sentenil de las Bodegas.

Each host greeted me warmly, fed me generously, and spent hours visiting with me and in many cases took me around their town. It was wonderful to get to speak English again! While I can get by in Spanish, I missed the deeper conversations that come with fluency.

In Salamanca, Spain, my Servas host, Maria, lived just outside of the old town. Her balcony had a fabulous view, and her neighborhood. It was special in that they had an ongoing beautification project that hired local muralist.

View of Maria's neighborhood from the San Jeronimo Bridge

Preparing Servas for Future Growth

by Lisa Gariépy Aiken

Prior to our departure, we personalized over one thousand donated world population maps with stickers promoting Servas, and I created and photocopied 500 little booklets about Servas which were folded by fellow Massachusetts Servas members at a dinner we hosted. These freebies and other promotional materials prepared months earlier were loaded into our minivan. On Saturday, November 15^th, eager to share Servas with the 5,000 members expected to attend this event, Tom and I set off for Louisiana.  

Along the way, we overnighted with generous Servas members. In Pennsylvania, our hosts Bill Magargal and Marie Spodek showed us their beautiful fiber art creations and gave us a tour of their vibrant retirement community. In North Carolina, Leena shared her Gujrati culture with wonderful meals and conversation. In Georgia, we laughed and chatted over a delicious Thai meal with Angela and Kevin Coffey. In Mississippi, we had great discussions about living in that area with Gail Barton who introduced us to her lovely pets.

Esther DeJong & Harley Winer, our New Orleans hosts, went above and beyond making our stay comfortable and easy while we were tabling at the convention. We are extremely grateful for all these wonderful people who hosted us along our journey.

As a retired foreign language teacher, I hadn’t been to an ACTFL convention in 38 years and wasn’t exactly certain what current teacher gatherings were all about. All I knew was that language teachers are my people and that I would be preaching to the choir if I could explain what Servas is in a short amount of time. This is no small feat if you know all that our organization does. We are not only a peace organization focusing on homestays and travel, Servas has many opportunities for its members, including participation at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women meetings, volunteering at Peace Schools around the world, and involvement with Servas artists, to name a few.

The convention attendees included traditional foreign language instructors of all levels, from preschool through adult learners, as well as administrators, consultants and teachers of English as a Second Language and American Sign Language. We came to recognize that the other 160 exhibit hall vendors of all types of products were also potential future Servas members.  

As we spoke with people during the three-day event, we learned more about our audience. Most people including vendors were from the United States; however, to our surprise, there were many attendees from four other continents. Perhaps Servas will also have an increase in membership in other member countries as a result of our efforts?  

We were astonished that not a single person out of the hundreds we spoke with had heard of Servas. Once they understood the concept of Servas, people were amazed that such an organization exists. They could see how a Servas membership could be useful in their own lives, those of their own children, and those of their students.

There was such enthusiasm that a few people came back to the table to let us know that they texted their young adult child about the SYLE (Servas Youth Language Experience) program and already heard back that their child intends to join. We hope our efforts at the convention will be fruitful to meet our goals of increasing membership.  

The convention ended yesterday, and we still needed time to digest the many conversations and takeaways. I plan to circle back in a future newsletter article with updates from this event.

By Tim Sullivan

My spouse, Charlotte and I had the great opportunity to attend the Servas international conference (SICOGA) in Dijon, France this October. We planned a little time before and after the conference to visit a few other countries. We started in Ireland and worked our way through Wales and England, into France, then down to Spain and we flew home out of Lisbon.

One of the fun things we love to do is taste all the special food dishes from each area we visit. We took photos and wrote stories to send to our families and friends. The real purpose of this article is not to talk about the food we experienced but to advocate for Servas travelers to take advantage of Day Hosts. We did stay with five or six overnight hosts but in many communities, we stayed in hotels. One of the great joys of Servas is getting to know local people who always lead us to experiences that we would never find if we stayed in hotels. Day hosts are a great opportunity to do just that. They love to show off their communities and they always seem to be really interesting people. 

In The Basque City of San Sebastian, we connected with two different families of day hosts. Our first evening Marijo showed us around her lovely city and of course shared a meal with us. It was great fun trying a bit of local Basque food and wine.

Late the next afternoon Anouk picked us up and took us to completely different parts of the city including several mysterious places that housed ‘Secret Gastronomical Societies’. These are private groups that come together on a regular basis to cook food and enjoy their friend’s company. That evening she and her spouse Juan invited us to the ‘Secret Gastronomic Society’ they belong to. Now, what's the chances we would have been invited to this gathering if we had not connected with Day Hosts? You can see from the attached photo that we had a great time getting to know this group of friends. They meet every week with 10 to 15 friends to eat together, usually small bites of their favorite foods. This night we had the opportunity to taste many Basque Country food favorites, wine and a local sparkling cider.

So maybe the next time you're staying in a hotel in a new city. Check and see if there is a day host in town and possibly you too will get invited to a secret society.

by Tim Lynch

Back in 2003, I promised my lovely, newly married French bride Régine that I’d show her America. Fast forward to 2025—promise kept! We packed up, hit the gas, and completed a 141-day, 14,500-mile odyssey (April 20–Sept 14) across the U.S. and Eastern Canada. In the immortal words of Simon & Garfunkel, we went “Off to look for America”—and, good news, we actually found it. Spoiler: it’s as exciting and inviting as advertised.

What made it unforgettable?

Of course, the showstoppers were the American National Parks—each one a world-class natural cathedral. But honestly, in these chaotic and turbulent times, the biggest gift was rediscovering the kindness, laughter, and joy people carry around like spare change. And most specifically a huge shout-out to our SERVAS hosts, who for 21 of those days welcomed and revived we road weary vagabonds like long-lost family members with bottomless hospitality.

Our Travel Anthem 

We took our cue from Walt Whitman’s Song of the Open Road (1856):

“Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.”

Whitman said he doesn’t ask for good fortune—he is good fortune. We figured that was as good a travel motto as any.

Along the Way, We Became…

Adopted grandparents to sweet Vivee & Cameron—courtesy of the delightful Megan and Colin King in Albuquerque, NM (April 26–28). Little did they know, they spoiled and filled us with hugs and road-trip stories. Potluck pilgrims thanks to the radiant Tashima Wildrose, who swept us into her meditation circle and community feast in Santa Fe, NM (April 29–May 2). Inner peace plus casseroles = winning combo. Resurrected travelers when Carole Putnam welcomed us to her heaven in Fresno, CA (May 27–29). We all joined Shawn Joost for an evening that was refreshing like a “spa treatment,” only with friendship, food, song and laughter. Surfside philosophers-therapist with Larry Soll— He transfixed us with his life of the quintessential California surfer-dude-musician—in Trinidad, CA (June 17–20). We didn’t quite hang ten, but we nodded like pros. Home builders (and we the admirers) with Christine and Alan Amdahl in Sioux Falls, SD (July 11–13). Their stunning new builds—and equally stunning hospitality—made us feel like long-lost cousins who’d finally shown up. Medical marvels with Dr. Mary Winnett and her wonderful son in Minneapolis–St. Paul (July 17–20).  Healing stories, heartwarming conversations, and shared lives that made our road to and their presence feel like we’d arrived home. Sauna daredevils with Andrea and Andre Welz in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada (July 22–25) intimately brought us into their amazing world.  Picture this: roasting in a wood-fired sauna, then launching ourselves into Lake Superior. Shock, awe, and a few shrieks. Worth every goosebump. 14,500+ miles. Dozens of kind souls. A suitcase full of memories. And yes, Régine has now officially seen America.

by Bill Magargal

Editor’s Note: Deet Lewis is a long-time US Servas host now in her nineties whom Marie and I met in 1998 when she first visited us in Nebraska. She visited us several times in Nebraska and kept inviting us to visit her in Antigua, Guatemala where she has lived since 1993. Finally, in 2013, we did. The photos below are a few that we took during our wonderful visit there. Although Deet’s apartment is too small for overnight hosting, she is a wonderful day host and can give many tips about what to do and see in Guatemala. Below is a recent note from Deet inviting travelers to visit her in Antiqua.

I think you know that I talk to everyone (who might be a foreigner) every morning in the central park.  Today I met my first Greek family and a couple from Utah and Alaska. And yesterday, I took my friend (Sara Diamond) to the Chabad for a delicious Shabbat meal (the rabbi's wife's family is from Morocco, so the food is FABULOUS!) Sara took this photo of me (below) in front of my house and garden (mainly weeds, but also lettuce, spinach and lemongrass -- for a delicious herbal tea!)

I invite you to visit me (and a beautiful town in a marvelous country) in the winter ... especially if you live in a cold place.   I came here 32 years ago to spend one Chicago winter in a warmer place ...  and stayed ... other than birthing my wonderful, beautiful children, the best thing I ever did!

By Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh

Last year fellow Nebraskan, Jacqueline Barnhardt, and I volunteered at the Uganda Peace School. We highly recommend that you consider doing the same! Either there, or at another Peace School  

During the event we connected with David Kabambo from Servas Tanzania to arrange a cultural exchange Servas Safari. During the safari we visited a village on Lake Victoria, had a safari in the Serengeti, visited a local business where disabled men build tricycles for other mobility challenged citizens, visited girls' schools that David has relationships with, and did art with a local artist. We had wonderful cultural experiences while also having a positive impact on the local community.  Prossy, the organizer of the Peace School also organized a tour of Uganda, and to Lake M’Buro on the border of Tanzania where we met David Kabambo.   

If you would like a similar experience, consider volunteering for Uganda's second peace school from the 25th-30th August 2025 in the village of Buyoga (see Open Doors article about this)

by Neil Mooney & Vallerie Chun

For decades, my business and personal travels took me across five continents, immersing me in diverse cultures and forging deep connections. Yet, it wasn’t until my recent journey through France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany as a two-year newbie member of this organization that I truly grasped the magic of travel with Servas. Over twelve nights, my partner Valerie Chun and I, both from Tallahassee, Florida, embarked on an adventure that transcended sightseeing. We traveled with purpose, anchored in meaningful human connections.

Our trip was a balance of stays with four Servas hosts and at three Airbnb's. This allowed us to experience both local hospitality and independent exploration. The generosity and warmth we encountered from our hosts reinforced the organization’s mission of fostering peace through cultural exchange.

Our first hosts, a couple in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, reached out just before our departure, asking for our arrival details. This was surprising, as we had never received their accommodation offer. Nevertheless, their enthusiasm was undeterred, and they insisted we cancel our hotel booking to stay with them instead. Their hospitality exceeded all expectations.

We arrived early after a long flight into Frankfurt. They welcomed us with a cheese, sausage, and German bread luncheon feast before leading us on an 8-kilometer walk through their historic town. Dinner that evening was another spectacular affair, featuring homegrown ingredients and organic produce from a farm where they volunteer. Conversation stretched late into the night, covering everything from culture to politics to gardening. The next morning, after yet another lavish meal, they pressed three bottles of homemade jam into our hands as parting gifts. With warm hugs, we set off for the Vosges region of France and returned late that night to another welcoming German home in the Saarland.

Visiting a WWII concentration camp in the Vosges provided a poignant reminder of the very purpose behind Servas—promoting peace and understanding across borders. Later that day, our Saarland Servas hosts welcomed us into a beautiful home they had partially built themselves, complete with wooden floors, walls, and ceilings. Though their work commitments limited their time with us, we shared a memorable two evenings, cooking them a Southern U.S. Gulf of Mexico classic— seafood and grits. It was a delightful exchange of cultures over home-cooked food.

After a few days of independent travel in France, we arrived in Lille, where another extraordinary Servas experience awaited. Our hosts, equally as generous as our German friends, treated us to a “simple” French peasant meal—steak in cream sauce served over magnificent pomme frites, fresh bread, and an incredible cheese platter for dessert.  During dessert they shared their emphatic commitment to Servas’ mission of peace promotion. The next day, they joined us on an extensive walking tour of Lille’s historic center.

They then invited us to observe a Servas interview for two prospective new members—an exceptionally talented multiracial and multilingual couple about to embark on a 15-month world journey. Valerie and I are a multiracial couple too, so diversity certainly abounded. The interview unfolded in a unique way: musically. The couple were buskers, and for the first time Valerie and I sang in French. In return, we were encouraged to perform a Woody Guthrie song. The musical exchange lasted over an hour, embodying the spirit of cultural integration that Servas nurtures.  

The following morning, with heartfelt double-cheek kisses all around, we set off for Belgium, en route to our final Servas stop in Limburg, Netherlands. Our Dutch host had planned an unforgettable day, balancing history, adventure, and cuisine. We toured monastic schools and breweries, explored an underground coal mine, visited two different centuries-old bakeries, and dined on dishes from the former Dutch colonies. The legacy of war was prominent in Limburg as well, where Germany’s Siegfried Line’s dragon’s teeth presented a stark contrast to France’s Maginot Line in Alsace-Lorraine.

The remainder of our trip took us through Belgium, Luxembourg, and additional German cities, but it was our Servas encounters that truly defined our journey. These experiences were not just highlights; they were the heart and soul of our adventure. Servas has shown Valerie and me a new way to travel—not just as visitors, but as participants in a global community dedicated to peace and cultural understanding. After all these years, I can’t help but ask: Servas, where have you been all my life?

Today we see more and more women, solo female adventurers, taking the world by storm, embarking on the adventures of their dreams by themselves. There are several reasons why some women prefer to travel alone, even if they have people who want to go with them or not.

A few years ago, it was a bit uncommon to hear about women travelling alone, mountaineering, exploring the world with a backpack, riding a bike from one continent to another.... As a matter of fact, women have been subjected, throughout the years, to different kinds of discriminations, which sometimes makes it more challenging for a woman to go on an adventure, on her own.

In 2022, Servas International compiled a video entitled "Women Traveling Alone". The video features six Servas women travelers who enjoy travelling alone. As members of Servas, they know that, at the end of the day, they can always have the pleasure of a nice company, a warm meal or someone to talk with, as they meet other Servas members on the way. Here is a link to the Women Traveling Alone video.