Inspiration from Abroad

Abstract

I reached London on October 21, 1961, and that was the beginning of a real mind stretching. Armed with the name of the person in charge of my program in each country, letters of introduction from the Washington PAHO office, and a hotel reservation in each capital city, I was on my own. It was a real experience in each country just to telephone for an appointment and find my way to keep it. In each instance, a two-week schedule had been prepared for me. In the Scandinavian countries, these schedules were in two languages. That was a special help when, map and schedule in hand, I had to ask bus drivers, waitresses, and fellow passengers the way to go. When setting out on my travels, I muist admit I had some regret that I would not have more time for sightseeing. On returning home, I feel sorry for those who are only tourists, with however much time and money. They see only things. I was privileged to get acquainted with nursing colleagues and many others and to be entertained in their homes. With public health nurses, I visited in the homes of the economically secure and of those less so, in city flats and in country farmhouses. In each country many families had ready a special greeting for their American guest. What mere castle could supply the memory that an elderly Danish gentlemen gave me by arranging on his record player medleys of American patriotic and folk songs? What museum could equal the experience provided by the Swedish housewife who proudly showed me through her 300-year-old farm house and offered traditional cakes especially prepared for our visit? And what tour guide could explain Finnish tradition as effectively as a visit to the farm home with the 100-yearold kitchen and family room to which a modern home had been