I wanted to make a list of my overseas/ abroad trips. We always traveled a lot because my parents are from South Africa and Germany and we have relatives in five or six countries (more now) so we were always visiting and whatnot. With my dad’s help, here it is:
- 1982 March-April: South Africa, Holland and Germany, Düsseldorf for my Opa’s 70th
- 1984-85 Dec/Jan: England, Gloucestershire, South Africa (the never-ending Christmas presents in 3 countries)
- 1985 July: South Africa, surprise trip for my Grandpa’s 75 birthday (the last time I saw him)
- 1987 April: Germany, my Opa’s 75th; Holland, Düsseldorf, Köln, Nürnberg, Regensburg (Bischoffshof), München (except Frauenkirche inside*)
- 1988 August: Germany, my Oma and Opa’s 50th wedding anniversary, Black Forest, Düsseldorf, London
- 1991 March-April: South Africa, Johannesburg, Kruger Park
- 1992 April: Germany, Aachen, Holland, Belgium, Düsseldorf for my Opa’s 80th
- 1993-94 Dec-Jan: South Africa, Hermanus, Pilanesburg
- 1994 March: Canada, Niagara Falls
- 1994 July-August: England and Netherlands with Alex, first trip without my parents
- 1995 July & August: Germany, Solingen, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Austria briefly
- 1995 October: Germany, my Oma’s 80th in Berlin
- 1997 March: Hong Kong and China with my Mom
- 1997 May: Canada, Niagara Falls
- 1998-99 Dec-Jan: South Africa, Vic Falls (Zimbabwe, Zambia), Kruger, Cape Town
- 1999 April: Canada, Toronto
- 2000 May: Italy, Alex’s graduation
- 2001 January: England, with Andy Chadwick
- 2001 March: South Africa, my Granny’s 90th
- 2002 Summer: living in Germany, Stuttgart, Behr Group, side trips to France and Switzerland (and America for the weekend)
- 2003 May: Greece, my graduation
- 2004 Sept-Oct: South Africa and Tanzania, my dad’s 60th
- 2005 February: Mexico, Cabo San Lucas
- 2005 April: England, London for my cousin’s wedding
- 2006 February: Mexico, Playa del Carmen
- 2007 Jan-Feb: South Africa, Swaziland, my mom’s “40th”
- 2007 August: Kauai, Hawaii
- 2007 Aug-Dec: living in Taipei, Taiwan
- 2007 September: Indonesia; Thailand
- 2007 October: Hong Kong, China, Macau; Kaohsiung (TW)
- 2007 November: Japan (Kyoto, Tokyo)
- 2007 December: Taroko, Kinmen (TW)
- 2008 February: Zihuatanejo, Mexcio
- 2009 February: Maui, Hawaii
- 2009 August-December: South Africa (Cape Town, Ingwavuma); London for a day
- 2010 Jan-Dec: South Africa (Cape Town, Ingwavuma), Lesotho, Zimbabwe, World Cup, road trips
- 2011 June: Canada (Toronto)
- 2012 August-September: France (Paris, Villiard de Lans), Iceland
- 2013 May-June: Peru
- 2013 December: Hawaii
The counts are, I think.
South Africa: 7 (8th in January) 8 11
Germany: 7
England: 5
Netherlands: 4
Mexico: 3
Hong Kong, China: 2
France: 2
1 each: Taiwan, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Tanzania, Indonesia, Thailand, Macau, Lesotho, Iceland, Swaziland, Japan
Averages (per year of my life):
Countries: 1.38
New countries: 0.62 (or one every 1.6 years)
South Africa: 0.27 (or once every 3.7 years) (this will lower to once every 3.3 years in January)
Germany: 0.27 (or once every 3.7 years)
England: 0.19 (or once every 5.2 years)
*The Frauenkirche Incident as I call it. We’d toured Germany and went to famous churches in every town. By Munich, I’d had enough so I said “I’ve had enough! No more churches!” and sat down outside the Frauenkirche. Much to my surprise my parents said “Fine.” and they cycled in with my brother. I still have not been inside the Frauenkirche. It is on my to-do list.
Note: updated 13 Oct 2007.
Note: Updated 22 Jan 2008
Note: updated 1 Jul 2009.
Note: updated 26 Jan 2010
Note: updated 15 Jan 2014