By Transitions affect people. Here on the road transition is constant. In a matter of hours – sometimes even minutes, we move from one campground to another, from one country to another, one site to another, one museum to another, one cathedral to another.
As the travel coordinator, I considered that part of my job was to make these transitions as smooth as possible. However, I have learned that it almost never works. Why? Because 38 people invoke reactions to transitions that are unpredictable. In just under 3 weeks, our traveling community has transitioned into 5 countries, 9 cities, visited over 20 sites, have spent 23 nights sleeping on the ground, checked in and out of 10 campgrounds. And within each of these adjustments come 38 responses and experiences that all my senses can attest to. Just yesterday, we visited the Eagle’s Nest (Hitler’s diplomatic mountain retreat) and for whatever reason some wanted to linger longer, others wanted to run, and still others went unbothered. It is not the only job of the coordinator to make sure that each transition is undemanding or uncomplicated (although many people feel that it is) or even fabricate an amazing response, however it is my job to make sure that with each transition and with each person, time and space for process and progress occur within.
Shelley Kadatz