Eve Bryason, whose hometown is Perth, Australia, which is often referred to as the City of Lights, came to College of the Siskiyous for the annual Wesak celebration that was held the weekend of May 12th.  During her 5-day stay, she visited with COS International Director, Kathy Williams, toured the Weed Campus and attended the Wesak activities. 

        Wesak is held annually in locations around the world.  It is an ancient spiritual festival that has been held for thousands of years.  It is celebrated the week of the full moon in the astrological sign of Taurus.  It is a celebration of Buddha and a personal journey of individual spirituality renewal.

        The first Wesak festivals began in a hidden valley, known as the Wesak Valley, which is located in the Himalayan Mountains.  People still journey from around the world to this same peaceful valley to renew their spirituality.

         Eve Brysason, age 74, is now enjoying her second around-the-world trip.  Leaving from Australia, she first stopped off in New Zealand and then traveled on to the US, and Weed.  As she continues on, she plans to visit several places within the Northwest  (Weed, Redding, San Francisco, and a 16-day trip through the Grand Canyon), then on to Canada, the UK (England, Ireland and Scotland), Sweden, Austria and France.  She will also visit a very small island off of the coast of France known as Taize.

         She said, “I have met people of all ages, most recently a 23 year-old woman, who is a NASA Scientist and another woman engineer who walked from Mexico through Oregon.  Many people are backpacking through countries all over the world, a lot of these travelers are in their 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s.  “Young women are doing all sorts of things women have never done before!  These women are indeed on the cutting edge.  When I was a young woman, during the depression years, there simply were not the multitude of opportunities there are today,” said Ms. Bryason.

         She is traveling as a member of SERVAS, an organization known as a family of peace builders. SERVAS is a worldwide hospitality network, offering “open doors” for national and international travelers.  Servas means, “we serve,” in Esperanto and was adopted to denote the spirit of international mutual service that characterizes this extraordinary movement.

          U.S. Peace Activist Bob Luitweiler, first sowed the seeds of the Servas organization in 1948 during his four-year journey from Denmark, through war-torn Europe and the Near East to India’s ashrams.  He did so in an effort to heal the social rifts caused by war. 

          SERVAS is a cooperative home stay program.   It has organizations in existence throughout the world.  Each national SERVAS group, more than 130 in all, is autonomous and establishes its own criteria for approving hosts and travelers, setting fees and publishing host booklets.  SERVAS International is registered in Switzerland as not-for-profit and non-governmental memberships.  The United Nations recognized SERVAS International as an official non-governmental organization in 1973 and the U.S. organization in 1998. 

          Eve began her travels in 1989, with a trip to India.  She said, “I quit smoking in 1982, and decided to save the money I would have normally spent on cigarettes for travel.  By 1989 I had enough to begin my first journey.”  

          She said the miracle of travel is the opportunity to meet people.   She feels many are very unique.  She truly enjoys finding and seeing the many wonders of our planet. “This planet is far more beautiful and unique than words can describe,” said Eve.

          “The world is beautiful, no matter where you go, as long as you look for the beauty in nature and the people.   I treasure the many friendships I have today -- with people from all over the world.  It is true, all people have the same wants and needs, all seek happiness, and everyone wants their families to be healthy.”   Eve continued, “ I truly enjoy having the opportunity to learn about the many countries through the people I meet as host families.   In return, I too, love to host to those traveling through Australia.”    She said by sharing meals, spending time in personal conversation, and the personal introduction into the hosts local community life, through the hosts eyes, provides a much richer dimension than ever found as a hotel-based tourist or from the tour guides.

         Asked what is most difficult in planning a 12-month trip, Eve laughs, and says it is always the luggage.  Having traveled around the world twice, she has learned how to travel lightly, yet adequately.  She said she carries a light sleeping bag, two changes of clothing, a light jacket and coat, all in one bag.  That’s it!  For an entire year!

          Having said goodbye to Kathi Williams, Eve departed on Tuesday, moving on with a warm hug and a wave of goodbye  -- that is, until next time.   When she returns to Perth, she will continue to volunteer her time teaching massage to women incarcerated at the women’s prison in Perth.  She does this to help the women to have a vocation upon their release.

           If you are interested in learning more about this world peace organization, SERVAS,  call Kathi Williams  at the Weed Campus, 938-5525 or send an e-mail to Williams@siskiyous.edu.