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Continued:
Darren White - World Traveler
By
Phil Guidry
"I've worked
my way around, mostly," he responded with the same good nature
and humor that allowed him to escape sticky situations from London
to Hong Kong. "I usually find work at hostels, because they're
always looking for someone who can speak English. And when it comes
to working in a foreign land, that's often my only qualification."
What's even more
impressive is that he's left his footprints on the four corners
of the globe, all the while battling a heart ailment that can severely
limit all facets of his life.
"It's a struggle
sometimes, but I get used to it," he said. "I've learned
when I can push myself, and when I need to take it easy. It can
get scary, when I'm thousands of miles from home and I start having
problems, but it all comes down to knowing yourself and using common
sense. It doesn't matter where you are - you can't enjoy anything
if you're not feeling good."
He told of adventuring
in Turkey, pouring drinks at a pub in Ireland, and trekking across
Burma. As our last day of traveling together neared its close, I
asked him if he planned to settle down once he returned to the United
States.
"I don't know
how," he responded. "I'm already thinking ahead to next
summer - I'm planning to work my way from Cairo to Cape Town - across
Africa."
A famous writer once
said that the best part of any journey is the people you meet along
the way. Remembering Darren White, I can't help but think that this
writer was wiser than he ever realized.
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