Derek focused his doctoral dissertation on one man and the influence this man's theories and scholarship had on 17th century astronomy. His name is Johannes Jevelius, a Polish astronomer, scholar and (and brewer). In 2011 Poland celebrated the 300th birthday of Jevelius. Derek was invited to be a keynote speaker at a conference held in his honor. I was fortunate enough to be able to tag along (thanks to the generosity of my sister Stacey who stayed in Idaho with my children for 9 days!!!). It was an amazing trip!
This photo was taken at the Solidarity museum: So few people know about the significance of these brave Polish dock workers and that the solidarity movement they started was the beginning of the end of communism.
Derek served his mission in Hamburg, Germany. I have always wanted to see Germany. I have been on layovers to Germany several times but never left the airport. On our way home we had to take separate routes. I had a layover in Germany. I did something totally outside of my comfort zone and left the airport of a foreign land by myself with only 3 hours until my next flight! Yes, it was crazy, I took a bus to the nearest town from the Munich airport, got out and snapped some photos and then went right back to the airport. I think I had to do it to prove that I could do it on my own (I always rely on Derek to make the plans when we travel because he is so very good at it:). This is important why? Because in a few days our family will embark on a journey where I may have to take the lead sometimes in a land (Russia!!!!) that I love and know well but that my family has much anxiety about visiting. so over the next 4 months I hope to be able to record some of the most memorable events of our trip. :)
