Journeys Most Memorable: Liechtenstein, a Babushka and an Unspoken Word
Communication is a funny thing. A look, a touch, and an understanding sometimes are all you need to change your perspective on the human experience altogether.
Whether you speak the same language or not, the nonverbal relationship we have with one another can be either unremarkable if unaware, or it can be life-changing, depending on your perceptiveness.
Liechtenstein is a European Principality between Switzerland and the west and the south and Austria to the east and north. Its area is just over 62 square miles and is the fourth-smallest in Europe.
My husband and I were traveling through Liechtenstein from Austria, trying to head back to Switzerland to catch our flight home to the United States. It had been a very long three weeks covering more miles than I can count through the countryside of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. We climbed mountains, toured castles, dined at local establishments, and slept each night at a different lodging with no plans other than to learn about the people, their culture, and the country they lived in.
The one most memorable experiences for me during that trip was and still is when traveling through the small countryside of Liechtenstein. The topography appeared to be a continuum of one rolling hill after another, with vast green fields of beautifully manicured homesteads. The deep rich colors of greens and browns made one feel awe-stricken by its beauty and deep heritage.
We had been searching to refuel for some time and knew we needed to stop soon before the inevitable happened. We were driving along this winding road when we spotted a local gas station.
We stopped to get some gas and see if we could find a cold drink. Looking around, the only thing close to a beverage was an old coke machine sitting all by itself, a couple of yards away from the small gas station. This red and white dispensing machine was something you might have seen in the mid-1950s and still held glass coke bottles. It was old and used, but I could see it was still working and kept in good condition. I got out of the car and headed toward it.
When I approached the coke machine, I took some change out of my pocket, looked at the dispenser, and realized I didn’t know what specific coins I needed to use to get drinks. I noticed an older woman coming slowly toward me from the corner of my eye. I wasn’t sure what to say since I wasn’t very adept at speaking the local language, and the different dialects were not helping my situation, so I started to panic. What was I going to say to her?
Her appearance struck me as someone who had been in her earlier years, a person who probably worked in the fields of this beautiful countryside. I guessed her age to be about 80 years old, her face was deeply wrinkled and weathered but her eyes were bright and kind. She stood about 5 feet tall, was a bit stout and wore a babushka on her head. She was absolutely lovely!
Once she reached me, she took my hand that held the coins and cupped it into hers. Her hands were old and thick but also gentle and warm. She looked at the coins and picked out the ones needed to purchase a coke. One by one, she put the coins in the machine and when satisfied, pulled the lever. Out the beverage came. Once the task at hand was done, she then looked at me with her brilliant blue eyes, gave me a warm smile, squeezed and then patted my hand gently and proceeded to walk away. Not a word was exchanged between us but a million were understood.
Who knew that a small chance meeting while traveling through Europe would leave a lasting impression on me for what is now, 35 years ago? It’s one of my favorite memories.
“a gentle and humble knowing from a woman whose actions told a million stories with not one word uttered between two people.”
This woman embodied the true meaning of the human spirit. A light touch, a look, OR a warm smile sometimes is all you need for a LIFE-CHANGING event to alter your understanding of how the unspoken word can forever impact another.
With love,
Mary
