On our first Big Trip -- southeast asia for 11 months in 1989-90 -- we had the wonderful good fortune to stay in the home of one of the Japanese founders of Servas. The name Servas was chosen, as the organization was being formed, literally in the ashes of world war two*. It means "we serve" in esperanto.

Our hostess -- her husband, the founder having recently died -- entertained us with grace, heart, and efficiency, and in a few short hours we learned more about her life, and the life of Japan, than we had learned in two weeks of traveling in the country. Then she told us about Servas, and we were fascinated. When next we traveled, we vowed to do so as Servas travelers. To learn more about this amazing organization, visit their website.