50. Studying Abroad in 1969 and Around the World in 1975

In a recent milestone episode of the Wander Worldschool podcast, host Suzy celebrated her 50th episode by sitting down with her mother, Marcia (affectionately known as "Grandma Wander").

The special episode offers a captivating look at how global travel has evolved over the past fifty years, shifting from analog, word-of-mouth exploration to the intentional, community-driven worldschooling movement of today. Listen and follow on www.wanderworldschool.com.

Studying Abroad in a Divided Germany in 1969

Marcia’s travel journey began in late 1969 when she studied German in Oldenburg, Germany. In an era long before budget airlines and instant translation apps, crossing the Atlantic meant boarding an ocean liner—specifically, the SS United States.

Her time abroad coincided with a period of massive global geopolitics. During a university strike in December 1969, Marcia took her very first flight from Bremen to West Berlin. She experienced history firsthand, navigating Checkpoint Charlie as an American citizen to spend a day exploring East Berlin. Without modern digital tools, mastering the language meant absolute immersion.

"I practiced all the way to the store what I wanted to say in German," Marcia recalls. "There was no Google Translate. It was just reading, listening, and practicing."

Marcia chatting in the field while taking a break with kids in Nepal in 1975

In 1975, Marcia and her husband John sold their home, packed up, and embarked on a year-long around-the-world gap year.

Utilizing a flexible, mileage-based airline ticket via TWA that cost roughly $2,000 at the time (equivalent to about $11,000 today), they journeyed through Japan, Thailand, Burma, India, Kenya, and Egypt, eventually buying bicycles to tour England and France.

The Legacy Passed On To A Daughter

Marcia’s adventurous spirit passed down directly to Suzy, who now leads a location-independent lifestyle with her family between Spain, Colorado, and Japan.

Today, the Wander Worldschool community leverages financial independence to slow-travel, blending education with cultural immersion through organized Worldschool Pop-Ups in destinations like Osaka, Japan, and Naples, Italy.