Traveling, Learning, and Reflecting
Centennial Route 66 Part 1 & Vermont Book Club
One required section of a final team project report I always asked my students to submit was a reflection. It could be by individual members or by the team as a collective to look back on the team work. This is because I truly believe that an honest reflection is an effective way to learn; it can make people not only smarter but wiser. Over the decades, many students told me that the reflection part had been a painful (during the writing process) yet highly appreciated part (afterwards) of their teamwork. They wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t taken points away for omitting it. They had also appreciated other teams’ reflections and learned they were not alone in struggling and learning.
In this newsletter, I share two pieces of information.
#1. Celebrating Centennial Route 66
Taken last year while traveling 5in29, when the idea of touring Route 66 in 2026 was formed.
Route 66, the Mother Road, is having its 100th anniversary in 2026, and I am celebrating it, along with millions of others.
After several years of contemplating and several months of careful planning, my travel partner, Roman, and I completed the first part of the tour.
As I did with last year’s Traveling 5 Southwest States in 29 Days with a Campervan Travelogue, 5in29, I have a travelogue to document the Route 66 trip. Since this travelogue is a work-in-progress and is revised/expanded continuously, I didn’t send out the posts in real-time. You are welcome to visit it at your own pace. Here is the Introduction page that outlines the reasons, plans, and links to key pages.
I have 3 reasons to visit Route 66:
To have firsthand experience with it in its entirety, after being first exposed to it almost 40 years ago in China.
To fulfill my cousin Lei’s dying wish. Lei had biked to many places in China, then to France and eight other countries, without any sponsorship or being able to speak any language other than Chinese. He had wanted to bike Route 66 before dying from cancer. That never happened.
To learn about American history. The more I read about Route 66, the more I am amazed by how much history it carries. There is a reason Route 66 is called the Main Street of America and the Mother Road.
2026 is a special year to tour the Mother Road. Many states, towns, and stops have been planning for events and activities. It is also timely for us Americans to revisit history, appreciate what we have today, and preserve what is valuable in our culture for generations to come. This is a form of reflection at a national level.
Our first part was in a brand new 30-foot-long camper. It started at 19 miles and ended with almost 3000 miles. It drank gas like someone would swallow red wine at 8.4 miles per gallon. We only had 15 days, and some of those days had extreme weather conditions—tornado watches, 12 degrees with 0 degree wind chill during the day, 106 degrees at 6% humidity and sunny, wind gusts at 45-55MPH, raining and snowing, etc. As a result, we were only able to visit some states and towns. Part 2 of the tour is in the planning stage. Find out the summary of Part 1 and more at the Route 66 Travelogue.
I donated my books along the way. I also gifted my books to two new friends I met during the trip. It felt great when people wanted to read my books. Here are a few moments. It was also refreshing to meet, talk to, and befriend strangers along the way.
With Christal Haueter at Lebanon-Laclede County Library, Missouri
At KOA, Springfield, Missouri
#2. Who is Apple An? What Can You Say about Her?
Those are questions for both you, my friend, and myself. How much do you know about me? And most importantly, how much do I know about myself? For me, it will be a lifelong learning and exploration, and I may never be able to answer those questions completely.
I found myself being prompted by these questions every time I was asked to provide a short bio or self-introduction. The answers are not always the same, and I found a tendency to construct an ideal (to my standard) image of myself. Does that happen to you as well?
Here I am sharing a short video prepared by a Vermont Book Club, although the major part of it is my self-introduction. I am also posting a flyer of their event in case you are interested in attending.
Until next time, my friend!