A dramatic and welcome change

John Weaver’s 2016 sabbatical itinerary was extremely ambitious, a fast-paced international journey from one destination, currency, language and culture to another and then the next. That was precisely how he planned it.

As is required for sabbaticals, he stepped away from his job as president of Valley Residential Services, a Mat-Su nonprofit that provides housing for workforce families and individuals, seniors and those with disabilities. When the IT department disconnected his devices from all business emails, the break from his regular daily routine was complete.

Weaver and his wife began their travels in Reykjavik, Iceland, staying for only 18 hours before heading to Stockholm, Sweden. They then visited the site of the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, where photos weren’t allowed. Stops followed in Poland, Germany, Copenhagen, Denmark and Norway before heading to London, England. There they toured Parliament, a bucket list destination for Weaver.

Boarding the rapid speed Eurostar train, which travels under the English Channel, the pair headed to Paris. Among other sights, they visited the Eiffel Tower and the Paris Ritz Carlton, the setting of a book Weaver had read about the hotel’s history as the one-time home of the Nazi headquarters in the city.

The couple’s final overseas destinations were Venice, Rome and Vatican City in Italy, before heading back to the U.S. to visit family in Phoenix and Seattle.

For Weaver, the sabbatical provided a greater understanding of other cultures and people, along with giving him a dramatic and welcome change from his typical workday. Even the occasional travel anxiety proved helpful as, despite lots of research, the pair occasionally found themselves heading into the unknown. It was different and new — and all part of the sabbatical plan.

“What a way to take a break,” Weaver said.