prior to the recommended six weeks if I drank plenty of milk. This advice was followed and the cast was indeed removed after three and one half weeks later as the fracture was shown to be healed through an x-ray examination. I was supplied with a tan elastic bandage to support this sensitive area for the duration of the next few weeks.
A day later, grandfather and I departed on an evening flight to Frankfurt, Germany. I had some reservations about flying on an airplane and so suggested to mother and father that we travel to Europe by ship. They replied that this suggestion was absurd and nonsense as the journey would take too long. My fears about travelling by airplane were alleviated as the flight progressed. I witnessed on this journey, the Northern Lights which were awe inspiring. After arriving at the Frankfurt airport, grandfather and I boarded a train to a small town in Southern Germany. After settling in at great aunt and uncle’s home, several excursions to visit extended family in Germany were arranged. One visit was to a relative’s farm where grandfather, speaking in German conversed with cousins. Not able to understand this language, I ventured into the farm pasture to view the cows. The animals were standing close to the roadway so I crossed the pasture to obtain a closer look and to possibly pet these large but docile animals. Suddenly I felt a wave of electricity surging into my leg and then throughout my body. Quickly, I looked close to the ground and noticed a thin silver wire installed around the perimeter of property close to the street. I desperately tried to move my leg but my leg seemed to be frozen in place. After what seemed to be an interminable amount of time, finally I was able to pull back my leg from this connection with an electrical wire. I could not believe what had just transpired and thought to myself that this was a cruel way to keep animals confined to an area.
We visited pleasantly with other cousins at their homes and made excursions with them to several restaurants in the countryside where we took leisurely and serene walks after eating our dinner. Three cousins were about the same ages as brother and I so we engaged in discussions with them regarding culture, sports, music, school, and other areas of pre teen to teenage interests. Within a few days, grandfather, mother, father, brother, and I departed for our three week excursions to Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. We all had a very enjoyable time visiting historical landmarks and experienced the vibrant and lively cultures of these countries.
I began a new junior high school in September with a foreign routine that I was somewhat prepared for in elementary school the school year prior. Students had five subject area teachers and teachers for special subject areas. An electronic alarm sounded at the end of class to signal the moving of students from one class to another. I was not forewarned and so had a sense of incredulity when told of the preparatory requirements for physical education. I brought my sneakers to school on the first designated day for physical education that was typed on a schedule and expected to change my shoes for a sports activity. The students were told however, that a complete change of clothing was required and orders were taken for physical education uniforms. We were given a tour of the locker room. The room was open with shower stalls and no privacy for changing clothes. For several physical education classes, I sensed a wave of embarrassment as I quickly changed clothing for this class. I began to experience troubles in the understanding of the logic in solving mathematical problems and was