In November 2020, Port Of Harlem will celebrate 25 years of publication. As we count down to our birthday, we will republish some of our most popular articles from our print issues. Thanks for subscribing and inviting others to join you in supporting our inclusive, diverse, pan-African publication - - now completely online. We originally published this article in the May-Jul 2009 print issue.

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After leaving Jamaica in 1968 to live in the United States, Leanora Henry had no desire to travel. That changed when she retired from working at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital in 1996. “Before my retirement, I had a son to raise through law school and beyond, and I was just never interested in travelling,” explained the former nursing assistant.

She has since become a world traveller, having visited many American states and more than 11 countries including Israel, Spain, and Russia – twice. “My last trip was with Brooklyn’s St. Marks Anglican Church,” says Henry. The group of about 50 people made stops in Hong Kong, China; Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore; and Bali, Indonesia. “The trip was long, taking 18 ½ hours before we reached Bali,” she continued with outstretched arms to dramatize the travel time.

While Hong Kong is famous for its impressive skyline, the New Yorker was most intrigued by its fishermen. With amazement she shared, “They live on their boats!” By American standards prices for clothing was cheap in Bangkok. Henry recalls buying two dresses while in the Thai capital. “We ordered the material one day and picked up our dresses the next, but I wondered how they could have so many cars in a country with so many poor people.”

While flying around the world, Henry says she has learned to appreciate even more what the United States has to offer. “Travelling expands my knowledge. America is a blessed place. I now look at things twice before throwing them away after seeing so many people with nothing,” she explained.

In Singapore, she was amazed as the tour guide explained the country’s Maintenance of Parents Act. “Under the Act parents can sue their children for support,” says the single-parent. The act gives parents above 60-years-old who cannot support themselves the legal means to claim maintenance form their children.

When the group reached Bali, Henry was ready for resting in the world’s largest Islamic country and where President Obama spent part of his childhood. Bali is unusual says Henry, “It is home to Indonesia’s small Hindu minority.” She continued, “Bali is also like Jamaica with coconuts and banana trees.”

Besides taking trips with St. Marks, Henry has enjoyed trips sponsored by her union and those she just happened to learn about from friends and flyers. “However, I always room with someone I know, except once, and she was OK,” she continued.

Among the countries she has visited, she would like to return to is Israel. “It is very sacred,” she remarked. While in Israel, she got baptized. “I am Catholic,” she clearly stated, “We do not get immersed into water for baptism, but I did in the River Jordon.”

Such heavenly experiences have kept Henry exploring the world despite her reservations of flying. “We never know what is going to happen to us,” she rationalized. “Look at what happened to those who were sitting in their houses when the plane came down in Queens (in November 2001) ... the plane just came down and crashed them,” she said with a Jamaican lilt. “I just get into the plane, relax, and say what must be- must be.”