Who needs to talk when you can be a lemming

I just returned from a two-week tour of Europe. On my teacher's salary, I could never afford to travel there with Western tours so this was my third go at traveling with a Chinese tour. I have had a wonderful experience on every occasion. Besides the affordability, the truth is that I am a nervous traveler. Making all the reservations and connections is a nightmare for me, so I am ready to sacrifice autonomy for security.

This does, however, require that one develops the mentality of a lemming, that rodent notorious for following its leaders, even if it is over a cliff. In most aspects of my life, I am extremely independent. No one carries my purse and parcels. I have gone boldly into wildly different life changes, but when it comes to travel, show me a flag and I'll follow it. (I am very grateful, however, that wearing a group hat has gone out of favor. I might have drawn the line there.)

The group leaders were a bit nervous at first. Until they saw me at the airport they thought that Ms Lee was just another Chinese traveler. Furtive phone calls to the agency confirmed that I would, indeed, be one of their flock. I promised them that my not speaking Chinese was not a problem. I'd just go where they pointed. There was one little matter, however. I wouldn't be eating Chinese food with them. I would find an eatery nearby and enjoy local cuisine. It worked out fine. I'd find a bistro or caf nearby and we'd all be happily fed.