By Masada Siegel and Stefanie Zweig, other
From: Masada Siegel
Mon., March 24, 2008, 2:54 p.m.
To: Stefanie Zweig
Subject: Bunnies and Bears
Hey Stefanie!
Thanks for the bunny! I actually traveled to Africa with Didge, my koala bear. My friend Justin from Australia gave him to me. Didge is their office mascot; everyone travels with him and takes funny photos! I did as well. It was great fun, and people thought I was crazy, especially as an American wandering around Africa with a koala.
I’m back in Arizona, suffering a little bit from the after-holiday trip downer, and just feeling like no one really understands my experiences and what I saw and learned. Alas, often it seems people are so self absorbed — they just don’t really care. Coming back to reality after such an incredible adventure is always a challenge. My trip was so amazing, I wished so hard I could hold onto time and make it go slower.
I know it will take me a little time to re-acclimate. The more I travel and the more I learn about the world, the more uninteresting I find people. Sorry about the complaining. Thankfully, I am going to meet up with Alysa today, Gerta Weissman Klein’s granddaughter. She was just in Africa in November. I am happy to have her as a friend.
I need some book advice from you. I’ve written one, it’s sitting in my closet collecting dust. Perhaps you can give me some thoughts on how to publish it.
Enjoy the Africa photos!
Hugs,
Masada
From: Stefanie Zweig
Date: Tues., March 25, 2008, 9:17 a.m.
To: Masada Siegel
Subject: All over again
Dear Masada,
It was good to hear from you. It makes the day more likeable if it starts with mail. I have stopped telling people about the places I see and what I do there. Most people don’t know how to listen and are just waiting for the right moment to pounce on you and tell you about their own adventures.
If you have written a book you should get in touch with an honest agent (I am stressing the first word). In America, the agents are of far more importance than here. I have never had one, but then I was most lucky with my first book. Advice number 1: Don’t listen to what your friends say. Laymen don’t know anything about writing. Now it is off to my own book. At the end of the week I shall have to neglect it again. It is goodbye to my American cousin (the only one I have) — Gerda Weissmann’s nephew by marriage. His father and her husband were brothers. Have a good week and get used to everyday life.
Love,
Stefanie
From: Masada Siegel
Date: March 26, 2008, 12:16 p.m.
To: Stefanie Zweig
Subject: Re: All over again
Hey Stefanie!
You can add me to your American family if you wish. I have family everywhere — and unfortunately, see them only once a year or every few years, so my friends are extremely important to me. I talk to you more than I do to my cousins abroad, so if you want an extra American cousin, I’d love to be part of the family! 
I sent you some fun photos from my trip — that elephant nearly finished us all off. It was scary, cool, exciting and wild all at the same time!
Finding people who listen, and actually care, is not so easy. The more I see, the less I find people who get it. Interestingly enough today, I went to swim practice and asked a guy if I could share his lane, someone I had never seen before. When he said yes, I thought I was hearing things. Would you believe it, Matthew is from Cape Town! It was his first day swimming all year — he switched to swim at my pool for good!
I have some strange sense of timing with the universe. I was just so happy to meet someone from South Africa I could talk to for five minutes.
Other than that, I am trying to get back to reality. Good luck with the book — my parents bought the English version of your book you sent me, “Somewhere in Germany.” Once I get caught up, I want to start reading it!
Talk soon!
Masada