Chemistry teacher Craig Wideman has traveled far and wide.  Between adjusting to his first year coaching a soccer team and teaching at LHS, he makes time to fuel his love for traveling.  

How did you develop a passion for traveling?

My parents were divorced so I moved around a lot as a kid, so I was used to going from place to place.  I got used to seeing a bunch of different places. My dad also traveled for his job, so anytime I wanted to visit him, I usually had to travel somewhere.

How do you find time to balance your responsibilities as a teacher and a coach and travel?

Usually, I take about two to three weeks out of my schedule to do it.  Whether that is during the summer or Christmas Break, I can usually find time to do it that way.  If I am doing summer school, I would take a week off from that and fit it in. I’ll plan around it; I’ll go to England for four days or just go to a place to see a certain castle for two days, then come home.  I will also live in hostels or outside to save money.

What is your favorite place you have visited and why?

Peleș Castle in Transylvania, because it is found through hiking in the mountains.  It appeared out of nowhere, and it was a beautiful palace in the middle of Romania. There was no one there, there were no tourists, it was untouched with lots of sheep and shepherds.  Most of the village did not even have electricity, and then, all of a sudden, there was this beautiful Romanian, draconian castle.

Where do you hope to travel in the future and why?

Lots of places like Namibia, Botswana, Madagascar.  If I had to pick one, I would go to Botswana because it is in the Sahara Desert.  I really want to go on safari, so I hope I can do that there.

How has traveling impacted your perspective on different cultures and how you teach here at LHS?

You can name a situation, and I have probably seen it, so that helps.  Seeing how different cultures adapt and bring their own identities and personalities to an overall culture and seeing the difference between the Polish, the Germans, the French, the Italian, seeing that all blended in the Saint Louis area makes it easier to see where people are coming from.  Really, people are the same no matter where you are. Everyone wants to be successful, everyone wants to have a good life, and loves their kids and their parents and everyone has troubles.