Friends frequently questioned whether she was afraid to visit countries that dominated global headlines. “Time and again I was amazed by the kindness of total strangers in places where I’d expected hostility towards a Westerner.” “Through the kindness of strangers, a lot of hard work and a little serendipity, the biggest problem in my life became the biggest opportunity.” After a lifetime spent exploring the world, DeVrye believes the similarities between people far outweigh the differences. “We all live under the same sky but don’t share the same horizon or view of life,” she said.