I have had several people ask me to expound on what I learn from "traveling".
The main lesson is that it is highly over-rated. Period.
All people tend to revert to perochial views rather quickly as their feet leave the airplane.
I never learned to love chinese food just from eating it. It was a real chore.
I never learned to love the people of Bombay just from walking among them. I learned it from a kid who called himself "ted".
I never learned to appreciate fine french food. I learned that walking back to the hotel is dangerous. We got pelted with rocks.
I learned that Kentucky has really good people who will drive you twenty miles and then drive you back to your car when you have a flat.
God! What I have learned. The biggest thing I have learned is that people who tell you that "you need to get out more"... have probably never owned a passport.
I have learned that when you are lost in Chicago and you are afraid because the black guy approaching you is bigger and stronger than you are... don't go crazy. He only wants to help. He wants to take you to his favorite restaurant and then help you get to your hotel. He even calls you a week later and asks if you made it home. You even exchange christmas cards for twenty years.
You learn that a guy in Mongolia who seems unfriendly is not really. He is worried about his daughter who is dying of cancer. You go with him and cry at her death. And wonder why you thought he was so "standoffish". You then meet his other kids. Eight. And wonder why you are so god damned self centered.
You sign an agreement to support his family in their move to Utah. You agree to support them for two years. If need be.
You have no real fear. At least three of their kids can program in VB6 Better than you can. Hell. They might end up supporting you in your old age.
That is the lesson of "travel". There are people everywhere. There are millions of flies. Horse flies. Terrible, excruciating days of swatting flies just to see where Ghingis Khan was born.
Then there is the stadium in Ullambattar. The worship of "our father". Ghingis come to life.
Who am I? To wonder? I just get my basement ready, drive to the airport and welcome another family. Next year. Paper.
Crappy paper.
Let's see...
from my journal, June 17, 1989...
Today we traveled to about a mile for the Vietnam border and hyu'shi asked me if the elder could approach and ask me a "solumn question".
I said yes and our elder did make small talk. We exchanged pleasantries. I wondered that I was able to make amends for oriental custom. The best I could manage was to compliment him on the general well being of the village. I said. "Thank you sir. I admire your wonderful town and her people. I think that even you will not take credit for these folks?"
We garnered a laugh and he (the mayor Sung Su Heng) did assure me that the people were of a mind to support all that he said. I lacked a further translation. My interpretor did say..." hah hah... he says that he is quite... able to welcome you. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome."
Which meant to me that I was a mystery to them. I wonder if I confused them by not just retiring as was my role as a tourist"
The next day...
"I got invited to dinner tonight by the village council. Risa and I dressed as best we could. The humidity is unforgiving. We both laugh at our smell. It is amazing at our stink. We both notice it. Yet none of these people say a word.
"We arrived at about eight o'clock. We are greeted and made welcome by the elders. A group of three girls are dancing as we arrive. They are not offered introduction, though they all fail to take their eyes from us. I get the feeling that they are more interested in us than they are in fullfilling the tradition.
"We set ourselves around a table that features a pitcher of tea. We are poured and we offer thanks. At least we have learned this much.
"We eat hot leaves of rice and fish. It is better than we are given in the caravan.
"We are much given to the dance of the tomb. We see it for the second time... this time with the soul of the dancers thrown into it. It is quite interesting. I remark to the elders that I only "wish that I had the might of mind to understand. Not just see."
They nod.
We are offered a position of wealth in the community. It takes me a while to understand this offer. I am confused. I hesitate and look at my wife who is as baffled as I.
We will see. I am thinking about this. We (my wife and I) are arguing about this as we retire. She says they just thanked us. I heard that we were invited to join the community.
<end diary>
Oh yea. The most important lesson of travel is how truly weird the American practice of "daily bath" is.
Nobody. Nobody. Nobody.
Does this.
Sorry. America. You are just weird.
I just returned for a month in mongolia... five days of which were spent in a luxury hotel. I bathed twice. Only because of having to set next to my wife on airplane's.
The only other time I was aware of this was in Australia. Our guide took us into the mountains... up from the shore. He remarked that if we made it to Alice... we would 'welcome the bath' that was offered on the train. He was right. We did make it there and to Ayers rock. In tribute I didn't bathe for a week. Though It was possible at all time. Silly me. Spirit of the outback, what.
What is the best food?
What is the best beach?
What is the best feeling?
Chicago, then Italy then France then Mongolia.
San Diego, then Maui then East Africa. <with a big mention to the coast of Australia and a seeming thousand miles of sand>
prolly... Christmas in Austria, then Gettysburg. Then sailing home to the US from Chile on a schooner.
After catching the biggest and best fish ever to be had in the mouth of a hundred rivers off the ocean. You really have to be there to understand what it is like to motor into a river that no man has ever visited. Ever.
What you would learn from travel (if they were able to suspend preconceived ideas and prejudice) ,I believe,is that -people the world over are basically the same. They worry about the same things and try to look out for and provide for their nearest and dearest. If everyone could understand this basic fact then I think we'd all get on a lot better.
Originally posted by ianpickeringExactly..
What you would learn from travel (if they were able to suspend preconceived ideas and prejudice) ,I believe,is that -people the world over are basically the same. They worry about the same things and try to look out for and provide for their nearest and dearest. If everyone could understand this basic fact then I think we'd all get on a lot better.
People all over the world struggle with the same daily chores, some are rich, some poor, some happy some sad.. all people, just trying to go about their daily lives.
Some of the happiest and most generous people i met were the poorest and some of the most determined people i met were the most oppressed.
Thats what travel is about, seeing the power of human spirit in the face of adversity and seeing that we are all one big tribe, trying to figure out what this whole show is about.
Its a pity most religions don't teach these lessons.
Thats what travel is about, seeing the power of human spirit in the face of adversity and seeing that we are all one big tribe, trying to figure out what this whole show is about.Most religions claim to be what the whole show is about and lead to conflict within the tribe. I'd start a new thread claiming that most religions lead to more damage than good ... except that I've been banned from starting new threads :-)
Its a pity most religions don't teach these lessons.
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What do you all consider to be the most "civilized" cities you have visited?
My list is based on the politeness and dignity expressed by the people, general cleanliness and the number of smiles per square mile.
Kyoto
Vienna
Prague
In that order. Any comments or additions?
Keep in mind that I have seen a very, very small fraction of places. And only those on the tourist routes for the most part.
Why travel?
One real thing that I have noticed is that one sees the blare and bluster of the media for what it is. You have been to a place and seen the headlines in the Times when you return home. You say to yourself "Oh my god. That was what was happening while I was there?" and you realize that all news is hype. For somebody's purpose.
The last week or so I have watched in amazement the american media reporting the great "Van Gogh" murder and it's terrible effect on the dutch.
I wasn't there, but I'll give you dollars to donuts that the real talk was about the unhappiness with the half-assed reforms being done by the government. You dutch guys tell me if i'm wrong.
Anyway. It lets one escape the notion that the entire world is on fire. It ain't.
Originally posted by StarValleyWyIf I had to move to earth, I'd probably live in vienna.
What do you all consider to be the most "civilized" cities you have visited?
My list is based on the politeness and dignity expressed by the people, general cleanliness and the number of smiles per square mile.
Kyoto
Vienna
Prague
In that order. Any comments or additions?
Keep in mind that I have seen a very, very small fraction of places. And only those on the tourist routes for the most part.
MÅ¥HÅRM