As a child, I wasn't hungry for travel. In 1980s Ahmedabad (India), most people I knew took few vacations, just as we did. Now and again in school holidays, or trips to religious destinations. More often, there were day trips, either from school or with family. I enjoyed those trips immensely, but they were just fun outing. I didn't appreciate their importance then. Growing up I used to say, "Oh I would love to travel the world one day" and that was just so I could say "I have been there and done that."
But then I went on a study abroad program for one semester, and everything changed. It was then, being away on my own for the first time, going through a personal soul-searching journey as well as studying that I understood what travelling really meant to me. It wasn't just about seeing the sights, or bragging about how much of the world I'd seen. Travelling was a way to experience life. It was to go somewhere I had never been before, and see how well I coped with it. It was to find myself in strange surrounding, and through the journey, know myself better.
Over the years, my belief that travelling is not only important in my life but essential has steadily grown. Each place I have lived in or visited, has contributed a little bit to my growth as a person.
I have actually lived in 3 countries (India, USA and UK), and it has been quite an experience. Now, I feel myself to be either a global citizen who belongs everywhere, or a wanderer who doesn't belong in any nation. Most of the time it's half-way between the two. And I wouldn't have it any other way. :)
Look out for some photo posts next.
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Hey Dolly,
ReplyDeleteIt's good that you have taken the time out to dedicate yourself to one area of your life, that is important in your growth as a person.
I love the world, and have always wanted to travel too, but I know the reason for it has been for my love for culture and people and to learn more about other people's ways of life, and be part of each community. That in itself is part of my own growth as an individual.
I too, feel exactly the same as you in regards to being a global citizen and belonging everywhere on earth, and a wanderer who doesn't belong in any nation. I feel while we are here on earth, we are part of everything as much as we are part of nothing and it is how we balance ourselfs in our own world that counts to the overall experience.
I don't feel attached to any country, though also living in two different countries. I was born in Portugal and raised there, than I moved to the UK and than lived (still living) here the later part of life. I like all the countries as equal and appreciate their unique contribution and value to the world at large. Countries are like people, with different outlooks and perceptions of life, and that is a world filled with history, culture, knowledge and understanding - very valuable.
Really happy that I found your blogs.
All the best to you in all that you do. You are doing a wonderful job here. (truelyana from AW)
Ana,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting and following. I understand exactly what you say. I think once you live in a different place, you can see from an outsider's perspective with insider's knowledge, and you realise that no country is perfect, but each has something good to offer.
This is how I feel about travel, although I haven't got nearly as far as you yet. Travel is about experiencing, about seeing new things, just spending time in different places.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how some people can just sit at home in the same job for years. There is so much world out there! And that's what I want to see.
gapyeargirl,
ReplyDeleteYou are most fortunate that you've got this chance for travelling, so I wish you good luck, and looking forward to hearing more of your travels.