Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
own communities. Whether visiting El Salvador (where people
don't
dream of having two
cars in every garage), Denmark (where they pay high taxes with high expectations and are
satisfied), or Iran (where many willingly compromise their freedom to be ruled by clerics
out of fear that otherwise, as they explained to me, their little girls would be raised to be
sex toys), any traveler can bring back valuable insights. And, just like those truths were
needed in the Middle Ages, this understanding is needed in our age.
Ideally, travel broadens our perspectives personally, culturally, and politically. Suddenly,
the palette with which we paint the story of our lives has more colors. We realize there
are exciting alternatives to the social and community norms that our less-traveled neigh-
bors may never consider. Imagine not knowing you could eat “ethnic.” Imagine suddenly
realizing there were different genres of music. Imagine you loved topics…and one day the
librarian mentioned there was an upstairs.
But you can only reap these rewards of travel if you're open to them. Watching a
dervish whirl can be a cruise-ship entertainment option, or it can be a spiritual awakening.
You can travel to relax and have fun. You can travel to learn and broaden your perspective.
Or, best of all, you can do both at once. Make a decision that on any trip you take, you'll
make a point to be open to new experiences, seek options that get you out of your comfort
zone, and be a cultural chameleon—trying on new ways of looking at things and striving
to become a “temporary local.”
Assuming they want to learn, both monks and hedonists can stretch their perspectives
through travel. While your choice of destination has a huge impact on the potential for
learning, you don't need to visit refugee camps to gain political insight. With the right
approach, meeting people—whether over beer in an Irish pub, while hiking Himalayan
ridges, or sharing fashion tips in Iran—can connect you more thoughtfully with our world.
