Humans are migratory. We feel better if we go somewhere else. After a while, some will want to go home, some will want to keep going, but the going is a pretty basic urge...
I deliberately chose a career as a diplomat because it included travel, but also the opportunity to become a resident and a neighbor for a while. As a lifelong student of history, these experiences offered a glimpse at places and the lives lived there beyond what ended up on a page in a history book. Some travels presented the opportunity to cross paths with my ancestors providing the chance to look at a landscape from an airplane window and hear a voice in my head say simply “home” or visit the scene of some historic tragedy thinking I understood the family connection only to feel how that tragedy ran much deeper than I imagined and still echoed in my soul. I have multiple home cities and realize that enough change has happened that I would barely recognize them now. And I’m currently planning another trip this summer.
I travelled and moved around a lot, lived in different countries and could not settle anywhere because, for want of a better explanation, I had Travel Fever. But since I found my spiritual home in Greece, a land that has always called me back and won't let go, I am now living happily on an Aegean Island; my home for the past twenty-five years. I don't miss travelling, I almost never leave Greece and I am content. But I may travel again one day. Never say never!
I have a full list too, but just a few stand out above the rest: understanding cultural diversity, admiring natural wonders, and gastronomy (which is part of cultural diversity, but important enough to have its own spot).
So many places to visit and only one life to live :/.
When I first started teaching at South African universities in the 80's "Mzungu" - the Swahili word that means "wanderer" or "someone who roams around" - was also used used negatively to refer to a white person or foreigner in Southern Africa.
I once met a bicycle rider in Malawi who had been traveling around the world for the previous ten years. When I asked him what he learned, he said, “All travel is superficial.” I may take exception to his sweeping “all,” but his point stands.
There are some people who prefer to travel deeply. For example, William Least Heat Moon’s book PrairyErth, is his deep exploration of a single county in Kansas.
I feel similarly, and yet I have hardly travelled for twelve years. But the itch has returned - Rwanda, Istanbul, Mongolia! Many, many thanks for this post, M.E. You have reminded me why we do this.
Great notes. A couple of centuries ago when I was nineteen I went to Peru for two months. Went with a friend from there who I'd met playing soccer. Looking back, I now wish to wave my magic wand and impose the requirement that every high school kid spend a stretch of time with a family in another country. Any country probably would do, but preferably third world. Get your eyes opened about yourself and the larger world beyond yourself.
Great notes. I currently live in Uzbekistan- if you make it here in the next few months, let me know!
I will do! (And I’m very jealous!)
I grew up in Uganda but didn’t realize “mzungu” meant “aimless traveler”..!
I remember learning the meaning in Jinja actually
No way…! Gosh, Jinja… That brings back memories!
Great piece. I think for me one of the most eloquent explanations of our need for travel and adventure comes from Carl Sagan:
https://youtu.be/YH3c1QZzRK4?si=altm7Rqc5fJZQaCX
Humans are migratory. We feel better if we go somewhere else. After a while, some will want to go home, some will want to keep going, but the going is a pretty basic urge...
#s 7, 15, and 49!
I deliberately chose a career as a diplomat because it included travel, but also the opportunity to become a resident and a neighbor for a while. As a lifelong student of history, these experiences offered a glimpse at places and the lives lived there beyond what ended up on a page in a history book. Some travels presented the opportunity to cross paths with my ancestors providing the chance to look at a landscape from an airplane window and hear a voice in my head say simply “home” or visit the scene of some historic tragedy thinking I understood the family connection only to feel how that tragedy ran much deeper than I imagined and still echoed in my soul. I have multiple home cities and realize that enough change has happened that I would barely recognize them now. And I’m currently planning another trip this summer.
But also: “everyone wants to go where no one else goes. So they all end up in same place”.
I travelled and moved around a lot, lived in different countries and could not settle anywhere because, for want of a better explanation, I had Travel Fever. But since I found my spiritual home in Greece, a land that has always called me back and won't let go, I am now living happily on an Aegean Island; my home for the past twenty-five years. I don't miss travelling, I almost never leave Greece and I am content. But I may travel again one day. Never say never!
Someday, I will be sitting quietly in a room. The travels in the past, but I have the memories to keep me happy.🙏
Mustn't forget to also be a good host. When you meet travelers, show them something special about the place you call home!
Nice compilation!
I have a full list too, but just a few stand out above the rest: understanding cultural diversity, admiring natural wonders, and gastronomy (which is part of cultural diversity, but important enough to have its own spot).
So many places to visit and only one life to live :/.
When I first started teaching at South African universities in the 80's "Mzungu" - the Swahili word that means "wanderer" or "someone who roams around" - was also used used negatively to refer to a white person or foreigner in Southern Africa.
And finally, to get there.
I once met a bicycle rider in Malawi who had been traveling around the world for the previous ten years. When I asked him what he learned, he said, “All travel is superficial.” I may take exception to his sweeping “all,” but his point stands.
There are some people who prefer to travel deeply. For example, William Least Heat Moon’s book PrairyErth, is his deep exploration of a single county in Kansas.
I feel similarly, and yet I have hardly travelled for twelve years. But the itch has returned - Rwanda, Istanbul, Mongolia! Many, many thanks for this post, M.E. You have reminded me why we do this.
Great notes. A couple of centuries ago when I was nineteen I went to Peru for two months. Went with a friend from there who I'd met playing soccer. Looking back, I now wish to wave my magic wand and impose the requirement that every high school kid spend a stretch of time with a family in another country. Any country probably would do, but preferably third world. Get your eyes opened about yourself and the larger world beyond yourself.
So many of these speak to how and why we travel- never using Google Maps #43, most of all