Why Travel
I definitely have a passion for travel. And it seems like the more places I go, the more places I want to go “next.” But sometimes when I sit down and think about it, I can’t really pinpoint why exactly I like to travel so much. Sure, it’s fun to see new places, try new foods, and experience other cultures. It’s good to get away from work and the “lifestyle” during a trip is usually more lavish and more fun than at home. But should that really translate into a full on obsession?
So what’s so great about seeing new places? I definitely enjoy looking at beautiful natural scenery, especially beautiful coasts. I also love to visit famous places to see and photograph them. Going out to dinner is always fun on trips, but I often find myself indecisive about where to eat and hesitant to spend too much money on a meal. Although I do enjoy trying local restaurants I am not an adventurous eater so culinary adventure is definitely not my reason for travel.
What about experiencing new cultures? This seems to be one of the most common reasons people cite for wanting to travel. But what does that mean? To me that statement conjures up images of cooking in huts with native women in Africa, or playing with children in a Honduras orphanage. Is that really why people love to travel? I do think connecting with people from other parts of the world and understanding different customs is an important part of international travel. Getting to learn about different social customs, listening (and dancing to!) live local music, and eating in off the beaten path restaurants are great reasons for international travel.
The concept of travel “lifestyle” is something I’ve started to think about more. I think this is what makes me long for the next trip (and plan the next 10). When we are on vacation, we step outside our normal lives. We do what we want, and it’s all about enjoying ourselves. There’s a certain freedom about it all. We’re -out there- in the world. Often we’re stepping out of our comfort zone and doing things we wouldn’t normally do at home. And the huge factor: we get to escape for a while from our responsibilities, stress, and adulthood. Sure there are responsibilities and stress that come with travel, but those just don’t seem as bad.
Aside from the freedom and lack of responsibilities, I love the adventure. I think it’s exciting just to go to the airport knowing that people are coming and going from all over the world. Landing a new city and finding my way around I feel like a different person than the one who left home. Dragging my suitcase and strapping on my backpack, I start to feel like all is right in the world. I’m just so happy to be somewhere. I take in all the aspects: talking to people (if language allows), taking in the scenery, eating, drinking.
There are many reasons to advocate that people get out there and do some travel. I firmly believe that those of us who are privileged enough to take trips to poorer countries will be humbled by how simply other people live. And, how they can still be happy. Sometimes we don’t know how easy we have it, and travel gives us some great perspective to be thankful for what we have. I also think that those of us from the US could stand a good dose of “hey, the world doesn’t revolve around us afterall.” Sometimes the way we are accustomed to things here isn’t the only way, or the best way. And maybe someday, if we travel enough, we could start to figure out why the rest of the world finds soccer so exciting…
So these are all perfectly legitimate reasons to travel, but I still haven’t come up with why exactly I love it so much. I think it’s a combination of all of the above, with emphasis on the “lifestyle.” I crave more freedom and adventure in my life, and try to fulfill that with travel. I also get a great deal of enjoyment out of planning and researching trips, and come home refreshed and with memories of the experiences to hold onto. I think it opens my eyes to what it’s like “out there,” and I feel like I’m part of the global community. You know, something bigger than myself…
