Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Why We Travel
I have never been out of the country, so Pico Iyer's tales of different experiences to countries all over the globe fascinated me. I truly can't imagine what it would be like to travel so much. I appreciated Iyer's comparison when he says, "Perhaps the real distinction [of people who travel] lies between those who leave their assumptions at home, and those who don't." To me, this quote was a clear way to explain that it is not about whether one classifies himself as a traveler versus a tourist, but rather it is important for a person to view each country and the cultures within the country with an open mind in order to have a fulfilling trip. Iyer also explains that traveling, as we have discussed in class before, gives one an opportunity to go on a journey of self-discovery. "For in traveling to a truly foreign place, we inevitably travel to moods and states of mind and hidden inward passages that we'd otherwise seldom have cause to visit."
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I liked the line you quote a lot too. It is a good perspective to remember while traveling. I really enjoyed how the author was so willing to abandon his own sensibilities to explore other cultures while abroad. I think that openness--that shedding a bit of yourself, is what helps you to go on a journey of self discovery, like you say.
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