On home:
I've been restless for a long time, wanting to get away from home and also to move homes constantly. I love going from place to place, but as I have I am learning the value of having a place (and people) to call home, a space that I influence, that fits me and that I fit in. Constantly moving around makes me feel more at ease with the idea of having something settled and more permanent, where previously those two words, "settled" and "permanent", were unthinkably scary ideas. Now they're at least conceivable, even if I'm still not very enthusiastic about them.
On being American:
I think there is a way of thinking by some Americans who like to think of ourselves as broad-minded and understanding of other cultures. When in the US, this makes us do things like use politically correct language and go to different cultural events and try a variety of cuisines. When we travel, we like to keep a low profile and try to blend in when we're in a new environment, so we absorb as much information as possible both before we travel and as soon as we arrive. And while I think it's good for people to try not to be ignorant of other people's lifestyles and points of view, I have also come to the realization that no matter how open I am and how hard I try, I am so utterly American, and really, there's nothing wrong with that. India has been a particularly good place for highlighting to me all of my culturally idiosyncratic assumptions and behaviors, and I love the way it messes with me. It challenges me and also makes me love my country more than before. I feel unexpectedly patriotic, not in a "we're the best in the world" kind of way, but in an "America created me, America is in my blood" way. It's been a valuable lesson for me, and I don't think there's any proxy for being in a totally different context through travel, through existing for a while in a different place.
On flexibility and control:
When traveling, there's no way to plan it all out. You can have flights and hotels arranged, but there are going to be mishaps along the way and things about the place you're going or what you're experiencing that you can't read about ahead of time (and if you could you'd not understand til you were there experiencing it anyway). I have always been pretty controlling, afraid to look silly or incompetent and so avoiding situations that introduce the possibility. But traveling has taught me to be flexible, not to take myself so seriously, to ask questions when I need to, to accept when things don't go smoothly, not to think too far ahead, to acknowledge that I'm not doing all (or even most) of the steering. I'm along for the ride, and I'm getting better at it. I'm less fearful than I've ever been.
On effort and fatigue:
Traveling is hard work. But that makes it a really nice metaphor for life, I think. Anything worth doing seems to require some real effort and cost. For me, it's tough to fly because of my debilitating fear of heights, and I've been jet lagged pretty consistently for a few weeks now, and I'm sick of packing and unpacking and keeping track of documents and dragging around a couple of suitcases. In short, I'm really tired. But I'd also not trade the opportunity I've had to travel for anything. This life of mine right now is just amazing.
On flying business class:
This one is far less philosophical. Flying business class is incredible. Short lines or no lines at the airport, champagne before takeoff, and seats that recline fully to become beds. Genius. I'm ruined forever for coach.
No comments:
Post a Comment