You've also most likely noticed that my posts are circuitous. I've come to think of these posts as a reminder that I'm doing something out of the norm--it's here to reassure myself and family members that I am abroad and that I am doing something fulfilling with my time. Now that I've established this, I'd like to share a quote with you.
“Foreign lands never yield their secrets to a traveller. The best they offer are tantalising snippets, just enough to inflame the imagination. The secrets they do reveal are your own - the ones you have kept from yourself. And this is reason enough to travel, to leave home.” -Graeme Sparkes
Now this wise man's quote struck a chord with me. Because as much as traveling has inspired me to travel more, it also lead me to several conclusions about myself. Traveling taught me that I am a speck of the world, not in a harrowing way, but in a dense way. I am just one person among billions, but that is exactly why it's important I lead a life I find important. I want to pursue a life that will make me happy, and at the root of what matters in life is ultimately love, happiness, and purpose.
Like my friend Graeme says, leaving home reveals unknown truths about ourselves. Sometimes leaving our comfort zones encourages personal growth and also appreciation. Studying abroad and traveling have taught me the importance of family and adjustment. Overall, my perception of myself as a foreigner has mellowed. We sometimes cling to our identities because it is easy, but there is much more to the core of who we are than our nationality. And therefore it is essential that we do leave home, even if it be sparingly.
Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Austria, Spain, Ireland
I visited those eight countries. Each were amazing, each significantly different. I hesitate to use the word 'equally' because I cannot be the critic of countries I spent relatively little time in. But I'll tell you this, these countries are beautiful. And not just through terrain and architecture. These countries contain raw energy, they, like the United States and England, have human beings--human nature that sprawls. They contain grunge, and cleanliness. They contain brilliant gems and dull surfaces. They have the very brunt of humanity in their apexes. Because every place, regardless of its language and customs, is a part of this world. And the world we live in has both grime and grace, both loveliness and lividness. And those human emotions--anger, sadness, happiness, love--contribute to the beauty of life. Without them we would be nothing, but with them we are alive, we thrive.
Travel if you can. Travel is perspective.
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