Do you remember the story of John Chau, the Christian missionary who set out for the Andaman Islands to bring Christianity to the Sentinelese?
He was on a misplaced adventure in a prohibited area to meet people who have purposely remained isolated for thousands of year.
While John’s misguided adventure is an extreme case, it brings to mind the thought and mindset of traveling, exploring and meeting other cultures.
As you set your travel calendar for 2019 and beyond, I implore you to do so with the intent to learn and grow, to do so respectfully and to embrace the people, their customs, traditions, and cultures, whether you agree or disagree with them. Go with an open mind and heart. I could go on and on with my opinion but it’s really that simple!
If you’d like to meet people, do so without an agenda to change them, a preconceived notion that they are wrong or the idea of superiority. It should be as a cultural exchange, an invitation that you’ve accepted to understand and learn.
I remember when I was an exchange student in high school. I went to Germany and lived with a family for three months. Maybe because I was a child, I went with an open mind and heart. I had no idea what to expect, I was just excited to go! I knew nothing about the country or the people other than the teacher, who was German. She seemed nice, so when she announced the program and opportunity, I was first in line. I also remember, when I approached my parents about it, they didn’t hesitate to allow me to have this experience.
Those three months shaped me and the experiences are still with me today. I ate what they ate without regard, rode a bike to school as my German sister did and hung out after school with classmates. If something was different, I still embraced it with wonderment. I communicated as best I could with my very limited German and their limited English. We pointed a lot or made gestures to make up for the language barrier. I remember a trip we took in their car. I was always taught to lock the car door when you got in so I did the same thing with them. After about the third time I did it, the mother unlocked the door and said something to me in German. I didn’t understand her so my German sister translated. We only lock the door for safety, not for while we’re driving or riding. Oh, OK, I thought about and it actually made sense. She further explained, if there is an accident you need to be able to get out quickly and you can’t do that with the door locked!
I learned to eat a soft boiled egg from an egg cup, have a cookout near the river on rocks, sunbath topless (yes, they did that there with no shame or second thought …. no suntan lines) and drank beer while eating the biggest pretzel I’d ever seen in a beer garden – the legal drinking age is 16. I don’t remember thinking anything other than, I’m in Germany so I’ll do what they do.
When I returned home, about 20 pounds heavier from all the cheese, pretzels and beer, I couldn’t wait to share my experience with my parents and I shared it all!
If I had gone with preconceived notions or prejudice I would have blocked my joy and experiences.
There are a few quotes that I love and always travel with that I’d like to share with you and for you to hopefully take with you in your mind and heart on your future travels.
“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” – James Michener
Yours truly,
Ja’Vonne Harley, aka, The Traveling Culturati