Why we travel?
Outline
Your travels
Why travel?
Why travel top 10
Why should young people travel?
Why don't Americans travel?
Self-imposed Isolation
Long way Round / Long Way Down review
A geographer's perspective
Your travels
Describe where you have traveled and what brought you to these places. What was the motivation for the trips?
As I said in my bio, I have been to the following countries: South Korea, Thailand, UAE, Bahrain, Italy, and Canada. Uncle Sam brought me to these places; I was legally required to participate.
Why travel?
How does Huberman (Why Travel?) explain to her friends in Maine why she travels? Comment on some of the experiences she describes, and what she sees as the ultimate reason for travel.
Huberman states “I’ll be exposed to new ways of doing and seeing things. It will be good for me.” She elaborates on her travel to India. As Americans, we typically throw our trash into trashcans; this is not the case in India (or as her friend says, ‘India is one giant dustpin’). So, out of necessity and to keep up with the local customs, Huberman tossed her trash on the ground. She finally ends with, “only from the outside can you look in”. From my point of view, this means to fully understand your own culture, you must go experience other cultures as well.
Why travel top ten
From the list of ten reasons, pick three that would be the most important to you and explain why.
1. It teaches you about the world.
Not a lot of Americans travel outside their hometowns, let alone to another country. Being in different countries exposed me to different cultures. Some normal, some odd (dog is really delicious in South Korea). What we see and do in America on a day to day basis doesn’t necessarily mean it is the “norm” in other countries, and vice versa.
2. It provides you with unforgettable moments and experiences.
In the same vain as #1, travelling to other parts of the world gives you great memories. For example, I rode elephants through the jungle in Thailand, rode dunebuggies in the desert in Dubai, saw the Tree of Life in Bahrain, and various other activities that I probably shouldn’t type here. Point is, none of this would have been possible, nor ever crossed my mind, until I actually went there and experienced it all.
3. It provides you with stories you can tell your children and grandchildren.
I always love telling my son stories from my time in the Navy. I always heard stories from my grandpa from his time in, mainly in the Caribbean. I was always mesmerized. So when my son asks me, I always have fun telling him stories. From seeing the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican in Rome, to whale watching and eating poutine in Victoria, BC, I hope to instill a sense of hope and happiness with my son. And who knows, maybe one day he’ll travel the world as well, and I’ll get to hear his stories as well.
Why should young people travel?
Comment on Peterson's arguments for why young people should travel. What are the six reasons and can you think of more?
1. You’ll get out of your comfort zone
2. Travelling builds confidence
3. You will develop cultural sensitivity
4. You can adapt to globalization
5. Be immersed in a 2nd (or 3rd) language
6. Infinite opportunities to network
Some of these were the same as the previous article. However, #4 and #6 are different. Adapting to globalization simply means, in this day and age, many jobs require international travel. With more knowledge of the local customs, one can easily fit in. That ties into the networking. With greater outreach of people in different countries (either friends or work related), being exposed to other cultures will help greatly.
I can not think of any other reasons than the ones already stated.
Why don't Americans travel?
What are some reasons why Americans don't travel.
The biggest reason in my opinion is that the United States is already heavily diverse. Particular to the bigger cities, many cultures are already present. From this, it seems to me that Americans prefer not to travel to a foreign country, when they are probably in the vicinity of a neighborhood that is culturally diverse.
Self-imposed Isolation?
Each of us lives in varying degrees of isolation from the rest of the world. This isolation is both happenstance and self-imposed. If we are born in an isolated part of the world with few opportunities to travel, we will likely lead an isolated existence. Self-imposed isolation occurs when have many opportunities to see other parts of the world but choose to spend our time and resources in one tiny area. We isolate ourselves because we are afraid or uncomfortable in other parts of the world.
Describe the lives of some people you know and how they engage in self-imposed isolation.
This is kind of hard to answer, simply because most of the people I know travel all the time (especially with everyone I served with). If I could come up with an answer, I suppose it would be the people I work with. Most of them haven’t left Omaha to venture out.
Long way Round / Long way Down review
I hope you've enjoyed these two series. To what extent do you agree with Wallaston"s (Motorcycle Emptiness) review?
I do not agree with what was said.
A Missing Geographic Perspective
As a geographer, my criticism of the series is that the two motorcycle riders display little geographic knowledge. As actors, their geographic education is probably limited. Comment on a particular scene from either series where a knowledge of physical or human geography would have helped understand what they experienced. Draw on any other geography course you might have taken.
I think them trying to cross Russia westward was a bad idea. The different terrains alone was bad, plus the political landscape. I believe they would’ve been better off going the other way, and only barely going into Russia. Would have saved them a lot of time and energy.
Submitted by Ryan Chadwick on 1Feb19.