When you ask people if they could do anything (and not have to worry about money or any other obligations), most will include “travel” on their list. Ask someone. It’s uncanny.
Or maybe it’s not. Perhaps there’s a strong reason we’d all pack our bags to explore a new locale at a moment’s notice. Scientists have linked an excess amount of dopamine in the brain to extreme wanderlusters and world travelers. Initially, this excess dopamine and the specific DRD4 gene helped our prehistoric ancestors leave shelters in search of food, find mates and discover new habitats. These initial survival needs may have adapted to our present-day and many of us now find ourselves wanting to explore the world.
It often feels superfluous to say that I love to travel. Yet I cannot say otherwise and I have become a passionate advocate for the act. I have been traveling by myself for fifteen plus years and I will say, without a doubt, that exploring the world has been one of my greatest guides and mentors. Journeying to new destinations has taught me things about the world and myself that I would have never experienced otherwise. Some of these include:
EMBRACING SPONTANEITY
I grew up in a large family, (does ten siblings count as large? 😉 ) and we were raised with a structural precision that even the most type-A person would admire. Routine too. With so many children, it’s perhaps the only way. This way of living was ingrained in me and as I started to embark on my own as a young adult, I continued to conduct my life in this fashion. I am not against organizing one’s life in the most functional way, yet when one travels, it doesn’t necessarily translate.
As I continued to find myself in more countries and interact with those that embraced the juiciness of spontaneity, it began to rub off on me. Some may say a little too much. Where plans and structure used to feel safe, I began to crave open-endedness and flexibility. The freer I was to experiences, the better stories I began to create.
A specific example includes my three-week adventure in Cuba, when I decided to go with only two days before my plane departed. I had the first couple of nights of accommodation planned, yet after that I decided to let a Cuban papa (whom I’d never met before) arrange my trip around the Western half of Cuba. It was glorious.
THERE IS MORE GOOD IN THE WORLD THAN THE MEDIA PORTRAYS
It is a common homily amongst travelers that the world is in a better state than what we are led to believe. Especially because of human kindness. We may not always believe or even necessarily experience it in our daily lives at home, yet people who come back from adventures abroad will often boast about the generosity and kindness given. There are countless books and articles written on the topic.
I have been hosted, fed, transported, translated for and taken care of by people who had no obligation or responsibility to me. Former strangers have become beloved friends. This even occurred amidst political boundaries, specifically in Palestine and Israel. Kindness is not stopped at the border and I was shown some extreme generosity from citizens on both sides of the conflict.
The ANSWERS YOU SEEK MAY EXIST OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME COUNTRY
One of my strongest reasons for travel is to learn from cultures different from my own. Many of us (myself included) now live in cities that host and celebrate multiculturalism. Yet there is little compensation for learning about a culture from its source. We have so much to learn and I am a passionate advocate for acquiring information about cultures, their people and the way they’ve developed their belief systems and daily modes of conduct. The culture of another country may even hold the answers you seek to different personal problems or questions. Many of us in the Western Hemisphere now gravitate towards Eastern practices of medicine and there have been few of us who haven’t resonated with or at least have tried yoga, which originates from India.
HOW TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF TRAVEL WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR COUNTRY
With the above being a small love letter to travel, I would be remiss not to mention the global pandemic. It’s idealistic to fantasize about traveling, yet with the ongoing situation of COVID-19, it has made the opportunity to do so impossible for most of us. So how can one still reap the benefits of this beneficial pastime? Even though I would love to be whisked away to a new locale this very instant, I have enjoyed the challenge of continuing to experience other cultures without leaving my country (or even the island I live on). It requires creativity, yet it’s not impossible.
To begin, pick a culture or country you would like to learn more about. If you live in a larger cosmopolitan city, you will have more options to experience a particular culture. Are there museums (or current exhibits) that highlight this country? What about stores selling authentic goods or handicrafts? Festivals, events, theatre performances or concerts (online is a possibility too) are all viable options as well.
Even if you live in a smaller locale, there are still ways to experience the world from your own backyard. Can you take out library books and other resources about your chosen country? Does your hometown have restaurants or menu items from this country’s cuisine? If not, finding recipes of interest and making them yourself is a perfect alternative. Don’t forget to listen to that culture’s music of origin (or a podcast!) and perhaps dine while watching a documentary or feature film from that country.
MY TAKEAWAY
Experiencing the world and her cultures through travel is one of the best ways to learn about the world and grow as an individual. One is also able to do this without ever leaving their own backyard and can do so by visiting ethnic restaurants, taking out library books, watching movies and documentaries and listening to music from around the world. The world is your oyster, so get out in your own backyard and begin to explore it!
Author Bio: Rebecca Dumas
Known as an “observer”, Rebecca has taken this to heart with her love of investigating, exploring and learning about anything that crosses her path. Possessing a fierce fascination for research, Rebecca loves to think “outside of the box” and share her findings in creative and unique ways.
Rebecca’s intrigue with our multifaceted world has always existed and was further ignited when travelled the globe working as a freelance graphic designer. India, Azerbaijan, Cuba and Tanzania are a few countries that have fuelled her love for different cultures, diversity, social justice and equality.
As an optimist and daydreamer, Rebecca continues to advocate for and believe in a world that celebrates multiculturalism, the arts, innovation and diverse thinking.
Find Rebecca on Instagram
You write so well!!!!
As an aspiring writer, this means so much! Thank you, Rosalia! 🙏🏻🌟