07.10.08
Seeing the world, one inch at a time
As my schedule for a busy July month sorts itself out, it’s time to look ahead to August, and plan a trip for the summer.
This is an idea that I first began to float last year, and it’s become more pressing as I’ve watched a good friend finish her seven-year quest for the PhD: I’ve set a specific goal of seeing at least one new thing every month, and at least one bigger trip in the area each year.
There’s a big disconnect at work here, though: grad school isn’t something that encourages broadening your horizons beyond the bounds of the office, and when we travel, we go far (as for conferences). The result is a set of people who might have packed across most of the world, without ever seeing much of the neighborhood near their home of so many years.
And for me, that misses the point of travel. “Tourist” spots have never really held much excitement for me, and when I go somewhere new, I try to live it, not just visit. Sometimes that means sneaking through back alleys to unusual ethnic restaurants, and other times it means kicking my shoes off in a little corner of parkland paradise in the late evening, before an outdoor concert. If I do end up in a tourist attraction, it’s usually something with a twist- like sneaking through the back ways at Ellis Island, or calling a friend to make sure that I line up exactly the same shot to compare to a photo they’d taken, six months earlier.
(The latter is partly a way to see a favorite spot change with the seasons- but there’s also something very intriguing about matching footprints with those of someone I otherwise may not have seen in years)
So- the point? Oftentimes, it’s all too easy to seek the exotic with the help of a plane ticket. But especially as travel becomes more expensive, I think it’s important to realize just how much fun can be had by playing the tourist in one’s own home. I may never live in this part of the country again- but I will be able to see that I’ve actually done more than just pass through. And as I keep looking for the little things, it’s a real treat to bring those around me along for the ride, and to see that wonder of discovery all over again.