Touring the World – Insights On What is Happening Now!
I’ve traveled to Bath in England, St. Petersburg in Russia, and a small village in the South of France. On each trip, I’ve enjoyed the art museums, the old buildings, the castles, and the remnants of “what was”. I am like many other people who travel the world to get a sense of what life was like there and back then. Perhaps you too were one of the many visiting and looking at old frescoes in Italy, caves in France, great Pyramids in Egypt or Mexico, slave dwellings and ports of departure in Africa, where Washington slept, the brownstone homes of Harlem, and the Great Wall of China….
This does bring history alive. However, what we miss by focusing on the past and the historic tourist attractions is a personal experience in real time of what is happening “now.” By what is happening “now”, I don’t mean that there is a Starbucks or Big Mac’s in China. Because a city/county has things that we are familiar with does not mean that we understand the culture nor does this mean that “they” are seeing things through the same lenses that we use to view the world. Being to the famous places has us focus on what is not relevant if our intent is to understand.
A way to find out what is happening now is to engage in conversation, to connect, and to listen wherever you are. Listening is a way to gain trust and trust leads to better understanding. In engaging in these dialogues, you’ll want to know the cultural “do and don’ts” that are important in order to be respectful of their traditions. While appreciating that on the other side of the table opposite you may be someone who is just as interested in your culture as you are in theirs.
I recall several years ago traveling to Germany and being surprised at how diverse the population was, how young people interacted with one another, and the ways that many German people that I interacted with viewed the changes in their world, our world and their role in it.
While the museum mile, the birthplace of the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven, and the homes and castles dating from 1800 are exquisite, they don’t replace the opportunities I had to meet and get to know the people better.
About the Author: Robert Martin is an fine artist and his paintings can found at http://www.bobmartin-art.com
Great post Bob. Yes – the flavor of a region or country can best be tasted by interaction w/ the people. It adds so much to the travel experience.