30 Things Travel Taught Me
Issue 102
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Let's celebrate together...
One of my favorite things about travel is the way it opens minds, and subsequently, how that allows strangers to become friends in a matter of seconds or an experience that once seemed terrifying to all of a sudden seem like it’s just the right place and time to try it.
Most recently, I was in the Cayman Islands for the Cayman Cookout and as I approached the food stand where I anticipated being served a taco, I was handed a grasshopper and scorpion by Andrew Zimmern, instead. While I’d eaten grasshoppers in Guadalajara on a previous trip, scorpions always made my skin crawl – even if they were deep fried. But I thought ‘Well, I can’t seem like a loser in front of Zimmern, someone who’s made a career on eating some pretty weird things,’ so I ate the scorpion and washed it down with mezcal. It was seemingly tasteless, more of a savory snack but still my mind couldn’t get over the matter so I wasn’t craving another one. But still, I said yes (stick with me, I promise).
Looking back on it, though, this was one of those extremely candid interactions that turned into one of the highlights of the trip. A seemingly casual brush-in turned into an entire experience and reminded me once again of travel’s mesmeric force.
On the plane home, I started thinking more about these moments, particularly as I have been in a sentimental stage leading up to my 30th birthday. That’s right, I buried the lead here — Friday is my 30th birthday and I wanted to celebrate with you all. While I originally intended on dedicating the issue before my 30th birthday to 30 adventures one must take, I decided to make it a bit more personal, sharing lessons that travel taught me in hopes that no matter what trip you take, whether it’s trying a new dinner spot in the next town over or flying to Peru to hike Machu Picchu that it reminds you of the open mindedness and learning experiences evoked by travel.
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Personal
Confidence. I won’t dive too deep here, but a colleague recently asked me the biggest lesson I’m taking with me from my 20s into my 30s and “confidence” came out of my mouth before I even processed the question. I said it for a reason, and I know it’s true. Travel encourages growth which evolves to confidence.
Listen more. Just because someone is telling you a story that relates to a time you did a similar thing, doesn’t mean they want to hear it (this is most common when it comes to travel stories like that time you were also riding a camel in the Arabian desert and felt scared). Let their story exist without comparisons.
Speaking of comparison — it’s the thief of joy. I’ve learned this the hard way from scrolling Instagram in a beautiful destination, only to fixate on someone in a country I’ve been dying to visit captured in a picture perfect frame. I’ll say it again, comparison is the thief of joy. (I believe the original quote is from Theodore Roosevelt).
The best way to get to know a new city is on a long walk or run before businesses open and sidewalks fill up. Turn down cobbled streets that don’t support cars, stop and take in the silence, listen for unfamiliar sounds (I just loved the call to prayer in Morocco and Jordan). Use the dawn as a time to connect your senses and energy to the destination.
Always make time for sunset. This one Nicaragua taught me — where the world slows down at golden hour, locals and tourists’ eyes are drawn to the globe melting into the Pacific and nothing could be more important for that half an hour after the sun disappears and leaves behind a wake of pastel patchwork above.
Try to catch some sunrises too, even if that means wrapping yourself in your hotel bedding to fight off the cold during a magical moment in the Atlas Mountains. I believe the best sunrises are witnessed by a body of water, but city sunrises aren’t so bad either, with nature reminding of its force over our day.
Always take the photo, but once you get it, remember to put down the camera and soak it in mentally, too.
In-room breakfast in bed is good for the soul.
Nature-fueled destinations remind us of our miniature size in the universe. It doesn’t need to be a far-flung destination as the sommelier at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island told me — any place where the sky takes up three quarters of your vision is humbling.
Along these lines, trips that encourage disconnecting really do impart the most impact. For me, this occurred on three separate occasions: 36 hours in the Jordan desert, five days in the Zambian bush and a week on the Amazon River in Brazil. I don’t need to tell you that throwing technology aside helps you be more present; you can experience the journey more wholly.
The window seat is the best seat on the airplane — there’s something about soaring above the clouds that is innately freeing and when you catch a sunrise, sunset or thunderstorm, it’s ethereal. Then slowly watching your destination creep into view — that’s a feeling I live for.
Eat the weird thing, only if it’s once (like my scorpions with Chef Zimmern) or grasshoppers in Mexico. Durian in Thailand or fish eyeballs in China.
People-watch often — preferably in a plaza with an aperitif — especially looking out for the traditions of the older generations and the contagious vibrancy of the youth.
Don’t take a trip only to tick a box. Just because a city might be on the majority’s “bucket list,” doesn’t mean it’s the right trip for you. Individuals travel for different reasons and are stimulated by different things; use lists as inspiration but then think about the purpose of your trip, or what you really want from the trip, and choose from there. For example, do you want a lazy vacation where you can actually read a book? Or do you want a more educational journey where you’re learning from museums and cultural institutions? Do you want to learn how to cook? Do you want a hair-raising adventure?
Popular to contrary belief, travel, itself, doesn’t heal but it gives you the time and space you need to start the process.
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Practical
Before traveling, always research at least three things you want to eat, do, or see. Pre-trip research can be overwhelming and sometimes set unrealistic expectations, so I like to cap it at a few “must-dos,” which, admittedly, typically revolve around food or drink. Once you’re on the ground and taste, see, or do your first reputable “thing”–- whatever that may be — you can ask the locals there for their favorite places and start building a bigger list.
If you’re into collecting memorable and meaningful trinkets from a trip, also research what the region is known for prior to travel (handwoven linens, dried palm baskets) There are a lot of fakes out there; you want a high quality, authentic token.
If you travel often, keep one credit card in your passport holder in case you happen to forget your wallet at home or lose your wallet while on the road.
Always pack a duffel bag for easy transport of souvenirs on the return trip.
Before a trip to an ESL destination, take the time to learn basic phrases in that language – even if you screw it up, the effort shows interest and automatically fosters connection at a human level.
A smile also goes a long way when it comes to attempting to navigate a foreign language. As does universal body language; you’d be surprised how much you can efficiently communicate without speaking.
Weekend and night flights are for books, movies and vegging out a.k.a. *you* time.
Travel always comes with hiccups. It’s cliche to say “it’s about the journey not the destination,” so I won’t say that but when you get in the car, expect traffic; when you book a plane ticket, prepare for delays — the way you prepare for glitches will define how you react to them, and ultimately create a much smoother process.
Also, accidents happen — purchase the travel insurance.
People like to say that drunk women in the bathroom are the most supportive and empowering encounters (sorry men, look up the memes), but truthfully, I think airport bars are the place to go where all bets are off and kindness is copious. Not the lounge bar either, the bars in the middle of the airport where 7 a.m. airport beers are flowing or overpriced wine accompanies an overpriced salad.
Be kind to the flight attendants, the hotel staff who open the door and greet you with warm smiles, and the Uber driver who may talk too much — not just because they're doing something for you or because you want something from them, but because they are real people who deserve real respect.
Make friends with locals, whether they’re half your age or double, take the hike with them, attend the asado with them, let them show you the best restaurants; see the destination not just as a blip in time but as their home.
Make little notes at the end of your day, especially while traveling – they don’t need to make sense to anyone but you.
Say yes to new things at least once: try the street food. Learn a local song, colloquialism or term. Order the regional speciality or house recommendation. Buy the handmade goods. Volunteer to learn a new skill. Try a new dance. Take the local transport. Visit the attraction you traveled to see despite uncooperative weather. Wear the regional outfit or accessory (respectfully). And if you don’t know how to say yes, a simple head nod will do or here’s how to say it 10 other ways: Sí. Oui. Ja. Sim. Tak. Ya. Da. Ye. Nai. Hěi.
*(In order: Spanish, French, Danish, Portuguese, Polish, Indonesian, Eastern European, Korean, Greek, Cantonese).Individual travel is necessary for growth but sharing travel with those you love is an invaluable and irreplaceable experience for your bond together.
Thank you all for your continued support as I enter my new decade having been able to reflect on what seems like a lifetime of my 20s. I look forward to sharing the next year to come, and many years after that, here with you all.
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Some recent articles:
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Espresso Martinis, Rosé Are Delta’s Newest Onboard Drink Offerings
XOXO,
J
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