There comes a moment in most peoples lives where they feel inspired to really experience the world around them. For some people, they sacrifice their time and their parents hard earned money to study abroad in France or England, while others opt to travel the world to broaden their cultural understanding and really just "de-stress" from the difficulties of higher education. I, however, decided to take the road less traveled. This summer, I chose to embark on a journey that many have only seen through ABC's primetime programming.
This summer, I lived in a suburban, upper middle class neighborhood.
While I could write a novel with all of the knowledge I have gained through my enlightenment, I will share with you a few of the most significant impressions I've gathered from my time on this expedition.
It's Nothing Like the TV Shows
I cannot stress this point enough, everything you see on TV about suburbia has it all wrong. You think you tune in every week to watch their "real" conflicts about love and morals? Amateur hour. You have no idea what it's like to decide between the three cheese or pepperoni Bagel Bites. What it's like to travel to the neighborhood over to visit some Pokestops. When everyone's using the WiFi and Netflix doesn't come in at a crisp 1080p. I guess I just had to sacrifice a little more than others.
The People Here Have A Different Way of Life
Sometimes you have to escape from the hustle and bustle of college life to really appreciate how the other half lives. You don't think about how different cultures can be until you're placed inside one you're not comfortable with, you know? Just the other day, I was shopping at Whole Foods looking for some grass-fed, free-range tofu for my vegan empanadas, when I realized that some people were actually purchasing gluten filled pastry dough. It just never hits you until you actually live it.
You Need To Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
The number one question I get about my trip is "Were you scared about doing this on your own?" The answer is of course I was scared, but you learn to channel that fear into something you can use to grow as an individual. If you asked me at the beginning of this year if I'd ever spend the majority of my days watching cable TV in an air conditioned house, I would have said you're crazy. Staying up until 1am and sleeping in until 10? Insanity. But when you find yourself in an unknown land by yourself, you either adapt or live slightly more uncomfortably than you're used to. So I adapted.
Everyone Should Travel
Honestly, I really don't understand why people don't just ask their parents for money so they can travel to some place they've never been before. My mom thought I was nuts when I told her that I wanted to leave our diamond encrusted palace to travel to such an exotic land, but I guess it's just a millennial thing. I mean, the chance see a Taco Bell AND a KFC sharing the same building? I mean, you see it on all the celebrity Instagram posts, but to actually experience the phenomenon? Priceless.
