Traveling seems to be an inherent desire. Some people express this desire in personal introductions. Others express it in their photo albums. Even when we cannot physically travel, we use books and TV to get away from where we are. Our human history has shown that we cannot stay in one place. From our origins in Africa, we have spread to every habitable part of the planet. We have even had visitors to uninhabitable regions from the scientists in Antarctica to the astronauts on the moon.
When we travel, we become children again. There is no curiosity in this world like a child’s curiosity. Having only experienced life for a few years, they know so little and have so much to gain. Every small thing we take for granted is a wonder to their eyes. Imagine seeing a clear night sky or the vast blue ocean for the first time. It is hard to remember those moments in our lives because they happened when we were young. However, it is easy to understand why a child would be awestruck by such sites.
Seeing a different country is like seeing the ocean or night sky for the first time. Observing new food, a new language, and a new environment is sensory overload. Sometimes it can be disorienting at first, but a child like curiosity will soon return from retirement. Each day becomes immersive just like each day from our childhood, and just like childhood, when we reach the end, we wonder how it all went by so fast.
The most you can learn from a trip does not happen during the trip. When we are in a new place, we absorb new information nonstop. From morning to night, we absorb the scenery and culture. Our minds do not have the chance to stop and reflect because if we do, we might miss something.
The time to reflect should occur immediately after travel. On the ride back home, think about what you experienced. How different was it from home? How much was the same? Think about the people you met. Do they remind you of anyone from home?
Reflecting on new experiences is not just a type of college assignment. It is a mental strategy used to make sense of the world around us. Our brain seems to have two ways of thinking. We have our “gut instinct,” and we have a more systematic reflective thinking. Our gut instinct is especially useful in emergency or survival situations. It has been shown that deep, reflective thinking is useful for empathy and understanding complex emotional situations.
Reflecting after visiting a new place builds appreciation and allows us to understand the world a little better. It is also imperative that we communicate what we learn to other people. Most people in the world face infrastructure and economic barriers to travel. Even within this rich country, so many are unable to have the opportunity to travel for the same reasons. If you have travelled, also reflect on your capability to do so.
