The President of Costa Rica mentioned during a recent conference that those of us in the travel industry are the peacekeepers of the world. When I saw a friend post that to Facebook it made a big light bulb go off above my head. That makes so much sense! No, I don't have diplomatic responsibilities for the State Department or put myself in harm's way on the battle field, but we do send millions of people each year to foreign lands on journeys of discovery.Whether it is for relaxation, adventure, or a celebration travel can lead people to question their assumptions about other cultures, recognize the common thread of humanity in people around the world and appreciate home a bit more. Once you have taken the chance to fully immerse yourself in conversation with someone new you're bound to take away some new knowledge. Armed with that knowledge, I'd like to believe people are more likely to think before disparaging another group or question how a family might be dealing with the ravages of a natural disaster that they may have glossed over before meeting someone from there.
If you've read my blog or known me any amount of time you'll know one of my passions is talking to people just about everywhere I go on a trip. I still remember the dining room waiter from India on my first cruise and the taxi driver who engaged in deep discussions about economic policy and racism driving from hotel to hotel in Riviera Maya. Whether on vacation or business, each one of these strangers made an impression.
I'd been doing lots of deep thinking about how to use my talents in a way that impact the world in a more meaningful way. What a revelation, I already do! Every time one of you pulls out that passport, heads out on a cool excursion or lingers at the lido buffet talking to the cook, I am spreading a little peace.
My challenge going forward is to remind you that your trips are about way more than budgets and room categories; it's about expanding your mind in the way that best suits you and spreads that spark around the world.
I went through some of my recent pics to see where I looked the most alive. It looks like it really is when I'm traveling and spending time with family. Whether we were in another country or just down the Georgia coast, we were learning something about the world around us and the impact of the unique people around us. So here are a few of my favorite memories. I'd love to hear about yours!
From top left:
1. In Veracruz with the shaman who evidently thinks I'm squeezably soft. Talk of Brujas (witch) would definitely not happen in my everyday life, but it was fascinating to see the mingling of strong Catholic faith with Pagan beliefs. The discussion with colleagues that followed about the experience sparked a discussion about the benefits of meditation that made me seek out some classes back in Atlanta. (Actually, it's the same person whose post inspired this topic!)
2 & 5. At Sea World with my son. Even in the land of theme parks (Orlando), we still found some consciousness expanding activities. My son loves anything to do with animals, but has definitely thought critically about the balance of educational value and fun versus questionable practices of zoos. (Have you seen Blackfish on Netflix? If you're curious about the back lash against Sea World it's a good conversation starter.)
3. Cruising - With crew from dozens of countries and a good passenger mix you're bound to interact with folks with a different background. I've become Facebook friends with a few people I've found I have more in common with than anyone at home. The kids also meet new friends in the kid's club away from the social pressures of school.
4. In Nassau with my host in the People to People program. Instead of another beach trip, we opted to see the island through the eyes of a local we were matched with through the Bahamas tourism office free program. My son seemed quite disappointed to realize kids who live on an island aren't really on vacation every day. Our host's friends even welcomed us into their home where we discussed their affection for Duck Dynasty. Can you imagine how other people are judging us by these reality shows? LOL
6. On a shrimp boat in south Georgia. One of the crew members could tell you anything about the health of the coastal region and the price trends of local shrimp with the acumen of a stock trader though he had a basic education by most standards.
