Someone sent me the transcript from a commencement speech. The title and beginning featured a slightly shocking pattern interrupt. In other words, they caught me by surprise. I found myself so intrigued I read further, and eventually realized that, unlike 99% of everything else I ever receive, I could not stop reading this. I have included it below in its entirety for your enjoyment and pondering.
In terms of travel the essay is a good reminder to not skip through places just to say, "I've been there," but to really take to heart what we're seeing. It's too easy to start counting countries, ticking them off, and not actually see anything. Instead, savor each place, each city, each moment wherever you are, whether it's abroad or in your hometown. And while you're at it, make a difference to the people you meet along the way. Represent your country, your values, your beliefs and teach, share, and learn. The moments I remember are almost always moments that I connected with someone or learned something meaningful about the people or culture I am visiting as a guest. Those moments don't happen automatically, though. They require some effort and some desire on the traveler's part.
Our dreams should always be bigger than our memories!
Nice commencement speech. I agree on not just ticking off countries. While I certainly have a list of places to see it’s important to experience the places and not just check them off one’s list. I recently read a post by another blogger who expressed her dislike of the phrase “I did [insert country name]” because a few days or even weeks in a country isn’t enough to be able to ‘check it off’ the list and say you’re done with it: http://lifeasanexpatingermany.blogspot.de/2012/05/i-did-thailand-laos-and-malaysia-check.html I’ve lived in Germany over half a year and there is still so much to see. Even if we get to all the places I want to see here and in Europe I know there is still so much I’ll have missed.
Just saw this now, but very interesting point your blogger friend made. I agree that I don’t feel like I’ve ever seen all of a country. That would be quite a feat!
Yes it would. I’m not sure I could ever even say I’ve seen “all” of a city. We’ve been to Mannheim several times and I’ve barely seen any of it. We live in Heidelberg and have seen much of it but still haven’t gone to the castle.
Thought provoking words. Would that all who hear or read them take them to heart. In our journey through life we do not know how sometimes the smallest thing can make a difference in some one life. Virginia
Thanks for your comment, Virginia. I absolutely agree! Sometimes you don’t know that you’re making a difference- that’s the theme of one of my favorite movies, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”