The value of travel | Why more should see the world

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Just back after a quick trip to Kenya. Surprise birthday for my closest (we were best man at each other's wedding) friend. Needless to say, he was surprised my wife and I were there. The look on his face made the hours of travel disappear in an instant.

It's a breathtakingly beautiful country. The animals are beyond amazing. People are super friendly.

As we traveled along the terrible roads - roads that have sudden axle-breaking potholes and random speed bumps even in the middle of a "Highway" - you come across an area with spike strips to slow you down were Police point to cars to come to side side for some sort of random inspection. There the motorist will pay some sort of tax or license or fee - much of which is likely going into the pockets of the local police. We were very fortunate as the cars we traveled in had diplomatic plates, so we were never stopped.

Someone in our group related a story from a friend about the contrast with America. They said, "Once I was driving in a US city and was badly lost. As I sat in my car, a policeman pulled behind me and asked what was wrong. I said I was lost. He gave me directions and wished me a nice day. You want to know the biggest difference between my country and America? You can trust your police."

I've been pulled over in Mexico by the Federales and paid my "fine" in cash - it's nothing to compare with Kenya, but the same in principle. Yes, I know there are cynics out there that feel our police are corrupt - certainly there is a bad apple or two - but the 99.9% are there to protect and serve and we have ways that work pretty well to serve justice when it is needed. There is simply no comparison with places like Kenya, and difficult to listen to the complaining.

To see the abject poverty, the way that 80% live - is mind-numbing. I've been to India, I've been to rural China, so I'm no stranger to it. To see the hope and wonder in a child's eyes, no different than your child, and then to see the resignation and toil in the eyes of a prematurely aged adult is gut-wrenching. To have the luck to simply be born in America, versus having the odds stacked against you to be born in a rural 3rd world country is to be given the biggest lottery ticket in your life.

To hear the gratitude from those you are helping, then step away and live your life, is so incongruent as to make you feel you are walking between universes. I spoke at an outpost of an NGO that I and my company sponsor financially and I'm on the board. Because of our donation they were able to set up a training center that does really cool humanitarian work (healthcare translation and transparency/accountability for the last election) - being able to see first-hand the tangible evidence of what that gift did, to hear from the people there, "because of your funding, we have jobs" was far more valuable to me than the check we wrote. Then to be whisked away to enjoy an amazing dinner with friends, with so much food no one could finish their plates, then 24 hours later to be sitting in my comfortable home...it simply does not compute that so much of humanity is so far removed from the luxuries we take for granted and the essentials (clean water, consistent electricity, safe food) that are without question.

So my point is travel changes you. It opens your mind. It makes you appreciate how lucky you are. And it makes the petty complaints seem truly, truly trivial. When I gripe about something, like how I was frustrated with an app on my phone, if my son is in earshot he will often chortle, "first-world problem." The best thing a parent can do for their kids is show them world so they value what they have.

I don't post much on Pelican - but I read it several times a day. It's like checking in on a large dysfunctional family that I'm a peripheral member. But I felt compelled to share this experience and what it left with me, with you.

Carry on...

Christien · Christien's Garage

Awesome post! Couldn't agree more.

I like this new term, "first world problem". Helps keep things in perspective.

scottmandue · 05-22-2013, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

To see the abject poverty, the way that 80% live - is mind-numbing. I've been to India, I've been to rural China, so I'm no stranger to it. To see the hope and wonder in a child's eyes, no different than your child, and then to see the resignation and toil in the eyes of a prematurely aged adult is gut-wrenching. To have the luck to simply be born in America, versus having the odds stacked against you to be born in a rural 3rd world country is to be given the biggest lottery ticket in your life.

^^^This... so many of us Americans (and I put myself at the top of that list) have no idea how lucky we are.

I went kicking and screaming on a Mexico cruise (parents 55 wedding anniversary) and came away feeling the same.

The people were super nice/friendly, the country was beautiful in it's own way, but the poverty was striking... especially walking off the luxury of a cruise ship.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 05-22-2013, 04:54 PM

Thank you Don, brilliantly written. I've been to both India and China as well. It's India that breaks my heart every time I'm there, a nation of natural entrepreneurs, so much potential wasted.

I've never understood those that take living in the U.S. for granted, think taxes are too high, and as your son so aptly says, complain about first world problems. Every day is a blessing to live here.

HardDrive · 05-22-2013, 04:54 PM

Thank you for sharing Don. We have traveled quite a bit in the developing world. It will change you.

John Rogers · 05-22-2013, 05:23 PM

If you travel the world with the idea that you want to learn from all those you meet then you will become very rich. Every place I went in the Navy, for over 20 years I always wanted to stay with local folks, eat local food although some was a tad hard such as baloots, and learn as much as possible. In the 12 to 15 years after I retired every now and then I would get a call from someone that I had met in Samoa, Tonga, China, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Ivory Cost, France, Brazil and others saying they were coming to southern CA and wanted to say hello. I was always honored they would remember......

JTO · 05-22-2013, 05:49 PM

Thanks Don. Wonderful perspective!
Troy

Briana · 05-22-2013, 06:36 PM

Well said Don. Well said.

BernieP · BernieP's Garage

I could not agree with you more. Great post. This is where the term "Ugly American" came from. Some people think that every where is like the U.S.. My only regret in life is that I didn't travel more.

Bernie P

LWJ · 05-22-2013, 06:54 PM

I agree 100%

look 171 · 05-22-2013, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BernieP

I could not agree with you more. Great post. This is where the term "Ugly American" came from. Some people think that every where is like the U.S.. My only regret in life is that I didn't travel more.

Bernie P

Agree 100%. Once in my very early 20s, I had to transfer flight in Taiwan to come back to LA after a two months disappearance act screwing off somewhere. One of the two men in a dark suits ask this small Chinese old man "Is this way to Los Angeles? We need to go to LA". The old man just smiled and ushered then along with everyone else. One of those guy said to the other" Why can they find someone that speak and understand English to work in an international airport?" I looked over at an older woman and she shook her head and rolled her eyeballs at me. Said.

stuartj · 05-22-2013, 07:48 PM

Bravo, Don. Great post. Its about how you travel too. I know a family who took their first overseas trip. When they got there, they found they didn't like the weather, they couldn't understand the locals, they couldn't eat the food, so they spent a week in their hotel watching television. They were in London.

john70t · 05-22-2013, 07:52 PM

When I have need to travel, I tend to swim upstream.
I'll gladly pay top dollar for true local craftsmanship but pennypinch the tourista route even when more convenient.

Stop and smell the roses. Wherever.

BRPORSCHE · 05-22-2013, 09:26 PM

Absolutely. Well written.

Evans, Marv · 05-22-2013, 09:52 PM

Very true. I think about anyone who has traveled to a number of countries feels the same. I had a friend here studying in a graduate program. He was from Switzerland. A comment that made a big impression on me was when he once said, "You know, I feel really free here."

look 171 · 05-22-2013, 10:35 PM

I fail to really understand the all inclusion trips over seas? They live in a huge new compound with big gates, swim all they want in the large hotel pools and have all the foods they can eat, just like home. Yet, they are vacationing an hour north of Cancun. The ocean is 15 minutes walk.

livi · 05-22-2013, 10:55 PM

Thanks for this post. How very true.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Wonderful post, and how true!!

KevinTodd · 05-23-2013, 05:45 AM

What a refreshing post, Don!

I truly believe that I am a much more well-rounded person for having been fortunate enough to travel extensively over the last decade and a half. The impact that the different cultures, traditions and general contact with other ways of life has had on me has only been positive, and I simply view the world differently now.

One thing I never liked from my earlier travels was acting like and being looked at as a tourist--you know--keeping close to the compound where I was staying, etc. It is so much more rewarding to go where the people live and interact with them as the people they are.

The world became a much smaller place for me as result.

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

Living in the UK and working in France when I was 16 and 17 yo during summer holidays helped me understand another culture. One way ticket each time gave me no choice but to tough it out for each three month period. First family was a train wreck and the second was a lot better. Both heads of families were counts and countesses.Working there helps you mix with the locals. If you are a tourist you get treated accordingly.