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Reflections on tourism, privilege, and extreme individualism.
I love to travel to other countries. It pushes me to get out of my comfort zone. I must be in the present moment as everything is new, different and therefore harder. It also allows me to see the world and my life differently. I get to compare and contrast the large things such as lifestyle and values, and the small things such as how a salad is prepared there versus at home.
This year I had the privilege to travel to Greece in August. I think of going to Greece as a privilege because it is far away (as a Canadian), expensive, and therefore not everyone will be able to experience it. It was an amazing vacation because we also had the good fortune to spend time with a family who has property and relatives in Greece. This meant that we were able to not only see the tourist attractions but also able to experience Greece in a way that the average foreign tourist may not. We are also fortunate that we have the means to travel as a family with our son — he gets to see and form his own opinions on different parts of the world. I hope that he sees the world more through the lens of a traveler than a tourist.
When I think of a traveler, I think of someone who spends their days observing life in the places visited with more emphasis on authentic local experiences. This may include staying in apartments rather than hotels, eating from small restaurants serving local food rather than chains, wandering through streets rather than lining up for that perfect Instagram picture…
