Turn Off Television and Travel

I watch the news or the commercials for news, and I am appalled at the barrage of doomsday scenarios presented. The alleged scope of danger lurking at every corner makes me want to draw the blinds and sit in the dark. If I believed every thing I heard from television alone, I would give up and surrender to the horror. Sometimes you have to get out on your own, travel, and get dirty.

It is easy to make assumptions about other peoples and cultures, especially if one does not travel or meet others. Or if one's great uncle had a bad experience "up north", the family folklore reinforces itself for decades. I refuse to accept that everyone and everyplace are awful. Lousy service from Florida to California does not mean every one of those states is a hotbed of decay. Neglect at a store counter because the clerk chooses to talk on her cell phone does not mean that all clerks are rude. Frankly, you can spend a day with your own family and be treated with equal rudeness.

I love when people proclaim, "I would never go to (fill in the blank)." Why not? How do you know what the town, city, or country is like, if you do not go and immerse yourself? Presumptions or predispositions to some supposed problem are not the way to plunge into travel. Try to wait until people open their mouths before assuming anything. Listen, observe, and concede that there are alternate ways of doing things.

Sweden, Norway, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand have all offered wonderful travel experiences. Helpful, friendly, and eager to show their country, folks from these countries came in all shapes and sizes. At times I did not know enough of their language to communicate clearly, but hand signals and smiles go a long way.

My husband and I wandered into a small bar/restaurant in Switzerland. The door was open and we were hungry. It was mid-afternoon and we were a bit off track. We knew the word for food, but we unknowingly did not see the café's hours of operations. The few customers in the room were drinking beer and nodded at us curiously. Honoring our request for lunch, the proprietor whipped up a delicious batch of rosti - a potato dish. There was limited vocabulary all around, but we got fed and we paid accordingly. Upon leaving, my husband vocalized our mistake - that they were probably closed for lunch. However, instead of chasing us out, the Swiss were kind enough to feed us and earned a star in our book.

In Austria, we had reservations at an inn in a small town. It was twilight and getting difficult to see. The town had narrow streets and a shortage of street signs. We were in a town circle and lacking a hint of direction. We asked a few people if they knew of this inn, but they shook their heads nicely. Finally, a young man came along and he spoke some English. Better yet, he knew of this place and said we would never find it. We should follow him in our rental car and he would lead us there. Taking off at a brisk trot, he led us down some twisty little alleys and then opened his arms as if to say, "Voila!" Tucked away in a corner of the town was our home for the evening. The young Austrian refused our tip money and took off into the night.

In Germany, my husband and I were visiting and he was working at the Munich Electronika show. We had plenty of opportunity to talk with other sales people as well as answer their questions. The Germans expressed the same concerns as Americans over regular living issues - homes, cars, education, sports, and politics. We might arrive at different conclusions, but people all over the world appear to work hard, play hard, and want the best for their children.

Halfway around the globe, Australians and New Zealanders are eager to share the joys of their countries to travelers. Enthusiastic and friendly people, many have been to America, know someone in America, or plan to visit America. They are knowledgeable of American history, culture, and politics and will engage you in debate. The more you know about their country, the better you can appreciate their viewpoint.

This is all so general, and yet it is a universal truth that needs to be uttered or written as a reminder. I realize the price of travel is prohibitive to many. Lacking transportation and funds, I understand that many folks can only dream of seeing new lands. However, if you have the means, get out of your hometown and see the next town over. Or branch out and take a bus to the next state. Book a ticket and fly across the country or over the ocean. Read a book about the place you are visiting. Be prepared. Talk to people. Mingle. Observe. Turn off the television and dip your toe into the pool of humanity.