3 Important Travel Lessons From Inspiring TED Talks
Life lessons found through travel focus on being in the present moment and immersing oneself in the real world. The personal takeaways when one is able to expand on curiosity, live simply, appreciate another culture, and even befriend a stranger takes lessons home and allow the rest of the world to learn as well.
The featured quotes from TED talks, including Pico Iyer, Rick Steves, Robin Esrock, shed light on the perspectives gained from people who have changed the world and show us how travel gives us the power to learn from them as students, educators, and fellow travelers!
1. DEFINING WHERE HOME IS
Pico Iyers: Photo from TED
Best-selling author, Pico Iyer, is a contributor to more than 200 newspapers and magazines worldwide. In 2013, Iyer discussed the meaning of home when traveling abroad at TEDGlobal.
“And for more and more of us, home has really less to do with a piece of soil than, you could say, with a piece of soul.”
The word, “home”, has a plethora of meanings, even for one individual. As we move throughout our life, home is also relocated because it becomes a part of us. As travelers, there are aspects of “home”, that we may miss, partly due to the fact that “home” is a comfort, while “travel” may not always be comfortable. But “home” is a part of our nature, our identity, our being, and our life. Even elements of “home” include cultural connection.
“And I've always felt that the beauty of being surrounded by the foreign is that it slaps you awake. You can't take anything for granted. Travel, for me, is a little bit like being in love, because suddenly all your senses are at the setting marked "on." Suddenly you're alert to the secret patterns of the world.”
Iyers makes a great point about the beauty of foreign culture. As we travel, we gain a larger perspective about how the rest of the world operates. This transformative experience becomes a lesson in itself, because every moment abroad is an opportunity to learn about “foreign” differences and appreciate the past as it relates to the future. Cultures experienced affect our present and future, when it allows for personal development.
Photo from TED
“Where you come from now is much less important than where you're going. More and more of us are rooted in the future or the present tense as much as in the past. And home, we know, is not just the place where you happen to be born. It's the place where you become yourself.”
The quote above offers interesting food-for-thought. Since travel is about living in the present moment, Iyers’ point about home being where you become yourself is really inspiring. Who wouldn’t want to find a piece of themselves on an international journey? When we return with newly discovered aspects of ourselves, they also become a piece of “home”. Home can be a physical location, or a certain atmosphere may evoke a feeling that makes a person appreciative.
“And home, in the end, is of course not just the place where you sleep. It's the place where you stand.”
Photo from TED
2. FINDING THE VALUE IN TRAVEL
Rick Steves: Photo from RickSteves.com
Rick Steves, American travel writer, best-selling author, activist, and host of a weekly radio has a popular travel column and free travel information available online. In 2011, Steves spoke at TEDxRainier to deliver his perspective on thoughtful travel experiences.
“And when I’m traveling I love this whole idea that travel connects us with culture. When I am traveling I find that there are different slices of culture that I never realized people could be evangelical about. Cheese, for instance. You go to France and they’re crazy about cheese!”
In a humorous way, Steves mentioned how certain realizations might not ever occur without traveling. In numerous countries, there are popular dishes, activities, specific interests, and values that influence the visit. Through exploration and meaningful engagement, we can find out how interconnected we truly are with each other, while discovering what makes the country unique.
“It’s people that really make your experience vital. That’s the mark of a good trip. And it doesn’t need to be like earth-shaking encounters, they can be just silly encounters.”
People make a difference! Steves mentions how encounters with others are critical to one’s experience abroad. Asking questions, saying hello, and getting to know a little of someone else’s story, will open up reflection for your own! It doesn’t matter how grand of a conversation it was, even the smallest conversations offer loads of encouragement and impact. These conversations might even spark inspiration or shift a perspective.
Photo from YouTube
“And then I traveled and I realized we have the American dream, that’s a great thing, but other people have their own dream. Norwegians have the Norwegian dream. Bulgarians have the Bulgarian dream. These people have the Sri Lankan dream. Travel wallops my ethnocentricity, and I’m very thankful for that. It’s something to celebrate. Our dream is beautiful, but so is theirs.”
This is something Steves said that was very encouraging, and so true. Every single person in this world has a story, a dream, and a goal. No matter where we come from, we can all connect to the fact that there are areas in life we aspire to reach. Ethnocentricity, in this instance, is referred to the idea that one’s culture is superior to another. When we travel, we remove those judgements, because we come to realize how amazing the opportunity to celebrate, dream, and travel with each other really is.
Photo from YouTube
3. TRAVELING TO LEARN
Robin Esrock: Photo from Instagram
Robin Esrock, a travel writer and host of World Travels, completed a 46 country adventure. The show filmed in 36 countries and Esrock has asked over a thousand people about their lives. In 2013, Esrock had visited 107 countries on 6 continents and shared his great story at TEDxVancouver.
“I once asked 1,732 people from 46 countries in every conceivable background, three questions about their lives. One of the questions was ‘Finish the sentence: I regret …” The most universal, common answer that I received was “I regret not traveling more.’”
It’s notable to add that those interviewed by Esrock in numerous countries, felt that their experiences abroad were lacking. Even a shorter time abroad can provide value to an individual. From an academic perspective, “approximately one in 10 U.S. students study abroad during their undergraduate career” (USA Study Abroad). Studying abroad is an unbelievable chance to travel the world, while gaining an education. For those who have already graduated, even volunteering or going abroad solo might be attainable. In short, some of us might consider alleviating that future regret, by traveling now.
“Smiling, there’s something about smiling that just projects warmth and honesty, I call it kind eyes, you see it all the time, it’s just like a softening of the soul, it’s why we love traveling in places like Africa and India, even though it can be very challenging. The locals that we meet, the people we meet, they disarm us with their warmth, with their friendliness, you know, with their appreciation, life’s basic pleasures.”
From Instagram
This was a great point made by Esrock about appreciating friendliness. So often, we visit a city, feel rushed or out-of-place, and might not make the effort to connect with the locals. Connecting doesn’t have to be verbal, a smile or even eye contact goes a long way, because it is exchanged as acknowledgement of each other. At the end of the day, we are all the same, and many times, there is a purpose for those you meet abroad.
“And here’s one of the best lessons that I learned, people you meet create the paradise you find.”
In connection with Steves’ past point, Esrock spends time during his TED talk to describe his own encounters with locals and travelers from all areas in the world. Those we meet and connect with will have long-lasting effects on our mindsets and overall comfortability while abroad, and at home. Why miss out on having friends all over the world?
“So I came out here and said I’m going to teach you how to travel. I say, “Well, don’t panic!” Surround yourself with good people, and just know that people will rather help you than hurt you. Listen to your instinct, smile, and, you know, before you go on any journey, make sure you pack the right state of mind, whether or not you’re traveling, whether you’re staying at home. And okay, don’t forget your toothbrush.”
Esrock closed his talk with useful advice. The two words that he said have helped him out in the craziest moments were, “Don’t panic”. Now, panic is natural, but the idea to accept help and trust your gut is a fantastic tip when traveling abroad. He even added in a few packing pointers - pack the correct mindset to enjoy your time!
Photo from YouTube
We hope these takeaways encourage you to think about places you’d like to visit or even study in! All three talks can fuel your own wanderlust before preparing for an epic journey abroad!
For more insight on how travel impacts your life, check out our past blog on "Three Areas in Life Where Travel Benefits Your Future"!
Sources
Esrock, Robin. “Learn to Travel -- Travel to Learn: TEDxVancouver.” YouTube, YouTube, Feb. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0TemlxiMdw&feature=emb_title.
Robin Esrock: Official Website
Iyer, Pico. “Where Is Home?” TEDGlobal, TED, June 2013, www.ted.com/talks/pico_iyer_where_is_home.
Pico Iyer: Official Website
Steves, Rick. “The Value of Travel: TEDxRainier.” YouTube, YouTube, Dec. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYXiegTXsEs.
Rick Steves: Official Website
“U.S. Study Abroad Continues to Increase and Diversify.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 28 Mar. 2019, studyabroad.state.gov/value-study-abroad/highlights-and-activities/us-study-abroad-continues-increase-and-diversify.