Traveling Fast and Slow
I’m thinking a lot about the differences between being a tourist and a traveler. We are experiencing both at times and it’s just interesting to reflect on the contrast.
Some random musings on the subject;
Time: I’m very aware as we move quickly through Mexico City, Tokyo and Kyoto. We tried to give ourselves spacious time to spend in each country but we forgot to account for the speed of our visitors. So for example; while we have 7 weeks in Japan, my sister’s family only has two. As a result, we are together moving quickly so they get a snapshot of this place… before we have an opportunity to settle in next month. It was a similar situation in Mexico — when my mom arrived, time sped up. And while our days are full and our stops are exciting, we are only seeing the tourist highlight reel of the neighborhoods, shrines, restaurants, etc. There’s little down time to wander streets and get lost, or develop routines that match the rhythms of the local community.
Quality of interactions: as tourists we are focused on what’s comfortable, entertaining, highly interesting for our group, and delicious. And it’s really fun, every day!! But also, we don’t have an opportunity for local connections. In Oaxaca I could have some deeper conversations with local friends, guides and teachers. These moments took some time to cultivate and required earnest outreach that could have ended in rejection! No time for that when we are in a new city every few days.
Impact of visit: with a little extra time and care, we were able to learn about ways in which we could be useful as we travel. We could donate clothing, money or food to organizations that could make use of the resources. Turning inward, we also could be more deeply impacted by the learnings, like changes in our behavior based on an awareness of local energy and water consumption. My kids now have a much clearer sense of what drought looks like, or how beachside development impacts crocodile habitats. Let those lessons live on.
We’ll continue to speed up and slow down over the coming month. I am genuinely grateful to have precious family and friends visit us on the road, and will look to find balance in these tourist/traveler experiences!
