What you learn by travelling

What you learn by travelling

By Derek Sivers

I wanted to learn about the world, so I went travelling(ˈtravəl).

People in the east are so graceful(ˈgrāsfəl), I felt like an inconsiderate(ˌinkənˈsid(ə)rət) pig.

People up north are so serious(ˈsi(ə)rēəs), I felt like a lightweight(ˈlītˌwāt) clown.

People down south are so laid(lā)-back, I had to escape north again.

The way we define ourself is all relative to our surroundings(səˈroundiNGz), right? However we differ from the people in our home town is how we define ourself. That’s where we shape(SHāp) our self-identity, growing up. Those are our defining traits(trāt).

But when we go to a different place, the relative comparisons(kəmˈparəsən) collapse(kəˈlaps). Traits like speed, ambition(amˈbiSHən), independence, bravery(ˈbrāv(ə)rē), and humor(ˈ(h)yo͞omər) — they’re all relative.

Back home I’m considered(kənˈsidərd) quiet(ˈkwīət). Here I’m considered loud.

Back home I’m a slacker(ˈslakər). Here I’m a workaholic(ˌwərkəˈhôlik, ˌwərkəˈhälik).

Back home I’m normal. Here I’m strange. Or vice(vīs,ˈvīsē,ˈvīsə)-versa. So how do I define myself now?

I always want to know why a culture is this way. What’s the difference? What are the core beliefs? So I ask questions and observe(əbˈzərv).

On the surface and from a distance, I see their actions. But deeply and closely, I see my reactions.

I want to learn about the world, so I keep travelling.

About the world, I learn a bit. About myself, I learn a lot.

https://sivers.org/trav1