Why We Travel Post-Reading Questions:
1. Considering the pre-reading question “Why do you travel?” – Do your reasons align with Iyer’s essay? Please explain.
Yes, because I said we travel to experience new things and get new insight on the World. Iyer goes into more detail on why we travel saying “we travel to lose ourselves”. I think this is a good quote because when I travel I become awed by what I see and want to stay there forever. Travel is a great experience and it gives you more knowledge on the world around you. It’s nothing like looking at pictures in a book but being able to see things in person.
2. Iyer says, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new places, but in seeing with new eyes.” What does this mean? How might this relate to you?
If you have never been to a place before you are seeing it with new eyes, because you’ve never been there and things are a lot different in real life than they are in pictures. When you’re seeing something in person it gives that thing dimension, life and meaning. This relates to me because I have never been overseas, I have always seen pictures of magical places but it’s not the same as being there and standing on their land. I will be seeing things I have never seen before and that gives this quote even more meaning.
3. Iyer says, “What gives value to travel is fear.” What does this mean? How might this relate to our journey?
Iyer means that people fear traveling because you are leaving behind what you know and entering a new territory. You can’t bring your whole house with you, only the possessions you can carry. We are leaving and giving a new place a chance to wow us. This relates to our journey because many of us have not traveled without our parents. Let alone out of the country. Some might be afraid of airplanes, or even airport security. I know for me it is security because they are so strict on what you can and can’t bring. Once I get past that, I will be free to go on a journey of a lifetime.
4. Iyer talks about a traveler being a human “carrier pigeon”, transporting ideas and cultures from one society to another. Do you believe that travelers have a responsibility to share their knowledge and experience with all they visit and those they return to?
Yes, I think it is important for people to learn about new places. It’s interesting to share a places sites, customs and new foods that they tried. They should tell them all about what they liked an didn’t. When you get back from a trip all you want to do is sit there and look through pictures. If you share that with someone then they might get excited and start wanting to book their trip. I always want to know about my dad’s trips when he gets home and he is always learning something new.
5. Please find your favorite quote and explain why you chose it.
I have two favorite quotes that stuck out to me. One is “We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.” I think this is very true, I travel to learn about the places I go and see the miraculous beauty that’s within their borders. Whenever I go somewhere I instantly fall in love and you could ask me about it and I could probably tell you what I did the whole time. My vacations hold a special spot in my heart. The second quote is “Abroad is the place where we stay up late, follow impulse and find ourselves as wide open as when we are in love.” I have never studied or even been abroad, but this quote gets me so excited for the trip. I think I will just be in awe by everything I see and can’t believe I am actually there. I will just want to stand there for a moment and just stare. I can’t wait I am so excited.
