Traveling… has come to mean: something I rarely get to do, but wish I could do more of. I mean, who doesn’t want to TRAVEL, right?
But I realize that traveling and vacationing are two totally different things. Follow me for a second…
Travel: ❤
Yes, it means to go from one place to another place by car, train, plane, bus, bike, or walking. However, it also means…
Spend time within the present culture. Live, work, eat, shop, and be present among the natives. Learn their language and customs. Long-term. Stay awhile. Off the beaten path. Explore. Becoming a native.
Vacation: ❤
Short-term. A week or two. Return home. Live, shop, work, eat, be present at home. Learn cue words in another language to “get around” or “get by.” Stay at a resort. Never leave the resort. Hit up all the “tourist-y” spots.
Most people believe they are traveling b/c they are visiting countries on countries on countries and their passport has stamps on stamps on stamps.
However…
They aren’t traveling in the true sense of the word. They are vacationing.
Okay, yes… they TRAVELED by air, land, or sea to get from home to another place in the world, but that’s about it. 🙂
Both are fine. One is just more immersive and involved than the other. Neither is right or wrong depending on your reasons for travel.
My objective was to point out the differences between them as I have realized there was a difference. ❤
As recently as a few months ago, I have been listening to many travel-inspired podcasts and doing a lot of research about the travel lifestyle. This lead to me having many questions such as:
- Where should I go?
- What to do when I get there?
- Do I need a visa?
- What paperwork will I need to ensure I can stay in my chosen place?
- What about WORKING? Food? Good internet? Beaches? Fun? Living arrangments?
- Is the chosen place a hub to get to other countries easily?
- Are there other people of color, like me there?
- What are their experiences?
- What can I expect culture-wise?
- What should I avoid? See? Taste?
- Etc, etc, etc.
Why?
B/c there’s so much more to life than a crappy “9-5” job, rat race. The United States. This horrible political climate. The police brutality of people of color. Racism. Hatred. Disrespect. Total disregard for human life. Microaggressions. I mean, there’s so much more to life!
I have many places in mind to visit. Places like:
- Thailand
- China
- Japan
- Costa Rica
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Amsterdam
- Spain
- Havana, Cuba
- Panama
- London, England
- Paris
- Italy
- Hawaii
- Greece
- The Maldives
- Anguilla
- Dubai
- Iceland
Not every place listed here will be an immersive travel experience. In fact, most places will only be for vacation since my mission is to find a country or two where I can feel at “home.”
In closing, traveling is a great way to take a break from reality and the tedious routines of life. It’s a great way to experience the world, other cultures, and do many things that are very different from the American way.
After all, the goal is to enjoy life, right? What better way to do that than travel! Do you all have any tips to share? Recommendations? Favorite places? Comment below.
C. Jaye Writes 