Why We Travel

Jamie Clarke kicked off today's presentations by recounting his first attempts to climb Everest followed by Dr. Riza Rasco who abandoned a stultifying career as a research scientist to start poverty eradication programs in rural Africa. Three TCC members then joined a panel to share sublime as well as harrowing experiences from their trips. Once again I was prompted to ask myself "Why do we travel?" And the answer is complicated and nuanced and people travel for many reasons, but I should really begin by asking "Why do I travel"?

Above the kitchen table of my childhood home hung an enormous world map which I happily used to tune out dysfunctional family chatter and bickering by imagining visits to exotic locations like Valparaiso, Tashkent, Antananarivo, and Ulaanbaatar. And back in those days I was led to believe that education would be achieved through years of study at the university. While that experience remained valuable for providing a stepping stone to my various careers, I later realized my real education didn't begin until I started traveling in earnest. Those exotic words printed on a map weren't valid until I actually visited the places---places which have since become cherished elements of my mental furniture. And I wouldn't exchange those experiences for a barrel of gold.

Last night the TCC organized a progressive dinner held at multiple venues in Hanoi; to make this happen safely, each member was assigned a Vespa and a driver. Dat, my driver, was a university student; I literally placed my life in his driving skills as we carreened through the phantasamagoria of nighttime Hanoi. At the end of the night, Dat asked "Mr. Tom, how many countries have you visited?" I mumbled something like "many many countries." A broad grin spread across his face as he replied "I will also visit many many countries!" The gleam in his eyes told me that he got it, that one day soon he'd be on the road to continue his own education---just like the rest of us.

Check out the Obama Bourdain clip at
https://youtu.be/gY_UGdraX7I?si=mA0bR_2ikN4v6PabRead more