Some of us were born to travel # constantly fighting an itch to explore and immerse ourselves in other cultures and landscapes. I’ve read articles about the alleged “wanderlust gene” and how somewhere around 20 percent of us have it within our genetic coding.
It hasn’t been identified as an actual, scientific thing, but I have an idea of what it must feel like. Even if it’s all nonsense, there’s no doubting the I can’t wait to get out of this town feeling. Many of us experience it at least once growing up, and some of us take it to the next level by trying to convince our parents to let us go to Israel on a free Birthright trip. (It almost worked for me.)
Opportunities to travel are endless. Get a car, buy a plane ticket, apply for a passport if necessary, and head on over to your destination.
If you’re a student, check out the study abroad trips offered through your school and ask about relevant credit hours. Investigate other traveling opportunities offered through organizations that allow you to travel at a minimal cost or for free if you give time to volunteer.
If Grandma lives in Ireland, go visit her. If your longtime PenPal lives in Japan, go finally meet face-to-face.
But it isn’t that easy. It’s never that easy, but it’s especially not easy to travel on a whim.
I think traveling in any form is difficult for the majority of people because the majority of people are working, going to school, taking care of other humans and/or animals, or balancing it all. You’ve got so much to consider: taking off work, including or leaving behind family, getting permission to miss class if you’re in school and most importantly, money. Money money money.
Sure, people can afford plane tickets. People can afford to convert their US dollars to another country’s currency if need be. People can afford to take a year off to “find themselves,” Eat, Pray, Love style.
But not everybody can, especially young students. That’s why it is so frustrating for those of us with this proposed “wanderlust gene” to stay put. We know how easy it is to travel, technically, but we also know that we have obstacles and expenses.
That isn’t to say traveling is imperative to live a happy life, but I think it’s part of living a full, enriched life for people who are curious or don’t feel like they belong where they are. For the born-travelers, living in one town when there is a whole world out there doesn’t cut it.
