LONELY PLANET travel guides, in an attempt to interest individuals in applying for their American passports, printed a bumper sticker that read:
Do Something For Your Country. LEAVE.
In my opinion this is a brilliant bumper sticker, I'd like to shout it from the rooftops and dance a jig. However, I realize that this slogan could not possibly be effective for their target market. In fact many people would take offence to the bumper sticker or just not understand it. The people at LONELY PLANET who I'm sure love the bumper sticker just as I do, all have passports, just as I do. To like the sticker, you have to have left.
The truth behind the bumper sticker: When you visit another country there is no denying that there are different ways to do things which gain the same results. A simple example is drinking your morning coffee from a bowl in France. (For Coffee in France visit www.gottalottahope.com/blog/blog11/) Why didn't I think of that? Basically, when traveling one's reality is questioned and shifted forcing one to regroup and forcing one to think beyond the norms of the country of one's residence. Travel is freedom, and power. And the freedom and power to be inspired: My inspiration was fashion and textile and the joy of combining traditional dress with modern style. For others it's cuisine or art or even spirituality. Or a combination of them all! Traveling awakens the sleeping monotonous soul.
And how does this do something for our country? It opens our minds to new ideas and ways of life. It allows us to feel familiar with the unfamiliar, thus allowing us to make more confident decisions and perhaps unexpected decisions. It improves our problem solving skills because we know that there are different, equally effective ways of doing things. It opens our minds and gives us the power to explore options. And hey, if nothing else our conversations are more interesting than the latest TV series!
If high school students were encouraged to take a year to study abroad I believe we'd have a much more balanced nation. Like the Europeans and the Australians, Americans should encourage a "gap" year (the year in between high school and University) when young people of those countries travel the world.
So to encourage the travel bug, my bumper sticker would read
Think Freely. VISIT SOMEWHERE ELSE
Cheers & Ciao for Now,
And for more fabulous information from Gina. visit her website at www.GottaLottaHope.com
