May 4, 2019 -
"Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not" - Shakespeare
I remember in the days before Episode I, we were deep into our learning curve about travel. It was the last days at work before I retired and we were planning a trip to London and Scotland. The news was showing how some madman had run over some people on a London bridge and I was asked if I was concerned about terrorism. She went on to comment that she could never travel because of that unless it was to a very safe place like perhaps Disney World or Hilton Head.
I knew that was not the right choice. I understand travel isn't for everyone, but that view felt wrong.
I guess we were concerned on some level. One of the reasons we chose England for our first extended travel experience was it felt accessible and safe.
One of the problems with 24 hour news cycles is that fear sells. We are bombarded with horrible stories all the time and it is easy to become fearful of the world.
However, you have to ask yourself what people in other countries think of the U.S.A. They also get 24 hour new shows. We have so many mass shootings here. It is easy to imagine a foreign traveler might be fearful to come here. Would you tell them not to come? Would you tell them America is too violent and should be avoided? America is one of 6 other countries that account for 50% of all the gun violence in the world. We are exceeded only by Brazil, but not by much.
Check out this map -
When there is a shooting, like the recent tragedy at a synagogue, would you say that represents the entire country?
The truth is the most common crime you experience while traveling is petty theft. You are far more likely to encounter pickpocketing, stealing your unwatched bag, scams, etc than actual violence.
That doesn't mean violence doesn't occur.. Despite the rarity of the event, the statistics are 100% for a victim. I am not trying to diminish that reality.
But, the truth is the likelihood of violence is rare and we have reached the conclusion that it should not prevent you from seeing the world. Far from it. The more you visit other cultures, the more communication develops between us. Travel fosters empathy and understanding. You realize quickly that all Muslims do not hate you and people, for the most part, are warm and generous. They are eager to learn about you and to share their world.
This does not mean you should be stupid. It is so important not to be stupid. Colleen and I enjoy seeing exotic locations but have no desire to check out the sites in Syria. North Korea is not on our bucket list. We don't go to bars late at night, get intoxicated, and walk home dark alleys asking for trouble. (We don't do that here either). There are steps you can take to mitigate your risk.
Planning and research are important. This is particularly true for women where, unfair or not, the rules are different. Try to learn as much about the place you are going before you travel. The most important rules are try to be 'situationally aware' and , again, don't be stupid.
An example was our recent trip to India. When Pakistan and India started shooting at each other, we changed our plans and moved away from the border. We were never really in danger, but taking prudent steps is always a good idea.
I have attached a couple of good resources with helpful hints. You can find them at the links below -
We also try hard not to embrace the well known trope of the 'Ugly American'. Americans often feel the notion of coming from a superior nation and transmit that arrogance while traveling. It only leads to trouble. I am not saying you should be meek but you should realize that other countries also have pride and a place in the world.
Aaron Sorkin writes, " .....with a straight face, you’re gonna tell me that America is so star-spangled awesome that we’re the only ones in the world who have freedom? Canada has freedom. Japan has freedom. The UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, Belgium has freedom! So, 207 sovereign states in the world, like 180 of them have freedom.
...........there’s some things you should know.
One of them is: there’s absolutely no evidence to support the statement that we’re the greatest country in the world. We’re 7th in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, 178th in infant mortality, 3rd in median household income, number 4 in labor force and number 4 in exports.
We lead the world in only three categories: number of incarcerated citizens per capita, number of adults who believe angels are real and defense spending, where we spend more than the next 26 countries combined, 25 of whom are allies."
A bit harsh and over the top, but there is truth in what he says. So being humble and open to new ideas will help your travel be more enjoyable and, in the end, safer.
There are so many reasons to travel. Here are 10 good ones -
https://blog.virtuoso.com/tips-and-trends/10-powerful-reasons-why-people-love-to-travel/
The world is wide and full of wonders. You should see it. You will be changed. Just don't be stupid.
I cannot tell you we will not get hurt on our travels. S**t happens. If needed, feel free to read this page at our memorial in the future, to tell us "We warned you!" We hope not.
But we will face it with the knowledge that this is what we want to do and we do not want to live fearfully.
There is too much to see still.
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