I started writing this post before Christmas and couldn't finish it until now. Instead of changing it, I'll keep the idea as if it were today...
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End of the year is here, I'm on vacation, and I'm traveling by myself to visit family and friends, and discover new places. ( I should probably be sleeping by now, to recover from a sleepless night in the airplane, but I've got to charge my phone and I don't have a proper adapter here) I've always loved to travel and I love to discover new places and live different experiences. Some people keep moving from place to place, maybe in search of something, maybe to run away from something else. I was looking for my place in the world. Now I travel to find new places, but always come back to the one I love.
Amir Klink, in his book Endless Sea, explains why we should travel beautifully:
"A man needs to travel. By his means, not by stories, images, books or TV. By his own, with his eyes and feet, to understand what is his. For some day planting his own trees and giving them some value. To know the cold for enjoying the heat. To feel the distance and lack of shelter for being well under his own roof. A man needs to travel to places he doesn't know for breaking this arrogance that causes us to see the world as we imagine it, and not simply as it is or may be. That makes us teachers and doctors of what we have never seen, when we should just be learners, and simply go see it."
---- Amyr Klink (Brazilian sailor and writer)
"A man needs to travel. By his means, not by stories, images, books or TV. By his own, with his eyes and feet, to understand what is his. For some day planting his own trees and giving them some value. To know the cold for enjoying the heat. To feel the distance and lack of shelter for being well under his own roof. A man needs to travel to places he doesn't know for breaking this arrogance that causes us to see the world as we imagine it, and not simply as it is or may be. That makes us teachers and doctors of what we have never seen, when we should just be learners, and simply go see it."
---- Amyr Klink (Brazilian sailor and writer)
My love for traveling started with my parents. They loved a good road trip and we always had an excuse to go places, in part because a big part of the family lived in different parts of the country.Vacation , for me, meant being free. Getting new books for the road, clothes to wear, and a special bag filled with snacks and candy. This was kept a tradition, and it was a special treat for the road. I didn't grow up with candy/pop/chips at home, so, whenever we were going somewhere, my mom and I would go to the grocery store to buy junk food.
I also have found memories of singing in the car. I love singing! ( I was part of a choir for 6 years... but that was a lifetime ago. I planned to go back several times but never went). From Ray Conniff to Brazilian country music, Argentinian bolero cassettes to old school samba and MPB, we listened to and sang it at the top of our lungs. Every new trip we had a new soundtrack, but we were always faithful to our favourites. Even as we grew older and my brother started asking to listen to different styles of music, when we were traveling in the car, he couldn't dictate the soundtrack. I don't really think he cared. Being together and traveling as a family, was way more fun than listening to his bands alone.
When I was still the tall girl (now my brother is 6'4") I could still sit in the front and be my dad's co-pilot. I'm totally daddy's girl, and I loved talking about everything with my dad. That's how I ended up knowing more about Brazilian history and politics than most my classmates in school. But that's another story. It was good one-on-one time since my brother and my mom would always sleep in the back seats. It also helped that my dad is smart and the funniest person I know.
When I was 4 years old, my parents and I drove from my town in the south of Brazil, to the Northeast. We drove through the interior (meeting natives and seeing different landscapes) and it took 3 days to get there. On the way back we came through the coast and stopped in all of the beaches. It was a great adventure and believe it or not, I still remember some moments of it. In total, we were traveling for 40 days and we saw a lot of Brazil. Actually, from Brazil, the only states I haven't been to are Pará and Amazonas.. Ah, Acre too, but as my constitutional law professor used to joke, who is 100% sure that Acre actually exists? I think before venturing to new countries it is good to discover your own.
As I finish this posta while after I started, I ask myself if I meant to say something different than what I said now. I guess I'll never know, because I don't remember. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I enjoyed the opportunity to travel alone while meeting friends along the way. I really needed time by myself. Being free to do things as you want, when you want is rewarding. No middle ground about deciding where to go, no compromising on your favourite places because of someone else.
I also have found memories of singing in the car. I love singing! ( I was part of a choir for 6 years... but that was a lifetime ago. I planned to go back several times but never went). From Ray Conniff to Brazilian country music, Argentinian bolero cassettes to old school samba and MPB, we listened to and sang it at the top of our lungs. Every new trip we had a new soundtrack, but we were always faithful to our favourites. Even as we grew older and my brother started asking to listen to different styles of music, when we were traveling in the car, he couldn't dictate the soundtrack. I don't really think he cared. Being together and traveling as a family, was way more fun than listening to his bands alone.
When I was still the tall girl (now my brother is 6'4") I could still sit in the front and be my dad's co-pilot. I'm totally daddy's girl, and I loved talking about everything with my dad. That's how I ended up knowing more about Brazilian history and politics than most my classmates in school. But that's another story. It was good one-on-one time since my brother and my mom would always sleep in the back seats. It also helped that my dad is smart and the funniest person I know.
When I was 4 years old, my parents and I drove from my town in the south of Brazil, to the Northeast. We drove through the interior (meeting natives and seeing different landscapes) and it took 3 days to get there. On the way back we came through the coast and stopped in all of the beaches. It was a great adventure and believe it or not, I still remember some moments of it. In total, we were traveling for 40 days and we saw a lot of Brazil. Actually, from Brazil, the only states I haven't been to are Pará and Amazonas.. Ah, Acre too, but as my constitutional law professor used to joke, who is 100% sure that Acre actually exists? I think before venturing to new countries it is good to discover your own.
As I finish this post
"Oh, the places you'll go!
...you're off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So.. get on your way!"
- Dr. Seuss
1 comments:
love this post! and the Dr. Seuss book you just mentioned is my very favorite one :) miss you
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