I have not read much Stevenson, but I was fascinated the first time I read this quote.  To me, it speaks to two major concepts, one that I’ve talked about many times over the years, and one that is new to me.

First, the quote reminds us that while the places we travel are new to us, they are not new.  We may be introduced to new architecture, food, smells, clothing, speech patterns and traditions.  But to the residents of that place, none of this is new.  These things are not exotic or foreign.  It is simply their life as they know it.  Americans must remember that in the history of civilization our nation is still a baby.  The ancestral traditions, religions, food and clothing we see when we travel might be from societies that are hundreds or thousands of years older than ours.

The trappings of these places are not the same for everyone either.  The larger the place, the more diverse the culture.  This makes America one heck of a diverse place.  While Sugar on Snow is part of my childhood, it is “foreign” to someone from the Louisiana Bayou.  By the same token, I had never heard of Boudin until just a couple of years ago.

Sugar on Snow: Sugar on Snow | Cabot Creamery (cabotcheese.coop)

Boudin: What Is Boudin? (thespruceeats.com)

The same principle holds true for the places we travel.  Each country has regional differences, and therefore, you might encounter multiple versions of the language, the food, architecture and traditions.  If you are fortunate enough to have this experience, it really feels like two trips in one. Lucky you!

The other concept that Stevenson’s quote made me think of was the idea of revealing oneself when you travel.  We think all the time about seeing the world or seeing our own country more.  What does the world have to offer us? 

But do we have a responsibility to share something of ourselves with the world?

I have only recently begun to turn this principle over in my mind, therefore, I don’t know what this would look like in my own life.  If the goal is to experience life and to “live out loud” through travel (or whatever means appeals to you), then shouldn’t part of that be a two-way exchange?  I want the people I meet (in America and elsewhere) to be open with me about their way of life, their culture and their home.  That means I need to be willing to share something of myself with them.  It is very likely that if I reveal myself first, another person would be more likely to follow my lead.  I’ve never been a very good dancer, but I suspect these experiences are like dancing.  One person leads and the other follows.  I guess that’s something for me to work on before my next journey.

Do you have a different interpretation of Stevenson’s quote to share?  Have you had a chance to travel with the “reveal myself” mindset rather than the “what have you got to offer me” mindset?  Tell us what happened in the comments below.