Crossing Borders

While both Kapuscinski and Russell discuss different subjects, both travel writers discuss a sense of crossing borders.

Kapuscinski describes crossing political borders as well as physical. On page eight, Kapuscinski says that “the atmosphere became more relaxed, people breathed more freely.” This feeling of moving freely came just two years after Stalin’s death with a change in the political status of the country. Kapuscinski also describes crossing physical borders on page ten by saying, “it made no difference which one, because what was important was the destination, the goal, the end, but the most mystical and transcendent act.” Kapuscinski felt that the act of crossing into another country held a sort of mystery and if he was able to “achieve the unachievable" (p.17) he would fill a hole within himself. 

Russell describes her travels through the country of Bosnia after the war. Like Kapuscinski, I think Russell has crossed a political border. “To local people, of course, armored cars and tanks and guns are simply the furnishings of post-war Bosnia and most people are glad they’re there” (p. 124). This is a political border because it has been put in place after the war in Bosnia to ensure control and peace among the citizens. Another border that Russell has crossed is not necessarily a spiritual border but more of a sacred, intangible border. Russell allows herself to be vulnerable in Bosnia in order to truly understand the events that unfolded during and after the war. Russell says she’ll “have to leave the safety of the bus” (p. 135), without prior knowledge of where she will spend the night. 

While crossing a political border is not an essential need for me, I think it gives a fundamental understanding of why a culture is the way it is and how things operate in a given country. I think seeing areas with differing political views allows a person to appreciate the culture where they come from since not every country experiences the freedoms that Americans have. 

For some people crossing physical borders is important because it represents not only a new experience, but the entrance to a world that is unknown. For many American’s this comes from crossing into Canada or Mexico. Last semester I brought my friend into Canada for the first time and I got to walk side by side with him across the peace bridge. In the middle we were faced with two flags, the American flag and the Canadian. For this standpoint we knew could tell some of the differences between the two countries.

Lastly, sacred and intangible borders are important on many different levels. For me these borders are what allow us to fully experience traveling. Last night, I crossed the state borders in route to Oklahoma which was an intriguing experience to me. Since I have never traveled past the Mississippi River, I felt excited to experience somewhere new. While the Mississippi River is tangible, the ability to surround myself with a calming yet exciting feeling as I traveled further into the western states became sacred to me. Out of all three borders, I believe this to be the most importance because it is what allows me to open my eyes to see the world with news eyes and bring back a new perspective.