While traveling I know I will adventure across many different borders including physical borders, political, and spiritual. I personally believe that the border I was cross the most is physical, I am unable to pick just one border that I will cross without talking about all three of these borders.
For instance, while traveling to countries in the Caribbean I not only crossed a physical border of the ocean but I also crossed a political border since there are differing forms of government present. Russell describes, “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 perfectly describes the scene of entering a third world country in the Caribbean. I remember traveling to the Dominican Republic and witnessing guards and military with guns. To me this was not normal and almost slightly frightening but to the people who lived in the Dominican Republic this was everyday life and a form of protection. Having a scene like this presented to me while traveling not only made me humble and appreciative to what I have in America, but it allowed me to understand the political platform of the government in place. I also gained an understanding of why the country was the way it was.
Like both Kapuscinski and Twain who have crossed physical borders, I feel this is the border that will come into play the most. Twain crossed state borders while crossing the United States to go to Nevada while Kapuscinski crossed a country’s border to travel to India. I think physical borders are the easiest to cross because we cross physical borders everyday. We do this either on our way to class, driving to another state, or even driving across a county line. Without even realizing it any physical item can become a physical border to cross.
Lastly, and perhaps the hardest border I will encounter is a spiritual border. I believe this is the hardest border I will cross because in order to do so I will have to let my mind roam free. I will need to leave all preconceived notions behind and accept the experience that is laid at my feet. For me, the crossing of a spiritual border comes after I complete my journey during the time in which I begin a reflection of how much I have grown. In the end, “what is (was) important is (was) the destination, the goal, the end, but the most mystical and transcendent act” (p. 10).
Katie, I do not think anyone can cross any border without crossing all three: physical, political, and spiritual. Many borders crossed are physical. There are also many political borders because several people have different viewpoints no matter where one may be. The most under looked border that is crossed is the spiritual one because people usually do not realize the spiritual impact the experience had on them. Your experience in the Caribbean tied this all together nicely. Although you claim that spiritual borders may be difficult to cross, I actually think people experience them more than they may realize. A spiritual experience could probably be anything in which one actually feels that something is close to them or has an impact on them.
ReplyDeleteI loved how you talked about crossing a spiritual border. We all cross borders everyday and have crossed many throughout our lifetimes, but we never truly recognize the spiritual ones that happen along the way. I am a big believer in learning to live in the moment and accepting the experiences that are laid in our paths, but I am currently in the process of learning how to do this. I don't think that anyone will master the ability to 100% live in the moment, but that is one of the challenges of life. By having things to work towards, human beings can continue to find meaning in their lives. If this world was a utopia, we would evolve to become a world of consistent, repeating, and habitual routines that do not contribute to new knowledge and growth.
ReplyDeleteKatie,
ReplyDeleteI really like how you talked about the physical border. The quote from Russell really stuck with me in your blog. That is an image I can't bring my mind to imagine. My favorite part was about the spiritual border. I think this is the most important when talking about traveling. Each travel experience changes us, and knowing how it changes us is so important!
I can also relate to crossing a physical and political border at the same time while traveling to the Dominican Republic. I also recall those guards holding those guns and I did not feel very safe at the time. Then I relaxed a little when I got to a cab and started going to our destination. While in the cab My family and I did not feel safe when the driver tried to pass a truck on the road and barely made it just missing the car on the other side of the road. I love how you ended this journal saying that it is important figuring out how travel changes us. I believe it is important as well and if we figure it out then we can realize that travel is more than just a relaxing experience.
ReplyDeleteAs your commentors note, Katie, your look at all of the borders that we cross as travelers is powerful. I am particularly struck by your description of the ability to think past our pre-conceived notions as 'spiritual' - I tend to think of that border as an intellectual one, but I can definitely see the argument that is far more about our own selves and all the components thereof...
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