The first thing that comes to mind when I look back on the trip was how fast it went by. While I intended to keep this blog to primarily share updates and photos with family, friends, and co-workers, as the trip went on I found it was a really good way to memorialize and take note of what I was experiencing. I'm really glad I had a place to pause and reflect just a bit. Who knew I'd like keeping a journal? During the long plane rides, particularly the most recent leg on the way back to DC, I had some other thoughts that I wanted to put down.
First off, I barely scratched the surface of just 5 amazing countries in a relatively short period of time. So I realize my observations can't be considered "global" by any stretch of the word and I'm not trying to generalize. These are just the observations that I had based on the places I chose to visit. In many of these places English is the primary or secondary language and none of the cities I visited were all that remote. Though, visiting this small slice of the globe, there were a few things that were often top of mind for me.
1. People don't immediately make negative assumptions about Americans (I assumed that might be the case given recent events.) I made it a point to try and talk with and meet as many local people as I could. I had prepared myself to have to talk about the election, gun violence or other stuff I'd assume people think about the United States. Though I found that very rarely did any of that come up. Not that I forged deep relationships, but I'd say in each country I visited I had at least a few substantive conversations. People were more interested in my trip, in my specific experiences, what I thought of their country/city, and in answering the questions I had about where they were from, what they did, etc. Particularly in Brazil and New Zealand, just about everyone I met couldn't have been more easy to talk to and willing to offer help, suggestions, or just chat.
2. American news. During my trip, there were three news stories that I clearly remember hearing about in local media. The Vegas shooting, the attack in New York and the shooting in Texas. I realize my ears were probably more open to hearing about US based news, but I can't think of anything else that came up nearly as often as these violent events back home. So while people constantly told me to be careful abroad and keep my eyes out for pickpockets in Rio and street crime in Cape Town, I couldn't help but compare that to things to really be afraid of back home. It's sad and frustrating and infuriating.
3. Everyone loves Madonna, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga and even somewhat obscure U.S. 80s and 90s music. Again, I realize I wasn't in Antarctica or the Middle East, but every single bar, club and even restaurant I went to for the most part played primarily American music. You'd hear it in Rio, Cape Town, Buenos Aires and really everywhere just walking down the street on a Friday night. It was pretty amazing how much people loved Britney Spears and knew all the words to her songs and plenty of other American tunes.
4. Food and wine. While you can pretty much get anything from anywhere in the world in the US, I was a little surprised by how much better steak and wine was in Buenos Aires and how parts of New Zealand and Australian cuisine were more innovative and unique than things you'd easily find back home. Particularly in South America, I found you could often find quality ingredients or high end cuisine for so much cheaper than what you'd pay for something similar at home.
5. I'll keep this one short as its sappy, but there were so many moments where I felt awestruck with what I was seeing or the experience I was having. I was very often reminded how lucky I was to be able to do something like this.
6. There were certainly a lot of cultural differences I observed like how late people eat in BA, how relaxed and easygoing most New Zealanders were, and how most places in South America and South Africa don't have nearly as much regard for lines and personal space as we do. Though, by and large, I often found myself thinking, the world really is a small place and people are so very much alike in so many ways. Whether its an obsession with Instagram, Snapchat and selfies, listening to pop music, or enjoying a meal while telling silly jokes or relaying a good story.
7. I was initially a little worried about how much time I'd have on my own during the first half of the trip. Having dinners alone, going on tours by myself, that sort of thing. While I was very happy to have buddies join me about halfway through, I'd say that I very much enjoyed the "me time." I was free to experience whatever I wanted for as long or as short as I wanted and really think about where I was and what I was doing. When I got bored, it wasn't too hard to find someone to chat with. I think a key take away for me is to find more time to just do whatever you really want to do and not worry so much about always having people around you. Another take away, and this is something I've felt even before this trip, but it was reinforced by this experience, which is, talk to whoever you want and do whatever you want (while of course maintaining common sense and keeping your general safety in mind.) In most cases it works out just fine and you learn things or get to experience things you'd normally not experience if you were more cautious or kept to yourself. If the experience isn't great, or the person you're talking to is a nut, its usually not that difficult to just move along.
Ha, alright, I think I'll end my reflections there as I'm starting to get sappy. Though for my 5-7 :) readers out there, if you find any of my rantings remotely interesting, I'd love to chat more about it.
My next and probably culminating post will be a recap of the top 10 specific sites/experiences of the trip.
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