I have a challenge for you. I have been thinking about what it is about travel that draws me to it so much, and I have realized that it is the sheer amount of people I get to meet. I am constantly surrounded by new people who challenge my beliefs, values, thoughts, and perceptions in the most amazing of ways.
Here is my challenge to you: For the next few days, keep a tally of every NEW person you share a moment with – be it a meal, a conversation in line, a ride, a room, a bed, whatever. Just the people you actually get to know a little bit about. Not the person who stares at their shoes in the elevator while you both stick iPods in your ears and pretend you are actually alone inside of a mirrored moving cube. Keep track of every new person you would now consider to be an acquaintance.
Post your findings here after a day or so, and I will do the same. I think it will be interesting to see how location, job and habits contribute to a person’s sphere of influence.
3 Comments Received
April 16th, 2008 @3:41 am
Hi Ben,
I get your facebook messages after meeting Dermot and Richard in Vietnam – both great guys, so friendly.
Just wanted to post my comments on your latest ‘challenge.’
I think you keep the knack of meeting people well after you’ve finished travelling, especially if you meet friends of friends that you met travelling, or friends of cousins who have been travelling.
That’s what I tend to do still – just keeping the networking going. So far I’ve met a bunch of brits, canadians and kiwis, one of whom was actually born at the same hospital as me in Invercargill, New Zealand. Such a small world. I also met a guy who ran the London marathon just last weekend and came an amazing 42nd!
You just have to make the most of opportunities, especially the ones that are out of your comfort zone. I recently helped out with a friend of a friend’s soup kitchen in Canterbury and believe it or not, I ended up buying a packet of (new) mens underwear from a second hand shop for the men. (I must admit I was beginning to doubt the merits of what I thought was a good idea at the time, but my fears vanished when the men practically snatched the undies out of my hand..!)
Good luck to everyone in staying open to meeting people. You’ll never how much you can touch someone else’s life.
Nicola
April 16th, 2008 @5:03 am
Travel does change how you you go about meeting people, doesn’t it? I find myself feeling like I have known someone for months after a few days. You don’t often get that in depth detail if you don’t look for it though.
April 18th, 2008 @10:28 am
Hey Yo,
so I tried.But I am telling you..it is hard. I have thought about this so often while I am walking around campus…thinking we are all students, around the same age,but we still can not look each other in the eye and just say hello as we walk past…it is interesting how people react when you bring up a conversation…they are really taken back..some react with a conversation while others turn away.
But when you are traveling everyone is willing to open up to one another and instantly take you in. People who travel are also in the same exact situation as you and understand the beauty of wanting to meet new people and have new experiences. I think that people here, are so set in their ways and seem to be happy in their lives with their friends, etc..and dont feel like they need to meet anyone new….I dont know? But I love that travel mentality. I think we should always be like that, open to new people and new things all of the time.
Well anywho! Welcome home! Excited to see you and everyone tomorrow. HOpe your trip back was not to bad..I remember when I cam eback from Australia..I had a 36 hr day as well, it is wierd.
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