Hi,
As you know, I launched a book club focused on the culture of travel. If you’re interested in joining, read more about it here. We kicked off book club with The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel by Paige McClanahan. In the opening pages, I was particularly struck by Paige’s insights when she wrote:
“In my view, it’s entirely possible that the new tourist is an American who talks loudly, chews gum, wears sneakers and sometimes likes to get a coffee at Starbucks when she’s overseas. Those kinds of details don’t matter much in the end. Here’s what does: Even if, like all of us, she sometimes takes comfort in the familiar, the new tourist is humbled by her travels, which open her eyes to her smallness in the great stretch of history and the vast sea of humanity. The new tourist embraces the chance to encounter people whose backgrounds are very different from her own and to learn from cultures or religions that she might otherwise fear or regard with contempt. The new tourist returns from her travels with a degree of skepticism for her native land that may not have occurred to her had she never left home. Because of her travels, the new tourist is inoculated against anyone who might try to convince her to hate or look down on people who look different from her, who speak a language other than her own, who pray to a different god, or who happen to live on the other side of a border. Because of her travels, the new tourist is a more open and generous human being.”
This paragraph resonated with me deeply and is one of my favorites in the book. It struck a chord because I've had my journey with travel that hasn't always filled me with pride. If I'm being completely honest, there have been times when I look back at the photos from my early blogging days and feel embarrassed.
Reflecting on my past, I realize it wasn't always like this. Before launching my blog, my travel experiences centered on pushing myself beyond my comfort zone. I embarked on adventurous trips, including two weeks of hiking in Alaska—an endeavor that challenged me as a self-proclaimed city girl with no prior outdoor experience. I also spent a few weeks volunteering in Uganda, which opened my eyes to a different culture and way of life. During graduate school, I also traveled to Bosnia and Serbia, where I learned invaluable lessons about resilience and the enduring human spirit in the aftermath of war. These experiences have shaped my travel philosophy: to be gentle, open, and curious.
Yet, despite this growth, somewhere along the way, I lost myself.
After graduate school, I decided to take a break. My heart and soul could not take any more human rights discussions…I had reached a point where I was emotionally drained and hopeless. I channeled my creativity into launching a blog that featured hospitality brands with a give-back model, and travel guides, complete with interviews about people and places I encountered during my travels. That was fine - the part that now makes me cringe is when I'd take photos with no regard to who, what, and where I was. I'll give you an example. On a trip to Havana, Cuba, while walking the cobblestone streets, I'd take pictures of people's homes and sometimes even stand in front of them while not realizing the sensitivity of my surroundings. Instead of asking myself if that was ethical, I'd focus on how pretty the homes looked…and snap a photo! Unfortunately, I have more where that came from. Those snapshots capture moments that feel distant from the more mindful traveler I aspire to be today.
As I continue to grow, I find myself navigating the space between the 'old' and 'new' tourists, much like Paige describes in her book. This journey reminds me that growth often stems from reflecting on past experiences, and I’m grateful for the lessons that have shaped my evolving approach to travel. It's important to release any shame tied to those moments and instead view them as valuable opportunities for growth.
Question for you:
How has your approach to travel evolved over the years? Are there specific areas you're focusing on to grow and improve as a traveler?
Beyond Borders: Curated Inspirations for the Modern Traveler
In this section, I’ll share links and insights that have crossed my path and that I’d love to share with you.
Read
A trip to Jordan has been on my list forever! My friend Megan wrote a beautiful guide—sign up for her newsletter and read the guide here.
If you have the emotional bandwidth, this article gave me hope in humanity.
You still have time to join my book club! The author of The New Tourist, Paige McClanahan, will join us on October 19th at 10 a.m. for the discussion! :) Email me if you’re interested.
Listen
These three podcast channels have been on repeat lately: Wiser World, Women Who Travel, The Ezra Klein Show
Shop
We’re in the process of furnishing our new place, and one of my favorite pieces so far is this side table! We decided to go with it instead of a coffee table, and we love the choice. Planning to style it with all our books and objects from our travels. :)
Loving this medium size weekender bag for short trips.