Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom

Posted on June 11, 2025 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with no comments yet

 

A ramblin’ man

“Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man,

Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doing the best I can.”

Ramblin’ Man – The Allman Brothers Band

I just finished reading a fascinating book by the well-known travel writer, Rick Steves. In 1978 when he was 23, he and a buddy decided to travel the “Hippie Trail”, a trek that started in Istanbul, Turkey and ended up in Kathmandu, Nepal. From Turkey, they had to travel through, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India before reaching their destination. I’m not so sure that anyone in their right mind would attempt this in 2025!

Having done a bit of travelling myself, I love reading other people’s accounts of their adventures. It’s a big world out there and much to experience. Many people are too timid to get outside their comfort zone and that is perfectly understandable. We’re all different and there’s nothing wrong with staying close to home.

Here is what Steves has to say about this: “There’s so much fear these days. But the flip side of fear is understanding, and we gain understanding through travel. Travelers learn that fear is for people who don’t get out much; that culture shock is the growing pains of that broadening perspective; that we’re all God’s children- and by traveling, we get to know the family.”

When I speak of traveling, I’m not necessarily talking about going to an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean or taking an Alaskan cruise. I’m talking about visiting other cultures and getting your hands dirty, figuratively speaking.

I am one of the lucky ones. I have had the time and the curiosity to go to very diverse places in the world.

Two stand out.

I spent 6 months in India in 2016-2017 volunteering with NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organizations). My work included working with poor and marginalized people. I witnessed incredible poverty in the slums of Delhi and travelled to remote tribal villages. I worshipped with people afflicted with leprosy and celebrated with 500 sari-clad women on International Women’s Day.

And yes, I experienced the horrors of carrying an expired visa which put me under virtual house arrest in New Delhi for almost three weeks. The searing heat (40+) and unbelievable pollution were superseded by my fear.

In my late 60s, I travelled to Northern Quebec and spent the better part of three (Covid) years in a fly-in Inuit community. It is one thing to read about the challenges, struggles and trauma of the Inuit people, but to live it is another thing. Living and conversing with elders who were survivors of residential schools was incredibly humbling. Along with witnessing trauma firsthand, there were many joyous and humorous experiences.

At a dinner hosted by elders, I sampled “country food” which included raw beluga, arctic char (raw or cooked) and one of my favourites, caribou. When the meal was just about done, I was asked to partake in sharing (yes, eating!) the brain of a Canada Goose. I was a bit squeamish but managed to eat it. It was actually very delicious and apparently, a delicacy. I was then offered the eyeballs of a ptarmigan, a medium-sized game bird. The first one I swallowed. The second one I chewed. I can assure you that this is an acquired taste. It was similar to the taste and texture of a cod liver oil pill that many of us consumed in our youth.

I also did a 10km walk with two friends in -50 weather.

I’ve lived and worked in one of the hottest places on earth and one of the coldest.

I came home from these trips with gifts and trinkets but with something more treasured.

Once again, I quote Rick Steves:

“I came home with the most valuable souvenir: a broader perspective.”

Have a great week