How Travel Changed Me

You know how they say you never realize what you had until it’s gone? It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to travel internationally (ok it’s only been less than a year) and by the looks of it I won’t be able to go anywhere for a while (thanks Covid 19). Today when I woke up something just triggered fond memories of travelling and encountering new and different people and cultures. I don’t know if it was the smell of coffee or a glimpse of a sombrero. Whatever the case may be, it had me thinking in a deeply nostalgic way of how travel changed me and the lessons I learned from the countries I’ve had the opportunity to visit. 

I’m mostly grateful for the way that I’ve experienced these countries and cultures; for the most part not in an overly touristy way but in a down to earth way familial way or as part of some service or community based group. The best way to explain is just to tell it...

United States of America

As a child through teenage years, much of my international travel was in the form of family summer vacations to amusement parks in the USA. That was my first experience of a world outside of my Island home. Those were fun times experiencing the family adventures of road tripping from one city to the next, staying in various hotels and experiencing the thrills of amusement rides and animal shows that did not exist at that level in Jamrock (yes there was The Coney Park but Disney World, Parrot Jungle, Universal Studios, Bush Gardens, Cedar Pointe etc were next level.).

 Not to mention the food...

Looking back on my youthful travel experiences I am eternally grateful to my parents for exposing me to different types of food from a young age. It may sound trivial but I do believe that the early exposure to American, Italian, Chinese cuisine etc. really played a huge role in me not experiencing culture shock while later visiting other countries and specifically relocating and acclimatizing to a foreign country by myself (more on that soon). Because let’s face it; if you live somewhere that you can’t at least eat the food or enjoy it, you’re just not going to be happy there. 

Can I get an Amen? 

Back to the US; while I am more a fan of an Ackee and fried dumpling breakfast, I appreciate(d) experiencing continental breakfasts and trying foods we would not normally eat for breakfast at home like yoghurt, certain cereals, waffles etc. Not to mention the road trip snacks. I still remember the first taste of chips ahoy, a North American apple and root beer; so random but this was pre NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) when certain snacks were not imported and we never had those types of snacks at home. Plus you would be surprised how many adults have still never tasted a root beer to this day. If it’s not a Sprite, Pepsi or flavour that D&G would carry they don’t want it lol. 

I also still remember the first time having a pizza from an American franchise (back when pizzas used to come with the little round white plastic table in the middle to hold the slices together). Do they still have that? Lol. Yes I’m a foodie and this could be a whole book or a blog. (Plug) 

Interestingly, I remember at a young age visiting the US and having Ackee and Saltfish for breakfast in downtown Miami or having loads of avocado pear for dinner while visiting family in Fort Lauderdale. This opened my eyes to the fact that you can be away from home but still have/find a taste of home wherever you go. 

Flash forward to present day....since those early Florida visits I’ve since visited and learned so much about the diversity and history of the USA and also about myself as a traveller from visiting states like:

1. Arizona
2. Georgia
3. Massachusetts
4. Michigan 
5. New Hampshire 
6. New York
7. North Carolina 
8. Ohio
9. Texas

I recently visited Miami, Florida and marvelled that the Miami of today is nothing like the Miami of the 80s and early 90s...sooo much has changed; the high rise buildings, the Cuban takeover, it’s all so fascinating. 

In the next post I’ll get into more detail about how each state visit have a new experience or Enkounter. Stay tuned (subscribe by email so you can get notified of the next post.) xoxo

~Love God,Live life,One Enkounter at a Time~