Essay

The travel bug

By Kip A. Cates

音声ダウンロード

Overseas travel can expand your horizons, break down stereotypes and open your eyes to the wider world. As Mark Twain noted, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.”

My parents were travelers. They loved to explore foreign countries. Each summer, they hired a babysitter for us children, then flew off overseas. They always came home with exciting photos, gifts and stories from the places they’d been. My brother and I yearned to go with them, but we were too young.

One day, when we were older, my parents called us in for a talk. I was 12 years old. My brother was 14. “It’s time,” they said. My brother and I looked at our watches. “No, no,” they explained. “Not that kind of time. It’s time for you to join us on our travels. You’re both old enough now. We want to take you to Europe. For five weeks. It’ll be a family adventure.” Wow!

There was just one problem. It was the middle of the semester and we needed permission from school. My brother and I were doubtful. There was no way the principal would let us skip five weeks of classes.

However, my parents took the offensive. They explained their plan and described the benefits of our trip. The principal hesitated. “Five weeks,” he said. “That’s a long time. But this will be a very educational experience. So, my answer is … yes.”

We couldn’t believe our ears! “However,” he continued. “There’s one condition. You’ll have to take your textbooks and do five weeks of schoolwork while you travel.” Ouch!

Soon after, we flew off to Europe. It was my first trip overseas. The next five weeks were a dream come true. Countries that I’d only studied in books ― England, Holland, Germany, Spain ― came alive as we explored each one.

Every day was an adventure: riding double-decker buses in London, strolling the Champs Elysees in Paris, attending bull fights in Madrid, taking gondolas in Venice. We explored the British Museum, toured medieval German castles, admired the Mona Lisa in the Louvre and visited cathedrals in Rome. However, each night was hard work: studying in the hotel, reading our textbooks and doing homework for math and science.

That trip changed my life. It stimulated a lifelong interest in history, geography, politics, religion, art, culture and language. For the first time, I realized how big the world is and how exciting it is to explore. I came home a changed boy. I was bitten by the travel bug and have never recovered.

There’s a Japanese proverb, “kawaii ko ni wa tabi o saseyo” (cute children should be sent off to travel). Although I wasn’t so cute, I definitely agree that young people should travel abroad and see the world like I did!

旅行の虫

筆者の旅好きは、少年時代の初の海外旅行に端を発しているという。毎夏、子どもをベビーシッターに預けて海外旅行に行っていた両親が、ある時、筆者と兄を欧州旅行に連れて行ってくれたのだ。

The Japan Times ST: July 11, 2014