Hello fellow readers,
Today I want to explain how educational and life changing traveling can be. I love
traveling; I have so many memories of being with my family and friends, all the
jokes, photos, and all the sights, it’s all so fulfilling! I have been lucky enough to
enjoy the luxuries of traveling which include nice hotels, eating out, and even a
cruise, but I have also been blessed to have family both in Mexico and Colombia
where I experienced their everyday lives, homemade food, and cramming into a
small apartment. I love it all!
I’ll likely have a separate post specifically geared to going on and on about my
recent trip to Europe, but for this post I want to focus more on the lessons learned
from all my trips. I have walked away from every one with a new perspective. Of
course if you’ve traveled before you’ve had the usual “I miss my bed” or “I miss my
shower” or “there’s no place like home” - *clack ruby slippers together* - but I feel
like I became really humbled after traveling to Colombia and Mexico. When in
Colombia and Mexico, instead of staying at a hotel, we stayed with family where
we truly got the experience of living in these countries. Our families are in no way
rich in either country, but they do the best they can in their situations and they’re
oh so kind and happy. And let me tell you, the food is FAN-tastic! But most of them
shower in lukewarm or cold water and have old or stiff mattresses. The quality of all
their items are handmade or hand-me-downs, linens and clothes that have been
passed around from family to family, or sibling to sibling. Though they have very
little, they are happy with their lives and feel blessed to have what they have.
Photo taken from the plane on my trip to Europe
When I came back from both these visits the whole “I missed my bed or shower” took
on a new meaning. I no longer just missed the comfort of both, I realized just how
lucky I am to have an extremely comfortable bed with new sheets and a shower that
has quick adjustable temperature and water pressure. I’m blessed to have a household
of only 4 people versus 10. If you need a good wake up call, visiting these countries are
worth it, and if you have a family to stay with, even better.
I remember discussing this with a friend from college because he was sent to live with
his grandma in Costa Rica when he was a child.He told me he had a huge wake up call
while he was there. He was 10/11 years old, walking through the market with his
grandma when he saw a toy he really wanted. He asked his grandma for it and she told
him no. He said he never felt more embarrassed throwing himself on the ground to cry
while his grandma (along with other older women) talked smack about him as if he
wasn’t there. When he realized the disdainful crowd forming around him, he stopped
crying and stood up. His grandma asked him if he would ever do such a thing again and
he responded that he would not. He is now beautifully humble and kind, which is why I
feel strongly that a young child or youth would learn to appreciate more of having less if
they were forced into these situations.
As a child, getting exposed to these things can be life changing, like what happened to my
friend or with me after visiting/living in these poor conditions. Most of my trips to these
countries were for a month at a time, which is the reason why I was able to learn from
them. I truly believe that if I was only there for a week or two, I would not have learned
as much as I did.
As I mentioned before, I have made so many memories from my trips, good and bad, and
those memories can never be replaced, so if you’re debating on taking a trip, stop
debating! Make time to take that trip, gain those memories and experiences, you will
not regret it! If your going to a poorer country, don't hesitate to expose your children to
those conditions, it could change their perspective of life forever.
Live every day to the fullest.
Love, Damaris
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