While reading many travel riders, one
hot topic that is discussed is borders.
Often we encounter many types of borders, but the two major types or
mental and physical borders. Physical borders
are often thought of. These are types of
borders such as sea to land, land to air, air to sea, and so on.
Often times, in my own travels, I
have crossed many physical boarders. A huge physical border I love to look for
is that of the land. When traveling
across the United States, the change in the land is one of the first physical
border is the first that I notice. For
example, as soon as the roads begin to curve and the land becomes hillier, I know
we are in Southern Ohio making our way into Kentucky. This is my favorite part
in my travels. This is where I become
the most excited about my trips. I
become unattached to everything that is normal in my life, looking for all of
the details that are different. Clearly,
these types of borders matter to me.
This is what makes it so easy to connect with the writers as they share
some of the similar events.
Though I love the crossing of
physical borders, flying, boating, or driving to new places, mental borders
have a great impact on me. Though I love
the changing atmosphere and pin pointing the differences between wear I am
going and where I have been, mental borders are a whole other ‘high’ for me
when traveling. Crossing mental borders
for me, consist of social boarders. The
term can have multiple meanings but for me it is changing economic
statuses. As the roads get hillier, I
also notice that the houses become smaller and more scarce. The houses that you can see are small with
the classical broken down rustic car and a barn. The barn’s wood is usually scared by the
harsh sun’s heat and old man winter’s ice and snow. The people of these mental borders are
wearing clothing from two decades ago that has as many miles on them as a car
from the same year. These types of
boarders are the ones that make you find yourself and evaluate your life.
Whereas crossing physical boarders allow you to lose yourself in the ever
changing beauty of your surroundings, crossing mental boarders are the ones
that allow you to lose yourself inside your mind. Crossing any type of boarder makes traveling
that more awesome. Get out there, cross borders, make changes, and challenge
yourself. What are you waiting for?
Jessica, I can relate to your post because I travel to Southern Ohio and West Virginia to hunt and I can easily notice the transition because of the surrounding. For me, mental borders have a stronger impact. I can cross a physical border and observe the new surrounding, but a mental border opens my mind to new opportunities. I like mental borders because I become closer to understanding life and my own body. I believe that before any physical border can be crossed, a mental border must be conquered first.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that you noted the way in which the change in land is the way you recognize physical borders as it's not a typical way people distinguish between places. I also think it's important to recognize and distinguish between both physical and mental borders as they both have an impact on travel. While crossing a physical border helps us recognize a geographic change, mental borders are a lot tougher to cross; it's harder for some to open up their mind to new experiences and ways of thinking, but once they do, the possibilities are endless.
ReplyDeleteSmart point - it's a bit of a throwback in ways...
DeleteJess - your comments about the ways in which both economic and geographical borders help frame your experience make a lot of sense to me. We definitely see that in the writers we've looked at - in particular, Theroux and Matthiessen use that same type of reference to provide a way of getting them in the travel mindset...
ReplyDeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteI love how you say that crossing mental borders allows a person to become lost in their own mind. In my opinion I think mental borders are what allow us to appreciate the things we have at home while physical borders provide a separation between traveling and our everyday lives. For me, traveling back and forth to school I cross two state borders. Like you, I have the opportunity to see how the road changes as I get further into my journey. While I don’t get to witness hills and curvy roads, I see differences in the maintenance of roads. I also agree with you when you say that crossing borders is what makes traveling awesome, because the mere act of crossing physical or non-existing borders provides unfamiliar excitement.
The way you look at physical boarders is so simple. It is clear that you really appreciate the little details in all of the physical boarders you come across. Your discussion on mental boarders was so interesting. I had never thought about mental boarders being social or economic. It was such a different perspective to read and try to understand. I agree with what you are saying about it, though. On my trips home from Walsh the differences in the communities are astounding. The further you get into the drive, the more depressed areas there are. It really speaks to your example of the roads getting hillier and the houses changing.
ReplyDelete*borders. oops.. I have no idea where that spelling came from..
DeleteThe way you look at both kinds of border crossing are interesting and I liked how much you had to say about it.
ReplyDelete