As we dive into a discussion about
the different borders, the first to come to mind are both the physical and
mental borders we cross while traveling.
The writers we have talked about have definitely faced these same
crossing. Mark Twain wrote about a
fictional travel out west where he described every moment of his travels. As he traveled, he began to discover the
world around him. He was engulfed by the undiscovered environment he found
himself in. I am this way when I travel. I am so consumed by the colors, the landscape,
the crops, and the animals in the “new world” around me. While traveling, I am constantly trying to
find the differences in the world I know and the world I’ve just discovered. Though nowhere is considered
undiscovered, each new place I travel to is undiscovered to me.
I have been to a handful of places and each new one is always better than the last. My most memorable border crossing is when we physically
cross the border from Ohio into Kentucky, on our way to Florida. I am from a small town where corn fields, back
roads, and the slight hum of old country music coming through the radio brightens my soul. Once I hit the terrain
of Kentucky, there is a calming feeling that frees my soul. When this happens, I don’t have a care in the
world. My only worry is taking in as
much of the beauty in the world around me. Though Mark Twain’s adventure is a
little more rigorous then a roads trip to Florida through the winding roads of
Kentucky, I believe
he felt this feeling as well. Though there
were fears in traveling to an unknown world, looking and taking in the terrain
around you is impossible to miss. Russell also talks about these types of
adventures in her travels. Though her
writings tend to be in a league all of their own, she is always searching for
the next big adventure. She does mention
the fears she encounters but nothings will stop her from traveling. These are all ideas that I hope to bring into
my own travelogue. I really want to highlight what I am feeling as I am taking
in the beautiful Colorado terrain within my writings.
The other border that I think is
very important to mention is the crossing of mental borders. These borders are the ones that are based on
reflection, discovering a new area that makes you reflect. We see this, especially when we look at Kapuscinski. He does not care about where or how he crosses a border, it was about simply taking the steps to do so. He refers to crossing the border as a transcendent act. For him, crossing all sorts of borders was something that he has always wanted to do. Simply for the sake of doing it. He was always looking for the next adventure to claim. Crossing mental borders often times makes me feel uneasy. As I mentioned, I am from a small town and I
am a huge Cincinnati Reds' fan. No matter
how many times I find myself in Great American Ball Park, there is always a culture
shock, when I cross the mental border into Cincinnati. Seeing a large amount of people flood
the sidewalks and streets always makes me feel agitated. I automatically become
more cautious of my personal belongings and become more aware of my surroundings. The
same goes when I see panhandlers and homeless on the streets. This sight isn’t one that I am familiar with; I’m
use to seeing tractors and hay flooding the streets. The occasional animal may come to my back
door step looking for a snack, but never a human. Crossing mental borders is very important to
my writing as wells. Being a
self-proclaimed newbie to traveling, and writing for that matter, understanding
how this may affect me both emotional and spiritually is very important.
Peace, Love, and Travel More.
Jessica, I am not one to want to go to Kentucky, nor would it be my ideal location, but you've made me want to experience what you did. It was quite unexpected when you said that crossing the border between Ohio and into Kentucky, but I 100% believe you. There are places that we have all been at one point in time in our lives that prove to be much more than they appear, and that sense of freedom that overcame you is what everyone is truly chasing throughout their lives. I believe that all human beings are in a constant search for peace. Peace is found in different things for all, but finding what it is is truly the task. The journey is what we partake in while trying to find our peace.
ReplyDeleteJess,
ReplyDeleteIts fascinating that you compare the “new world” as you said, to the world you are familiar with. Also, your point that new places you travel to are undiscovered to you is unique and well played. The image that comes across my mind with freeing your soul once you cross a border is similar to freeing a bird. This experience, in my opinion, is what allows us travelers to fully emerge our selfs in our experience and provides us the opportunity to take in our surroundings. Lastly, like you mention a lot of the readers we have discussed in class are always looking for their next adventure even if their first was terrifying. I feel as if this desire to want to travel more is what defines us as people and travelers.
I like the attitude you have toward undiscovered places. This was something I struggled with during our in-class discussion. I had a hard time fully registering that I was thinking of a place that was undiscovered to me, not the world. I totally get what you mean about each new place seeming better than the last. My family makes fun of me because whenever I get back from a trip I am totally in love with that city and I have every intention of moving there…. until my next trip. I can relate to the transition from small town into the city. For me, I love this transition, there are few things that make me happier than being in a busy city. I have every intention of leaving my small town and going to a city as soon as I can. Pittsburgh was the first place I really experienced what you talk about. For me, it was the homeless people in the tunnels on the way to PNC Park, but now I hardly notice them.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned when you go to a ballgame in Cincinnati and how you become more cautious about your personal belongings. I do the same when I go to a Browns or Indians game. I do love the atmosphere in those stadiums, but there are so many people in there that anyone can take something from you at any moment without you even knowing it. Also, the way you explain how Kentucky frees your mind is amazing. i am also from a small town of cornfields and I can sort of relate. Being out there in the open can certainly free your mind and make you think.
ReplyDeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteI used Mark Twain as my author that I connected with when traveling different borders because I felt like the way he traveled really spoke to me. I liked how descriptive he was about his travels and how he points out every little detail. I also really enjoyed reading about the importance of mental borders because I feel like that is something new I have learned because of this class. I also share the same feelings of nervousness when traveling to other places because it is so different from where I am from. Especially the homeless people because that is something that I still find hard to get used to because it is so sad and eye opening to me.
Jessica, It is great how you described how the physical and mental boarders were used during earlier articles discussed in class. These are both boarders crossed in everyday life and effect many people. I wish you would have talked about how you cross these boarders though more than the men we talked about.
ReplyDelete