Reflections on Why We Travel: An Email

by Ellen Pokorny (Sweden)

A leap into the unknown Italy

Dear Dad, We don't have classes on Fridays, so I woke up when I wanted to an empty apartment and decided to take my time in getting up and revel in the unusual alone time. I made coffee, did the dishes, grabbed my journal and sat outside on our balcony. I didn't want to speak to anyone, nor for anyone to interrupt, so I didn't leave the residence, just enjoyed that simple me-time that seems so rare here. The first thing I did was write down all that I've been up to, cataloguing my days will be useful when I’m back at home and want to remember how amazing this trip was, followed by the simple act of breathing in and reflecting (as you taught me) on the sights and smells of where I am. The breeze blowing my hair was not lost on me, Italian was lofting up from the ground, and I even took a picture to remember how perfect this moment was. I started thinking about how wonderful an experience this has already been, and will be overall, and actually started to cry. The best thing about being here is not even realizing how much this is going to change me (in all positive ways) - it was having it sneak up on me like it did this morning. I have been so busy trying to make friends and see all the sights, I haven't had a lot of time to just sit and reflect, and this afternoon was one of those moments. I have only been here two weeks, and even though it feels longer than that, and I have so much more to look forward to, I'm already so glad to be here. It's been frustrating at times, because it's difficult to communicate, sometimes the people in the program can be immature, and sometimes you just plain old miss home, but I'm young, and with an open mind and heart - I have taken to this city and its beauty, and I have to thank you, for teaching me to take a few minutes to do just that. I have already made some great friends, and while I wait for them to get back, I had just enough alone time to come to terms with where I am and how amazing it’s going to be, so thank you. I cannot wait for you and Mom to visit and appreciate it with me; we’re going to need some major time to just sit and look at all the sights, without saying a word. I hope you know that I miss you, but at the same time, this is so good for me and my growth that I appreciate it even more because you're not here with me. I can't wait to show you all that I know and have learned. Thank you for giving me room to grow and unconditional love to fall back on when I get homesick but also, thank you for teaching me to appreciate the big picture, and the beauty of what's around me. I love you. I was 21 when I wrote this email to my dad, experiencing Europe for the first time. It was in this moment, what felt like the epitome of my young existence, that I had never felt more alive, more at home but yet so far from it, more vibrant with the possibilities of life. I changed in that moment, the world changed. It was meant to be explored. This is what traveling is meant to do to our minds. With that knowledge springs the deepest need to continue to wander. Years later, I look back on this email as a reminder that without travel experiences I would never be living in Europe permanently, thousands of miles from any and all comfort zones. I always take a moment to recall that feeling, sitting on that balcony, whenever I feel myself getting overwhelmed by all the new things. I let the experience overwhelm me and then I remember why I’m there: to grow in the way that only traveling can force upon you.