On this Labor Day weekend in the US, I won't lie -- I wish I were traveling. But then again, when do I not wish that? Fortunately, I have an entire library of travel memories to savor at any given moment, and lately I've been thinking about the way travel can be such a bonding experience with fellow travelers.
One of my earliest such experiences was a 7-week odyssey through three South American countries with a group of 25 from my university in Texas. Other than a family vacation to Mexico, this was my first foray outside the US since my life-changing adventure at the age of nine. Some of us were already good friends, others hardly knew each other. But when traveling in a foreign culture and confronted with new languages, sights, and tastes, you can find yourself bonding even more than, say, a domestic vacation.
Another rich experience, some 40 years later, comes to mind, when my wife and I led a group of mature adults on an unforgettable New Zealand adventure. Again, some of us were already good friends, others we had never met before our prep sessions on Zoom. But after almost two weeks of tasting a new culture while getting to know each other better, there was a such a strong bond in the group that we would repeat the experience in a heartbeat.
But traveling together can also have the opposite effect. You can travel with someone you think you know quite well, only to discover another side of them when confronted with adverse situations or simply the fact that everything is, well, foreign.
I'd love to hear about some of your bonding travel experiences -- or perhaps the odd unpleasant surprise. Just tell us about it here!
And by the way, we are determined to travel in 2022 -- with you! If you haven't already, go here to sign up for updates on future World to the Wise cultural tours!