Tourist or Traveler? - Hannah Grimes

“Travel broadens the mind when it’s not tourism.” (C.S. Lewis)

I have an intense aversion to looking like a tourist. This is not to say that I haven’t been or looked like one, but I would much rather experience a place with the perspective of a traveler! After we discussed this Lewis quote in class I started thinking about some of the differences between a tourist and traveler, and these were the things which immediately came to mind:

Tourist:
--focused on entertainment
--rushed
--slightly obnoxious
--to-do list (things to see, places to go)
--using locals as a source of information

Traveler:
--focused on the experience
--wants time to soak things in
--more thoughtful
--thinking and feeling, not just doing
--spending time with/getting to know locals

This summer I’m going to Brussels, Belgium, and Nagano, Japan. Chances are I will probably look like a tourist at some point! But I think the difference lies in my perspective – what do I hope to learn? What do I want to see? How will I be changed through the experiences?