Travel is the best form of education. As Francis Bacon has said “Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience.”
Travel is the means through which man is able to liberate himself from the trivial anxieties of this world. Which oppress him to no end. It enables him to transcend through his mechanical existence and be exposed to the wonders, excitement and novelties of this world.
If it had not been for travel and man’s insatiable curiosity, man would never have been able to spread his civilisation in all the parts of the globe. Christopher Columbus’s yearning to know what lies ahead of the Pacific landed him up in America; Vasco De Gamma’s curiosity to know what is on the other end brought him to India.
Last but not the least it was Ibn Batuta’s joy for travel and his desire to see the world that made it possible for him to become the first medieval traveler to have visited the lands of every Muslim ruler of his time. It was the work and travel of these great explorers that we have been made aware of the existence of these places.
Travel educates a man by bringing him to terms with the ground realities of life. It broadens the outlook of people and clears the difference between urban and suburban lifestyles. For instance, if one would take a trip to coastal America and then to the Midwest one would realize a wide difference between the two lifestyles.
Even in Pakistan if one would head towards Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir, one would seriously be shocked. Indeed one contrast is of the terrain; but being in an undeveloped surrounding, one would think that there is more insecurity in those areas than in Karachi, however, one is absolutely mistaken for those areas are safer than large cities. Shocking, yet a fact! I would never have realised this if I had traveled; hence I now believe that travel is the best form of education. Apart from this, travel also gives a person first hand information of the people living in different countries.
Although, now with advancements in technology, the television and Internet fulfill this task quite effectively yet sometimes its make belief reality oppresses us. Personally witnessing the location, meeting the populous and eating the local food has its own charisma and most importantly a lesson, sometimes accompanied with an adventure.
However, some people consider travel to be a waste of time rather than a mode of education. They are drastically in contrast to those who find inner peace, tranquility, recreation, enjoyment, health and fitness in traveling. These people would rather be engrossed in their own hectic lives than take a break and sink into the majestic beauty of God’s creation. For such people, the statement of Robert Louis Stevenson truly befits; “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere but to go, I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.
By: Syeda Mahwish Fatima Naqvi
Posts Tagged ‘Anxieties’
Travel For Education
April 8th, 2010Travel Anxiety – How to Manage Travel Anxiety?
February 26th, 2010
People with panic disorder tend to get anxious and pangs of fear whenever there is a trip drawing near. Now, most people want to know whether there is a way to ward off these fears and anxieties in near future.
Yes, there are several ways to manage travel anxiety. First, you need to determine the situation you are in and figure out a great plan for make a trip more enjoyable.
It is a great idea to discuss with your therapist prior to planning a trip. Here, the focus needs to be given on penning down all your thoughts as you go through the steps and then discuss with your therapy about your future plan.
- Steps:
a) Analyze the situation
Go through the whole trip step by step. Here, you must include how you would travel, all your accommodations, people you would meet, the activities you would engage in etc. Thereafter, you need to determine your anxiety regarding each plan. Once you do this, just rate the overall anxiety level.
b) Honesty
You require to be honest and very realistic regarding what’s possible. Here, you need to work with your therapist. You must make sure that you have enough time to prepare for the trip and the events associated to it.
Do not care about pressure coming from other people. In case, you decide that you are unable to take a specific trip, you owe it to yourself to work on the fears that restrict you from doing so.
c) Plan
You must come up with a plan in order to do something about your fear. As soon as you decide to go out on a trip, make a list of each step involved in the trip and also any fear related to it. Once, the list is ready, it is time to decide on what to do for each fear that you encounter when going out on a trip.
d) Decide on fears that need to be removed
For instance, if you fear flying and have about six months to prepare the entire trip, fix up a meeting with a cognitive behavioral therapist to discuss on the fear you face. Tell him about the fears you encounter at a specific period of time in order to work on it in an organized manner.
e) Feel comfortable
You need to do everything that makes you feel comfortable for a trip. Go for shopping and buy some good and important stuff for yourself.
f) Stay organized
Plan for your trip way ahead. Do not make last minute reservations. This will only create panic.
g) Speak to other people
Try to speak to other people who face the same problem. This will make you feel much better. Try to be a member of a local support group.
h) Inform your friends
Keep your friends informed about panic disorder.
i) Avoid rush
Try to be on time and a little early. This will relax you.
j) Breathe
Focus on breathing. Take slow and deep breathe.
By: Bertil Hjert
