Travel: Expanding Perspective Through Experience. The value of travel for me has not been about checking countries off a list but about gaining perspectives that are different than those in the US. When you live in one place your entire life, it is easy to assume your pace, your norms, and your priorities are universal. Travel disrupts that assumption in the best way. Living in Malawi has shown me that daily life can move at a different rhythm and still be productive but perhaps not at the level we value in the US. Conversations are not rushed... meals are not hurried.... time with friends is not squeezed between tasks... and sometimes meetings and scheduled events take place much later than they're "supposed" to. I usually equate constant motion with progress but have seen that stepping back, sitting by the lake, or enjoying good weather with others can be just as meaningful as finishing one more item on a to do list.Travel has also shown me that people are not as different as we imagine. Whether in southern Africa, Europe, or South America, most people want connection and gather around food, create art, and build community. In Malawi, that might look like a braai where cooking is part of the social event.
