Travel, for me, is about people. Who do you travel with? Who did you meet along the way? Who were you when you started the trip? Who are you when you finish? Travelling gives us the time and space to really connect.
On Rundle Academy’s Peru trip in 2018, I had the privilege of getting to know our guide, Docty. Docty was the best, you can ask any of the travellers. We learned about his life, from growing up on a rural farm, playing high-level soccer in Lima, working at Disney World, to starting his own tour company back in Peru. We felt his care and excitement as he brought us through cultural sites and shared the history of the Sacred Valley.
He created special moments for the students, like when he let Andreas make a satellite phone call from the top of a mountain. Or when he organized a surprise birthday party for Kai. Or when he took his off-time to visit a rural town and ask around for who needs the most help, so that we could do the most good. We ended up building a safe walking path for an elderly widow.
Luckily, with technology, Docty and I have stayed in touch. He shares updates from his life, and I do the same. Just the other day, I sent him a picture of my newborn son and he sent me back a picture of his latest trip.
I look forward to continuing to connect with people through travel, maybe I’ll see Docty again in 2021!
I totally agree! Love this post. Travelling is totally about people, whether it be the people you meet along the way, the people you are travelling with, or how you yourself are changed by your many travel experiences. Just returned last night from the eastern Canada trip with 43 grade 8 and 9 students. It was epic and we too loved our guide named Jean Jasmen. We have ensured he is our guide the last 4 trips and at the end of our trip we all embraces like family.....
ReplyDeleteTravel creates family between people near and far!