Travel.
Travelling generates countless cherished memories. The cliché "it's not about the destination, but the journey" holds true when it comes to so many stories. When I think back to my earliest memory of travel, it is driving to Newfoundland from Alberta with my Mom, brother, and grandparents packed into a van. This trip was in 2002, and we managed to hook up a small CRT TV with our Nintendo 64. Our little tech setup and plenty of snacks helped pass the hours of the five-day road trip. Even now, I still associate the taste of dried nectarines with travel. From what I can remember, my Mom and Pop alternated driving and continued through each night. Eventually, we arrived at the ferry in Nova Scotia and it felt like an eternity waiting to get on. Once we boarded I was met by contrasting drowsiness and restlessness caused by the sea-sickness meds and being in a van for multiple days. At the time, it felt like torture for my anxious seven-year-old self but each experience along the way subconsciously influenced my understanding of the world. Travel shapes our opinions and preferences as we remove ourselves from the familiar comfort of home, voyage out, see what's different, learn what we value, and reflect on how our experiences can shape the home we return to. Learning from our ventures is the most valuable gift we can bring back.
