December 29, 2005

  • Traveling

    Traveling and seeing new things is part of my fabric and being.  Somewhere I read a long time ago about how most great leaders have had a significant cross-cultural experience prior to becoming a great leader.  See Teddy Roosevelt traveling the Nile as a teenager, Bill Clinton in England for college, and on and on.  To see things only from the perspective of your country, or your town, or your family - has value, but is limited.


    A few years ago I made my first trip to Europe to visit my friend Jono.  Jono lives in Sweden and works for Volvo Car Corporation.  It was really interesting for me because the minute I arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark to catch my train across the North Sea to Malmo, Sweden, I realized things were different.  First off, I was the only person out of hundreds who was wearing a baseball cap.  Now, in the USA, wearing a baseball cap is like wearing socks.  But not in Sweden apparently.  I remember this one moment where I took my hat off slowly and kind of looked around and realized this was going to be different.  The rest of the trip I kept thinking - wow there are things that other cultures do that make a lot more sense than how we do things.  That was surprising then, but not anymore.  Swedes are great with use of space - (See Ikea) - we as Americans, generally waste space and have more space than we really need.  Swedes also don't try to out do one another - oh someone bought a new car, I have to buy a better car.  There was lots I learned while visiting my friends in Sweden. 

    During the past three years I have had the privilege of traveling to London, England twice to work with college age leaders.  That was a blast because both times we taught them outside, once in Kensington Park, and another time right by the Tower Bridge.  In England I realized Cuban cigars are not illegal, if you ever wanted to buy one, hotels are smaller, people drive crazy and on the other side of the road, and public restrooms are clean and clean themselves automatically after every use.  What a concept! 

    This post is just a reminder to go and experience other cultures.  I love the USA, but we certainly do not have a stranglehold on what works or what is the best way to do things.  Off to go hiking...   JVD

Comments (7)

  • We are looking forward to our first trip overseas this fall (06) to Scotland! I've been to Canada and Mexico (Tijiuana) but only for brief amounts of time. We can't wait!

  • Joe,

    I couldn't agree more. I have found my travels have greatly influenced my life perspective.

  • Joe, definitely agree. My travels overseas have profoundly affected me.

  • Yah - It is counter-intuitive I believe.  I mean, I live in a country where we could have 40 countries, but it still pays to get out of the good old USA. 

    I was in Orlando last year at a conference.  I am not a big fan of that city, it is a bit plastic for my tastes, but I realize for many it is a mecca.  I belive it is the #1 tourist destination in the USA for Christmas.  But I was in the convenience store with my friend Jenni who was on a trip with me, and this gentleman from Georgia was raving about how this was his first vacation - from Georgia to Florida.  The first time he had ever been out of the state of Georgia.  Mind boggling... but I don't think it is that uncommon.  I know I am blessed to have traveled, and as you blog readers know, Danielle and I are not having kids right now expressley for the purpose of traveling. 

    I once also read a story about a man in St. Paul, Minnesota that had never left the city limits of St. Paul - crazy... JVD

  • That is so funny! My very forst out of the country experience was Malmo Sweden and Copenhagen Denmark! I loved it. It was soooo different. I was a just a punk kid then and didn't enjoy the trip as much as I should have, but it gave me the traveling bug. I can't wait to go to New Zealand and Australia this summer!!!!

    PS Next time I see you, I'll let you play with my iPod. :)

  • When you realized Cuban cigars were not illegal... you cursed and realized you were under the Bethel lifestyle statement!

    -Maas

  • public restrooms ... as we are talking about differences in culture shouldn't you have called them toilets? We don't do any resting in those rooms

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