November 23, 2003
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Topic: Traveling, a rite of passage
So, one of my sisters’ roommates is from Australia. Like the majority of Australians, she has done significant traveling, 20 months at one point. She described the experience as a “rite of passage” for Australians. Having been abroad myself, I can understand the amazing personal growth that someone has, especially while traveling alone. However, many college students don’t go abroad, or can’t go abroad, and all they ever know is the American way of life. Clearly, there is something different in our culture, compared to countries like Australia, England, and South Africa, which has “gap years,” between high school and college. These years are often marked by travel abroad, but even if one did not travel, the experience of a year off, a time to reflect, recharge, and refocus ones efforts before college, during college, or after college, is something that could help Americans open their minds to other styles of living besides the limited ones we are exposed to at home.
The Aus. girl is at a “bad taste” party tonight. So, being the Australia lost to England today in the World Cup for rugby, I had her wear my Arsenal jersey out.
Comments (2)
Welcome to Red! Great site you have here, can’t wait to read more.
Johnny
I’m glad you posted to my site and introduced yourself, although your site looks so familiar and I feel like I’ve been here before. I just read the first page, and I love what you’re doing with your life! It’s funny how you mention creating a blogging site for kids to connect. Just yesterday, I was thinking that I’d like to start a writing group for school-age children, especially those in the schools (I homeschool), because I feel they don’t get the respect they deserve. I would call it “Writing Without Teachers,” but it would be more about “Thinking Without Teachers,” meaning that we all (adults, too) need to learn to think for ourselves, without depending on authorities and experts to tell us what we should be thinking. Writing can change your life and make you see yourself in a whole new way, especially when you share it with others. I look forward to reading more here.