To London

I'm going to London tonight to visit my sister for a week. I've only visited her three or four times in the thirty-plus years she's lived there. 

Last post I talked about travel and how I've tried to overcome the elitist assumptions I was brought up with, that it's inherently broadening, making the traveler more sophisticated or enlightened than the non-traveler.  So now, packing for the flight, I'm in a balance of positive and negative.  Positive about all I've gotten done (I met my deadline of getting a book proposal out in this morning's mail) and the reward of a week off from the project; plus the adventure of navigating my way from Gatwick Airport, on a few hours of sleep, by tube and bus to Hempstead Heath in North London where my sister lives; plus the anticipation of seeing my sister and brother-in-law, and the beautiful parks and gardens we'll visit.

And negative about leaving my husband, daughter, dog, home, and friends; plus the risk of flying, the crowded conditions of a big city, etc. 

But overall, the heightened sense of awareness that I have now - looking at the amaryllis and knowing it won't be there in the window when I come back, helping our creaky dog trying to climb stairs that he might not be able to negotiate a week from now, working muscles this morning at the gym that I probably won't feel again for a week, and scrutinizing every item of clothing to pack light - is a blast.  Like Ann Tyler's Accidental Tourist, who covered strictly the arrival part of travel (for people stuck in the wrong destination), I'm zeroing in on a single aspect of travel (preparing for departure).  And finding that this part of travel does have something inherently positive about it: you have to pay attention. 

I'd be interested to hear from people who travel frequently.  Does this heightened awareness stay?  Or do departures become ritualized and habitual so that you no longer take notice?

                

Comments

[Tom Cunliffe]

The Accidental Tourist surely tried to make every place seem like home, by trying to travel in a bubble of familiarity wherever he went, and avoiding the novel experiences that visiting a foreign country inevitably gives you. I doubt you are doing that! Whenever I go abroad I avoid Englishness and seek out the native or indiginous experiences that await. At least England is a safe place with low levels of crime.

[Cowtown Pattie]

In terms of the pre-travel jitters - I imagine it depends on the destination and reason for the trip. Most all of my travel has been for vacation/pleasure so the anticipation leading up to the actual departure is part of the fun (and anxiety).

Hope you have a great, safe time! Damn the torpedoes, tea and crumpets, and ONWARD!

[Ned SMITH]

"Two countries separated by the same language" I can't remember where I first read/heard it but it is so true. During the twelve years that I spent in England I found it to be a very foreign yet familar place. I believe it was Shakespeare who said something like "Ambiguity thy name is Albion"
I know I've "boadened" in my travels - living in England , Italy and France for more than 20 years helped me to understand that beneath the superficial differences of language and culture we are all one and I could have never really grasped that if I had stayed home. The true elitist is the one who thinks he is superior to all "foreigners" ( probably because he never knew any"

[Tabor]

I guess that I used to travel quite a bit. Both for pleasure and for business, although the last year or two that has slowed down. I think, to some extent, the travel preparation itself does become a ritual because you realize you can master many of the concerns or unknowns. You also get into a ritual because it saves time and avoids errors. But, it probably depends to some extent on your personality. If you take things in stride you will be more open to surprises and mistakes and if you want things under your control (I am the later) you will want every detail planned.