Arrival Untold: Woes of a traveler

I wish I could be more of a traveler.

In the travel community we define a tourist as someone who has a tight itinerary and a checklist of everything you are “supposed” to do in a place in the least amount of time possible in that place. A traveler is one who seeks to understand the culture of the place by taking their time exploring and wandering a little more aimlessly.

Since joining corporate America relegated to the 15 vacation days (which includes sick time) I am no longer afforded the time of aimless leisure while traveling. It has to be as concise as a black ops mission, triple checking to ensure no hour is left wasted and no sight is left unseen.

Because in reality I only have a week and I mean the plane lands at 3pm at the location and then takes off at 10am at the end of the week so really 5 days. And oh its actually going to take us a 3 hour bus ride to get to the actual destination. And then once checked in immediately there is a walking tour and then I have to see the night life and then everyone goes to see that major landmark and oh you have to go to that city I mean sure its a 12 hour tour through an agency but its a must see!

Before I know it I am apart of the tourist flock being shuffled around from place to place overwhelmed by all the new stuff I see barely able to process anything until I am home looking at the pictures.

“You don’t need to see it all, you can always come back.”

Yeah, maybe. But I only have one week. What about the other places I want to see? I have to make the trip worth it, I need to try and cram everything in, right?

I just wanna join the other travelers, sitting on park benches, walking around for hours in a new city, finding a hole in the wall to grab a bite or stumbling across a cool store. Sitting in a cafe or bar striking up a conversation with a random person who just might turn in to a friend.

A little too idealistic, yes. But, i’ll take the wanderlust over making sure no stone goes unturned.

See more from the Pilot Issue of Arrival Mag below:

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Arrival: Untold (Physical)

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