When It's All Said And Done...

Well, we did it. 10,000 miles, 21 states, 3 countries, 440 gallons of gas, and 38 days later I am back in Roebuck South Carolina. I have been processing the past month for a couple days now and I think I am ready to reflect on the entire trip.

First of all, I think I am a better person for going on this trip. This distinction comes in many forms—this trip has made me a better traveler, and a better American. Before I dive deeper into the meditations, let me include a list of some short things I learned on the trip:

• America is HUGE!
• There are people everywhere (with the possible exceptions of New Mexico, Montana, and Wyoming.)
• These people are just like you and I—they have lives, dreams, desires, emotions, feelings, and souls.
• Anything tastes good wrapped in a tortilla
• America is a lot less African American and a lot more Hispanic than I thought
• Not everyone in California is a militant homosexual baby killing god-hater.
• Ramen noodles are God’s gift to the financially challenged traveler
• Home is truly an allusive thing—the more you travel, the more you don’t know where you belong
• The financial gap between Mexico and The USA is both disheartening and grotesque
• The religious, cultural, and political opinions of the South are both one of many
• Slurpees are one of God’s greatest gifts
• I never want to eat Ravioli again
• God is an amazing artist
• The dollar menus don’t change even when other prices do
  
• Dreams do come true
  

A Better Traveler

Traveling is an art. Often oversimplified, travel is reduced to a journey from point a to point b. Traveling is interdisciplinary in nature—it requires cooperation from our many parts. Traveling is about learning…it is about exploring…it is about abandoning some things and embracing others. This trip is the first time I have gone from place to place with such frequency. Moving to a new city or town every couple of days has a profound impact on what kind of experience you have. This was the first trip I would classify as a journey—because of its epic proportions. There are things that come along with travel, like flexibility, understanding, and creativity. On this trip, when I wondered where I would sleep every night, I was stretched into new limits of both flexibility and creativity! As we traveled from city to city, and state to state, I was confronted with many questions and issues to wrestle with. Completely out of my comfort zone, I pondered, thought, learned, and challenged. And that is what travel is all about. This trip made me a better traveler.

A Better American

In my first post, I expectantly wrote about my desire to travel the nation to know America better. As Citizens of such a large nation, it is hard to get a grasp of what this country is all about while remaining in our regional and cultural bubbles. In downtown Greenville there is a quote etched on the sidewalk that I absolutely love and believe to be true: “The man that never leaves his country is full of prejudices.” This quote is an inflammatory one, but is obviously not completely relevant to a 40 day road trip across America! Here is where I would like to modify this quote for my own purposes: “The man who never travels his country is full of misconceptions.” Now before you think I am targeting you—the reader, you must know that I made this in reference to my own ignorance. Throughout my travels, I realized how much of America I was really missing out on. I am familiar with the attitude here in the south that often demonizes the Northeast and West coast as horrible, liberal places. I have heard people tell me that there is no reason to ever leave the south! This may reflect personal opinion, but it is nothing more a disgruntled regionalism—certainly not patriotism. America is an enormous place with unique regions, cultures, languages, and identities. To appreciate America is to appreciate this diversity—even if you do not agree with it.

I grew up putting together jigsaw puzzles with my family. This pastime was one of my favorite things to do and I always loved seeing the image being built to completion…piece by piece. In a strikingly similar fashion, my image of this nation is being built piece by piece. Driving across the vast New Mexico deserts is a piece. The endless urban jungle of Los Angeles is a piece. This puzzle is slowly being put together with other pieces…a conversation with a Hispanic immigrant…a night’s sleep in a truck stop…a hike at Yellowstone…a plate of fish and chips in Seattle. The profundity of America cannot be understated. Our history and identity is indeed complex…an unfinished puzzle on a table. Freely traveling across this nation has indeed taught me more about what it means to be an America. It has given me a deeper appreciation for where we live. As I look back on this trip during which I completed so much of this puzzle, I can truly say it has made me a better American.

There was one thing I was not completely ready for. I thought that such a huge and memorable trip would satisfy my wanderlust…at least temporarily. What I have found is the complete opposite—upon returning home I am stricken with that old familiar feeling. This feeling fills me with an extreme lust—a lust for adventure—a lust for travel—a lust for mystery—a lust to wander. I know already that I will never stop going. God has programmed me as a wanderer with purpose, and he will use me as such.