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Posts Tagged ‘Gap’

We have all either known or heard of someone who has gone on an extended trip to the developing world and come back a different person. Typically they are young people taking a gap year and carry all their possessions in a backpack. When they return home, they exude an aura of calm, compassion and worldly peacefulness. They are some how in the world but not of it, and all they can think about is their next trip. They have clearly been bitten by more than just the travel bug. It leaves you wondering, how can I get some of that?

Increasingly, people of all ages are seeking life changing travel experiences. Middle aged or older adults may be seeking the “gap” opportunity they missed out on by going directly from high school to post-secondary education or work. For others, it may be the first time in their lives that they have both the disposable income and lighter family responsibilities that make this type of adventure possible.

In theory, anyone can strap on a backpack, book a ticket to Beijing and reap the benefits of travel. In fact, my husband and I did just that with our two children a couple of years ago. We had plenty of time and were able to figure out a lot of things “on the fly,” such as local transportation.

Of course, that kind of spontaneity is not always possible. A more structured experience is sometimes needed, something where someone else has done the homework and the legwork required to prepare a travel itinerary. As well, for some people a more concentrated experience is desirable, one where the life enhancing benefits of travel can be achieved within a week or two, rather than over a period of months.

As an alternative to random traveling, many people want an adventure that challenges them in developing a specific skill or targets a particular experience. This is called travel with purpose. If this is what you are looking for, a travel retreat may provide the optimal experience.

The primary difference between a tour and a travel retreat is that a retreat will have a purpose beyond merely seeing tourist sites. A retreat will provide you with a much deeper experience. You may learn or develop a skill, such as cooking, meditation, or yoga. Or you may want a retreat that provides an opportunity for self-reflection and personal development, especially important when facing a life transition such as divorce, retirement, loss of a spouse or “empty nest” syndrome.

Another advantage of a travel retreat is that it offers greater flexibility than a tour, and the more intimate group size allows the retreat leader to tailor the experience to the needs and desires of the individuals within a group. Essentially, it provides an individual experience within the safety of a facilitated group experience. Highly experienced retreat leaders keep you within an elastic embrace while knowing when to “let you loose”. In other words someone else is in charge, eliminating the nuisances of travel, while allowing you the fullness of the experience.

The best travel retreats include a volunteer experience or cultural immersion component. Retreats will have partnerships with local individuals and organizations that allow you to get off the beaten path, something that can be very difficult to arrange on your own. This is where you reap the real benefit of travel – getting away from the tourist traps, meeting real people as they live their real lives. It is these authentic experiences that transform us. And the retreat provides the context for that to happen.

Travel has the power to transform us because it rips open our pre-conceived ideas of how the world should be. It challenges and expands our perspectives and self definitions. By trying new things we may uncover fears and find gifts that we didn’t know we had. By coping with new circumstances we increase our ability to deal effectively with familiar ones.

The source of transformation comes from being outside of your usual, familiar environment and all of the trappings of your daily life. All the things that keep us “trapped”: possessions, people, schedules and appearance. What is black and white at home is not so black and white abroad. Every idea is open to negotiation.

On retreat in Cambodia last year, we were invited to collect alms with the monks. One participant said she did not feel comfortable doing that because it felt too much like begging. The monks explained that they were not begging. They were giving the local community an opportunity to improve their karma through the act of sharing. The joy of the local families, who generously shared their meager food, really emphasized this point.

We learned by observing and questioning. The more we observed and the more we questioned, the more we realized how little we knew in this unfamiliar environment. The more our eyes are opened wide, like children, to the knowledge and wisdom that others have to offer, the more profound the experience. It is this sense of reawakened wonder that we took home with us. We see things with fresh eyes, not only because we have been away but because our inner eyes have been opened. This is why people who have traveled come back with that undefinable glow.

When we are immersed in another culture we come to learn about interdependence. It starts with the exchange of money for services and an appreciation of the value of what others offer. When we travel, we become much more aware of how we are dependent on others as we seek out a place to sleep, eat and get our laundry done. We learn that we have other resources besides money and that sometimes charm and tenacity serve us better.

On retreat we enjoyed the earthly offerings of Cambodia such as amazing local food and cultural dance, as well as luxuries such as massages and pedicures. But travel also brings an opportunity to examine the way we see the world. Ancient ideas and time-honoured traditions, like the collecting of alms by the monks, may have a much deeper wisdom an