Is travel the midwife of thought?

Abstract

This reflective essay explores the notion that travel has the potential to be an edifying cultural activity for those who engage in it. Travel is also the basis for stories and other forms of writing; however, the distillation of the lived experience into the written form very much depends on one's engagement with place, culture, and the act of visiting elsewhere. Through a consideration of some literary and philosophical ideas on travel as well as an analysis of my first-hand experience of a package tour, the essay presents a reflection on the limitations of travel for those who resist its enriching potential. The essay has implications for those teachers who encourage students to write about their experiences in places other than home.