Choosing Exploration over Tourism

Before I visit the motherland of my grandmother, I prepare to become nobody, stripping down the core American identity to become one with my Jamaican ancestry.

There are multiple ways to travel, but I believe there are only two types of travelers. The first type will book a five-star hotel in the city plaza, visit museums of stolen and found artifacts, take a guided hike with other travelers like them, eat overpriced cuisine cooked for their western taste buds, and stare at their phones in the moments of stillness between itinerary checkpoints.  I shall call this traveler “the tourist.” The other traveler tends to stay away from big cities and live in hostels and homestays, blend in with the locals, look for the shack in the wall for food, sit down at a café chatting with a stranger, and maybe accept an invitation for an unplanned excursion to someplace unbeknownst to maps. I shall call this traveler “the explorer.” 

I intend to be this type of traveler because the other traveler does not ever leave home. Most big cities now mirror most western cities. The locals will only speak to you in English, and the McDonalds is right down the street from your hotel. Preparing for a month’s extended stay in another country means learning how to live and adapt to their environment, not terraforming an experience to your liking or your ideal fantasy of a place you saw on the Instagram explore page.

To immerse myself in a new culture and live there without handicap, I must strip myself bare. Alternatively, in other words, I must disconnect myself from my home, my perceptions, and my personal belongings. Furthermore, I must do it all alone.

Disconnecting from home means saying goodbye to family and friends, which boils down to Social Media Has To Go. Please be aware; I do not mean to cut all my connections by throwing my phone in the sea so no one can reach or find me. However, there needs to be a degree of separation from my reality and myself; therefore, I can be present and encounter new experiences. Joseph Cambell outlines this separation in “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.” In his discussion about the Hero’s Journey, he describes a “separation” and a “departure” from what is familiar to a “region of supernatural wonder” to overcome adversity. Later these heroes returned home to share the enlightened knowledge and experience they gained. Some of the heroes he includes are Prometheus from Greek mythology, Guatama Sayakumi of Buddism lore, and Moses of the Old Testament, all left places of comfort with little to no contact to explore untouched wonders undistracted. 

While I do not have to adhere to such strict separation rules, eliminating the distraction of social media is a good starting point. The presence of social media may twist my motivations and experience of travel. Social media persuades users to share and post rather than experience and grow. Social media may also hinder me from making connections in Jamaica as I may become engrossed by what everyone else is doing at home. 

Visiting my grandmother before I leave will help me disconnect from my perceptions and stereotypes I subconsciously hold of Jamaica. While I will not be reporting or necessarily documenting my trip for others, Professor Tracy Dalhby’s traveling guide, “Parachuting In: Tips For the Long Distance Reporter,” is a helpful mindset on how to travel like an “explorer” rather than a “tourist.” Professor Dalhby’s most crucial bullet point, “Do your homework while still at home,” is vital for this step to strip down my identity of my American goggles. While I could spend hours online reading from other Americans, their travel experiences of what to expect and how to be safe, I will just go straight to the source. Through my grandmother, I will learn the customs and societal norms, boundaries of communication, what food to try, how to haggle, where not to go, and whom to reach out to if I find myself stuck.  I will use her perceptions as a springboard to make deep connections and a life jacket if I need one.

Another traveling hack I learned from my last trip abroad is to Leave it Behind. Disconnecting from my belongings is probably my main obstacle, but one with tremendous rewards. I tend to over-pack due to the fear that I will need to solve every obstacle I face independently. However, after reading the article, “What happens when two strangers trust the rides of their lives to the magic of the Universe,” written by Kim Cross, I am reassured that if something goes wrong, the Universe will provide. 

In the article, Cross describes the balanced phenomena of Murphy’s Law and the biblical quote, “Ask, and you shall receive.” For two cyclists backpacking across the country on their bikes, everything that could go wrong for them occurred. Nevertheless, every single time a mishap occurred, the kindness of strangers allowed them to continue their journey despite their bikes breaking down, getting lost, and even sometimes having no food and water. Without the extra checked bag, I can travel within a country with ease. If I need something, I can pick it up there. If I am stranded, I will not be afraid to ask for help. Intentional absence can create space for impromptu connections and small miracles to occur. 

Traveling like an “explorer” rather than a tourist requires a certain amount of courage only the brave possess. An “explorer” is relinquishing themself of their identity and adopting uncertainty for an adventure. When I travel to Jamaica, I will be going as a blank slate. My motivations will not be to update the folks back home constantly, nor would they be to see a new place through the distorted lens of an American. I will be traveling with little on my back, ready for spontaneity, prioritizing experience over fantasy, and exploring over sightseeing.