05 July 2010

Please Travel

As a faculty in a management college, I have seen students hesitating around career choices that revolved some sort of travel.
The company wants me to relocate to Pune & I don’t want to”.
HR said the 1st year I’ll be posted in Calcutta & shifted back later on”.
“They asked if I was willing to travel. The job involves travelling within the state”.

I’ve never understood why travel is such a dreaded word amongst the student community. The only valid reason not to be able to take up a job that involves relocation is a medical emergency at home. Say, one of your parents being bed-ridden or terminally ill or needing constant medical care. Everything else is just hogwash.

Sample this:
“I’ve a dog/cat/cow at home. I can’t be without it”.
“I don’t know anyone there”.
“My fiancé doesn’t want me to”.
“My parents are very strict. They won’t allow me to go to any other place”.


The real reason is a refusal to move out of one’s comfort zone; an unwillingness to try new things. Conservative parents, strict spouses, possessive fiancé’, family responsibilities are all convenient excuses. The cowardice lies hidden behind them. Only a brave heart can venture out into an unknown place & make a living. The more adventurous one thrives on it.

If you’re a student, here’s ONE good reason why you’d travel:
1. It’s an antidote to your narrow-mindedness. It opens up avenues for knowing &
understanding other cultures.You witness ways of life, eating patterns, dressing
habits, & life preoccupations different from your own. So the more you travel,
the more you can try & understand others. And in the process, shed some of your
prejudices & rigid beliefs.

If you’re an executive, here’s ONE solid reason for you:
1. It’s company money. You lucky ass…you get to travel, eat great food, visit
another city/state/country, capture memories of a foreign land & culture. All
this at the expense of your company? What are you waiting for? You are among
the privileged few, you dumbo.

The important thing about living is to be able to meet new people, explore new cities, & then attempt to observe & understand them. And if possible, appreciate the beauty & diversity of human society. No wonder, travel is a good teacher. It’s better than your best degree that formal education can ever give you. It helps you grow as a person. You become less judgmental of people & situations. You become more loving & accepting because you’ve seen bigger & better things or sometimes even worse. It’s an eye-opener in the true sense of the word; the only medicine for all the self-righteous, prudish, uptight people of this world.

6 comments:

  1. I have always loved travelling and wanted to explore new places if its a new job or what not.But the excuse of parents not allowing is true.My folks didnt allow me to study in manipal or elsewhere coz I would then not be able to be living with my siblings or that I would spoil if I lived on my own.There was a major fight in the house but then the eldest always has to bear the cross.They actually came down and admitted me into Agnes college which was not my choice at all.My sister and brother completed their education in bangalore on their own accord as long as they were together.

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  2. Sujatha: Totally agree with u. At times when I look back at how naive I was just a few years back, I surprise myself. And I don't really agree with the above commentator. I was the first person to go abroad in my family and no one was prepared to send me. I had to fight a lot for it but I put my foot down, was pretty adamant, stood my ground and went ahead anyway. Today I am glad that I did it - and my family is quite proud of me too.

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  3. @Suzaan: Sharmila & Nelson were relatively luckier i guess

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  4. @Anne: the first person to venture out does have to be quite strong to wear down the resistance of the family. but in the end, it's so worth it. You are a perfect example Anne

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  5. Travelling! I love it. Really doesnot seem like a big issue to me, relocating!

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    Replies
    1. hehhehe :)

      also i feel your family is very supportive of you - not the clinging or clawing type

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