day 25

Day 25:  Give Advice

Wednesday March 23, 2011

Just as we seek out advice, sometimes we are sought after to give advice.  So was the case with me.  Recently a colleague was planning a two week trip to Europe, and asked for travel tips. I sat down, looking at a map and explored his potential destinations.  I listened to his adventurous goals of stretching to vast terrain.  I recall having done the same.  I offered my suggestions, potentially doing a less massive trip of six countries but more rich with three.  But just as I did several years ago, I heard what I wanted to hear.  My goal was to see as much as possible at once, soaking it in as if I only had moments left to live.   On my first solo trip to Europe, I packed in 15 countries in three months. I began to see the difficulty that lied in this.  My perceptions of some countries were only contained at times to three day increments.  I remember talking about this to a fellow traveler.  She said her goal was to go to one new country every year, not twenty.  If she lived to be the age of 85, that was 55 more countries to see.

Today I brought a guidebook and some European travel magazines for my colleague.   Sharing information does not just have to be verbal, it can be providing websites, backpacks, or physical guidebooks.  I know throughout the years, I have given away many guidebooks to friends who were going to explore territories I had just returned from. I did not mind sharing those with people who needed them, as I appreciated people giving me their knowledge. 

Travel energy is reciprocal.  As we give, we receive.  And vice versa.  Who would have thought in yesterday just seeking advice, that today I would be dispersing it.  To be a well informed tourist and travel we need to do both.  Give and receive.   This truly enriches our experience.  Again, if people ask for advice, why not share it?  Generally we may ask numerous individuals, gathering our own data and we may tweak our itinerary according to popular votes.  Do not feel disappointed if all your advice is not heeded, it is still appreciated.