I was getting ready to go for a run today when something on TV caught my attention: it was a travel show about Tikal, Guatemala. I had all my running gear on, and was ready to head out the 
door, in fact, when I heard the show begin; I only planned on watching for a minute or so, but soon I realized that I was still standing there as the ending credits rolled after the half-hour show ended. I was enthralled. If you've never heard of Tikal, take a look at some websites on it; you won't be disappointed. Tikal is a city of ancient Mayan ruins (mostly temples) found in Guatemala, and some of these temples date back to 700 AD. Pretty cool-- I think experiencing things like that can give us a vastly different perspective on "American-ism," for lack of a better word. Traveling anywhere, experiencing anything outside of one's comfort zone, should give any person a better perspective of the amazing world we live in.
door, in fact, when I heard the show begin; I only planned on watching for a minute or so, but soon I realized that I was still standing there as the ending credits rolled after the half-hour show ended. I was enthralled. If you've never heard of Tikal, take a look at some websites on it; you won't be disappointed. Tikal is a city of ancient Mayan ruins (mostly temples) found in Guatemala, and some of these temples date back to 700 AD. Pretty cool-- I think experiencing things like that can give us a vastly different perspective on "American-ism," for lack of a better word. Traveling anywhere, experiencing anything outside of one's comfort zone, should give any person a better perspective of the amazing world we live in. Guatemala is one of my favorite countries-- I've been lucky enough to have visited the country a number of times, and each visit leaves me feeling rejuvenated-- living in the Saginaw 
Valley in Michigan, it isn't often that I get to experience a lush, tropical, volcanic environment like that of Guatemala. Sprawling coffee plantations (serving up the best coffee in the world, in my opinion!), gorgeous Spanish colonial homes, cobblestone streets, majestic natural wonders (like Semuc Champey), breathtaking mountain views anywhere you turn, and some of the happiest people in the world-- it's difficult to imagine a more amazing place.
Valley in Michigan, it isn't often that I get to experience a lush, tropical, volcanic environment like that of Guatemala. Sprawling coffee plantations (serving up the best coffee in the world, in my opinion!), gorgeous Spanish colonial homes, cobblestone streets, majestic natural wonders (like Semuc Champey), breathtaking mountain views anywhere you turn, and some of the happiest people in the world-- it's difficult to imagine a more amazing place.The point here is not necessarily to write solely about the wonder that is Guatemala; yes, I was, in fact, interested in the overall content of the Guatemala travel program today. However, what inspired me most was 
the host's ending comment, in which he quoted Mark Twain: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." I wholeheartedly agree, Mr. Twain. The most narrow-minded people I know are those have never experienced anything outside their comfort zone. I'm a huge proponent of traveling, experiencing new things and meeting new people. I would urge anyone to take the leap, if they can, and go somewhere.
the host's ending comment, in which he quoted Mark Twain: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." I wholeheartedly agree, Mr. Twain. The most narrow-minded people I know are those have never experienced anything outside their comfort zone. I'm a huge proponent of traveling, experiencing new things and meeting new people. I would urge anyone to take the leap, if they can, and go somewhere.To "take the leap" doesn't necessarily mean leaving the country-- take inventory of some of the amazing things our own country (or state, for that matter) has to offer. Northern Michigan offers a host of natural wonders-- and most are nearly untouched. And a bit further west-- Grand Canyon, anyone? I've never seen it, but it's definitely on my list of things to do. Or on a more cultural note-- there are some pretty interesting (and old) cities in the U.S., like St. Augustine, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Santa Fe... the list goes on and on. My point is this: get out and see what else is out there. It'll help you get to know your world better, and you'll likely know yourself better. Sometimes it helps to see how big the world is before we can understand how small we all are.
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