Exploration is the key to discovery. Scientists have always known this, but when you consider the institute of higher learning, it's usually confined by four walls. However, no education is complete without experiencing outside culture. Traveling is the best way to learn the things that matter. Whether you stroll through the streets of Paris, hike through the most trying trails in the Himalayas or spend a sunny afternoon on a Caribbean beach, travel will never fail you as a teacher.
Travel teaches you not just about the world as it was but as it is. It’s probably the best way to truly understand the political situation, economic scenario, and social structure of the world in which we live. Our views about distant people and cultures are often influenced by what we see through the lens of others. When you start to travel, you begin to understand the underlying reasons behind why the societies of different areas are shaped in a particular way and why they may differ from yours. When you travel extensively, you begin to realize that, despite all the differences, we all are the same somewhere deep down in our hearts. All your prejudices begin to subside.
As a student of the world, real experience is a way to gain practical and memorable information. After all, school is not all about memorizing. Memories created out of physical interaction are everlasting.
The most important aspect of travel is the education you gain about yourself. I have been incredibly fortunate to have traveled both as a student and as a teacher. The hostels may have been upgraded to hotels over the years, but my emotional connection has remained the same. I’ve learned that Greeks rival Southerners with their gracious hospitality, Italians make me weak in the knees, and effortlessly chic Parisians require no filter. I've also learned what squid tastes like, what the Mona Lisa looks like, and what a raging case of ringworm feels like.
You realize that your world is a quiet place until you engage with strangers. You’ll be touched when you find so many wonderful people all over the world that you begin to feel the whole world is your home. Travel fuels independence, compassion for others, and opens your mind to other possibilities.
To develop cultural sensitivity and witness the vastness of our differences puts one's life in perspective. You may not have the time or the money to travel, but that doesn’t need to limit your education. Watch and listen to the world around you; pay attention to its beauty. Embrace every opportunity to expand your mind, your palate, and your heart. Remember life is the only trip worth taking once all your reservations are canceled.
Edo’s Squid, White Bean, and Arugula Salad
INGREDIENTS
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 pound squid, rinsed and sliced into 1-inch pieces
- 5 ounces arugula
- 2 15.5 oz cans white beans, rinsed
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and cracked black pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a serving bowl, whisk together the garlic, lemon juice, zest, and vinegar. Add olive oil and red pepper. Whisk until emulsified.
- Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil and add the squid. Cook for exactly 2 minutes (just until opaque). Drain squid in a colander.
- Add beans and onions to the serving bowl and mix well.
- Add hot squid and arugula to the bowl and mix gently, Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
