Traveller vs Vacationer

I get it, you’re probably thinking, “you obviously travel when you go on vacation”. But do you have to? I’m so non-judgmental that if you told me all you did was get some rest and not think about work for several days, that’s a vacation. Haha! I kid but we underestimate how much a day away from the norm could do for us. When it comes to truly being a traveller, however, I personally don’t think it’s for the faint of heart.

When you’re really traveling and not just a tourist, you are immersing yourself into something unfamiliar, which could be potentially inconvenient. Maybe the place you travelled to doesn’t have clean running water, or their washer and dryers don’t work the same in that country. Maybe you need different outlet connections or a new phone service. This is not to say these things ruined my experience as some of these things came with some of the best traveling experiences I’ve ever had in some of the most desired destinations. So, what’s the big difference, why the comparison?

Let’s face it, it’s easier to throw your money at a cruise ship that might as well be a mini water park on the water with overpriced sleeping quarters, cafeteria food where you take a recess only so far away from it before you have to be back in a few hours. That’s a vacationer to me. Everything is being tailored to you. You’re not exactly living among the people helping provide that experience. I also find cruises over priced and overrated but that’s just me.

When you are really kind of living somewhere as a traveller, you’re making your brain acclimate for food, resources and human interactions that are much different from your home. Like they say, the best way to learn a language is to be thrown into a setting where you need to use it. I could not agree more, even if that means you only learn how to get what you need, locals usually appreciate the effort. But when your brain is on vacation, pfft! Everyone speaks English too, right?

I ask these questions admittedly from a place of privilege because I’m a native English speaker but I’d like to think I’m evoking some thought and honesty. I don’t think I see things the same way a tourist does. I see the people who live there day to day past all the glamour at the expense of poverty and hard work. I hated telling people I lived abroad. They assumed it was one long vacation or that I came from money. No, honey, I lived there. This wasn’t some lavish vacation but I would be lying if I said there was nothing picturesque about it at times. It definitely made me appreciate what goes into the things we take for granted every day. Something as simple as fresh fruit, or carefully crafted piece of cheese and a whole town is known for it.

People and other cultures are not a tourist attraction only existing to cater to our needs and desires. While I’m sure they enjoy the visit and even invite us to stay, one of the biggest criticisms I truly believe is that some tourists are egotistical. They want to come and change a place to make it more befitting to them instead of discovering a different way or something new. That’s the most priceless gift we rob ourselves of when we fail to stop and truly appreciate others we share the globe with.

Don’t get me wrong, if you are admittedly a vacationer, that’s okay. I would rather you be honest than go somewhere and simply be uncomfortable and possibly make others feel a bit uncomfortable and especially if you’re a bit older and need accommodations. It should always be about a healthy exchange. Business is about products and services after all. So if you have an innovation maybe we want, what’s the harm in that? As long as dominos stays out of Italy for good, I can sleep better at night. On the other hand, if you go to McDonald’s in different places out of curiosity verses familiarity, I’m not judging you. The menu is different. Also, the food is probably less processed.

So, my challenge for anyone whether they think they are more of a vacationer or a traveller is, as cliche as it sounds to love traveling, do you really, or do you just have money? Also, if you don’t come from money, don’t let that discourage you from traveling. Do you just need to get away from what you know for a bit? There’s no wrong answers as long as you’re honest with yourself. Just remember we all share this planet we call home and we acclimated accordingly. Your experiences may vary depending on mindsets, walks of life and wage bracket but don’t think you have to cheat yourself or others to gain a fruitful experience.