humanity

If nothing else, travel opens your eyes to the colorful quilt that is humankind.

What We Found in the Flood
In 2013, there was a flood in my city. I remember my walk at lunch that day; I thought at the time that the river was singing a strange song – or was that only something I said to myself later, after what happened?
By Shelly McElroy5 years ago in Wander
Home Sweet Home
OCEAN CITY, NJ/“THE ISLAND” What is the meaning of “hometown” and where is it? Hometown is defined in a plethora of ways by languages, perspectives, feelings, security, self expression, culture etc. People of various cultural and religious backgrounds create their reality of home through personal meaning. For me, culture and spirituality mixed with highlights of inner rebellion have influenced what and how I perceive my hometown or a place I call home. What I became adapted to see and hear influenced my internal forces of what I was inclined to value, perceive myself as micro and macro cosmically, my relationship with others, the environment, and what to hold on to as “special.” This personal process is referred to in past tense due to the peeling away of onion illusions of my perception. As one layer dissolved, my eyesight burned away the facade of seemingly social oppression and sharpened my internal senses to know that my mind is the place I call home.
By I AM5 years ago in Wander
Drive Thru Town
The town I live in is the town I was born in, and I’m 22. I always grasp at the idea that one day I’ll get out, one day i'll move to Oregon, to Seattle, to Iceland, to someone not here. But whenever I picture myself anywhere it's always Atlanta.
By Emily Boatright5 years ago in Wander
First time experiencing a Category 5 Hurricane
Hurricane Michael… Time’s Up Back in 2018 on October 10th I was living in Panama City, Florida. I expected to get up and go to work as usual. Instead, I got up to the work phone ringing. Since it was a work day, I figured I might had better answer it, so I did. It was my boss saying to call my appointments and tell them I wouldn’t make it and then to get out of the city. Before I could even ask why, he informed me that a hurricane was coming and was set to hit the city head on.
By Timothy A Rowland5 years ago in Wander
Cape Hatteras
It is ironic that, as I cross over the Alligator River about noontime, I happen to be reading a chapter from the journal of Herbert Hutchinson Brimley entitled: “Cape Hatteras in Storm and Shine.” I glance away from the page for a moment to assess the outside conditions-rainy, windy, a scene that had a certain dismal look to it, and I conclude that Mr. Brimley probably had more experience with the former attributes discussed rather than the latter regarding this particular chapter. After a quick dip in a surprisingly docile ocean, the rain begins to fall as I make my way to dinner.
By Tim Hearne5 years ago in Wander
Message in a Bottle. Top Story - February 2021.
Off to the left, Nick Sawyer could see remnants of the long abandoned railway, its rusted metal trusses glittering in the mid-morning sun. Over the years those old bridges had been turned into walking trails or fishing piers, some missing a span or two and all in varying stages of neglect and disrepair. As he passed he could see the weathered fishermen casting their lines, shiny lures sparkling in the air before splashing down and disappearing beneath the crystal blue water.
By Mare M.5 years ago in Wander
Memories
I grew up in the South. I was usually isolated from neighbors and friends. One particular place cannot describe my home. We moved all over Arkansas and sometimes went back to the same places multiple times. My parent's divorced during my early childhood. Both parents were either drug addicts or alcoholics. They found their comfort in those idols or in other people.
By Neci Eppinette5 years ago in Wander
My first visit to a tiny lake in the State of Great Lakes
My husband often mentions how my memory works. He says I keep the memory of the last two weeks and forget everything that happened before. What he means is, I forget the details of the events. I agree with him, oftentimes I only remember the feeling of an event. Was it joyful? Was it frightening? Hurtful perhaps? And everything else remains a blur. This works fantastic for him because he has a great memory and in cases of fights, he can argue mentioning accurate facts, where I memorize only how I felt.
By Homayra Adiba5 years ago in Wander
The City of Peace & Reconciliation
Home to one of the most celebrated women in Dark Ages Britain. The single most concentrated attack on a British city in the Second World War.
By Alias5 years ago in Wander
Bull City
It's the City of Medicine but received its nickname from the infamous Bull Durham Tobacco company. The bull still stands proudly in the newly renovated downtown area. It's home to Duke University, the Durham Performing Arts Center that houses touring Broadway shows (hopefully that can happen again soon), the Tobacco Trail that connects major parts of the city. Not to mention the Durham Bulls Athletic Park for our baseball team. None of these attractions make Durham home, for me.
By Marquis D. Gibson5 years ago in Wander
Salt Water and Sunshine
The sunshine coast of England. It’s Eastbourne’s claim to fame, along with the fact that some of “Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging” was filmed there.
By Jackson Dammit5 years ago in Wander
First in Flight
Jean Pierre Blanchard, born July 4, 1753 in Petit Andelys, France, was a French balloonist who made the first aerial crossing of the English Channel, and made the first balloon flight in England, Germany, Belgium, Poland, and North America. In the 1770’s, he worked on the designs of heavier-than-air flying machines based on rowing in air currents with oars and tiller. After witnessing demonstrations by the Montgolfier Brothers, he took up ballooning.
By Rachel 5 years ago in Wander