Bernardo’s “This I Believe” speech
Traveling
“The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes”. I’ve always liked this quotation by Marcel Proust since the first time I heard it, but only in the last months I have really understood what it means.
I’ve always liked to travel. I’ve had many opportunities since I was a child, and I’ve always tried to go to as many places as possible. I might not have been the typical tourist that takes pictures of everything and goes to all the famous places, but, still, I was seeking the new landscapes that Proust is talking about.
But then my year as an exchange student came. I had thousands of expectations about that, and I thought that I would have been having a lot of fun since the beginning. This didn’t happen, but day after day, despite how bored and homesick I was, I started realizing that anyway the experience was really worthwhile. Here were the new eyes.
When someone travels to see a monument, a city or a place, then he’s just looking for new landscapes. It’s when the desire of understanding moves a person that the new eyes are found.
I believe traveling is the way people can get to real tolerance toward other cultures and therefore to global peace. Reading in a book is not enough to understand why something happens; it’s only by living in a reality that you understand it fully. And I believe that if every country leader was an open minded traveler, war would be much less likely to happen. Everybody always think they are right, but with traveling you see different uses and costumes. To begin with, you consider them wrong; but after the initial shock, you start appreciating the new uses you found, and you realize that no country, people or culture is perfect. This is the foundation of global understanding.
Many people think traveling is a privilege, and they think they can’t afford that, but traveling is a state of mind. It’s living with an open mind and be every day ready to try new things without prejudice. Going to an ethnic restaurant will teach you something you didn’t know, and even if you don’t have any different culture to find out about, you can still live your life in the same place with this attitude and still find out how to live life better.
I’m not sure how many of you understand what I’m saying. If I think of myself just six months ago, I remember I didn’t get the real meaning of Marcel Proust’s quotation, even if someone explained it to me. And it’s only by traveling that you can understand why having new eyes is better than finding new landscapes. I believe in traveling.
March 5th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
hey Bernardo,
your speech is great. i never knew that you like to travel. will i guess you had to because you are very far from home. i really like how you say that every one say that people think traveling is a privilege. then you say that traveling is a state of mind.
your friend
Coyne
March 5th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Bernardo,
i really liked your speech. You have a very nice clear speaking voice. everything was very good. the only thing that i could find that could make it just a little better was not talking such deep breaths. but try to take little ones more often. one of the major things that stuck out to me in your speech was where you said “Reading in a book is not enough to understand why something happens; it’s only by living in a reality that you understand it fully.” i think its very true, and i liked how you used it in your speech. it helped to prove your point very well.
March 5th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I agree with you. Traveling is a way to see the world through eyes you never started with. I also agree that maybe, if world leaders traveled to more than just monuments or for more than just business, then maybe they would see the way people live. Maybe there would be less wars. I really like you speech.
March 5th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Bernardo,
hey man i miss u and i really liked your speech. i find it touching and now i want to travel. you had a great speaking voice too. we are going to have to hang out some time also..
March 5th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Bernardo-
I really loved this speech… although i’ve definitely never traveled the world, I think everyone can connect with what you’re saying. You have an amazing point on global understanding… by traveling to other countries, you’re making the world smaller one step at a time, which is exactly what we all need. Since you’ve seen this first hand, it’s really interesting to listen to you and your thoughts. Thanks for sharing =]
March 5th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Hey Bernardo,
Nice essay! You made me think of traveling in a new way. I always thought of traveling as a way to get away from your current life but never as a state of mind. That was really creative. Nicely done.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Bernardo,
I haven’t yet seen a podcast with a quote. That in itself is unique. I love how you explain the difference between traveling to see the landscape and traveling to understand the culture. I also like how you explain traveling as a state of mind, and not a privilege. You certainly have a great understanding of your subject, and that enhances your speech more than any other aspect. Wonderful job.
Cheers,
Cody
March 11th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
wowowow!!! berni your speech is great - and so true. it’s the proof that what you’re saying is right, the fact that after spending few months in a different country your mind has opened so much to such deep meanings of life. I am impressed… some of these things I had never really thought about - I like the eyes metaphor! Your english is great too. And your voice not as deep as I was used to…at least at the beginning of sentences
Love you bo
sister
March 26th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
hey Bernardo,
your speech was great. I myself love to travel. I would like to someday travel the world. I also liked how you used a quote. Your speech sounded great.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Bernardo,
I love to travel too! I appreciate your insight about why traveling is important and how traveling can open our eyes to new things.
Mrs. Reed
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Bernardo,
I love your speech. I love to travel. I like your quote as well. You don’t have to travel all the time. ^^ I want to go on a continent wide trip across Europe and eventually get to Japan.
♥Cate