• Home
  • About Me
  • Work With Me!
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Kristin Winet

Writer | Traveler

  • Home
  • About
  • Freelance Writing
    • Travel Writing
    • Food Writing
    • Creative Nonfiction
  • Research & Scholarship
  • Book Projects
  • Teaching
  • CV
  • Blog

June 18, 2013 By Kristin 13 Comments

Why I Travel

I’ve noticed that a lot of travel bloggers lately are writing and sharing posts specifically dedicated to “why they travel.” Check out any travel blog–you’ll see what I mean. Not surprisingly, a lot of them offer anecdotes of heartbreak, boredom, apathy, curiosity, and a desire to see the world (the usual suspects). And it makes sense–readers want to know how and why the people they read got into this whole messy business in the first place. And it certainly helps put many bloggers into context.


pic2


In these posts, though, there’s usually more than just a brief story about how they contracted the travel bug. These posts often follow up with a disclaimer about how they’ve been able to do it: some talk about jobs that allow them the freedom to travel, some admit a lack of interest in material possessions, some talk about how they sold their house, their car, cashed in their IRAs, and headed out unabashedly into the horizon, and some have a really big savings account from a well-paying job they no longer have. Many emphasize that anyone can travel if they want to, given a restructuring of priorities and an understanding that living or traveling abroad can be all the more cheaper than staying at home. There are stories of redemption, of change, of enlightenment, and of being an ordinary person doing extraordinary things. And I’m certainly not immune to this: I’m one of these travel bloggers, too! Even on my own About Me page, I made sure to make the important rhetorical move of alerting people that I don’t have a financial backer and I haven’t inherited a fortune, because of course I don’t want people to get the impression that I’m a privileged girl from the West.

Because, quite frankly, that’s exactly, 100%, without-a-doubt, what I am.

I was born straight into middle-class America to two incredibly loving and supportive parents who’ve never let me down and who’ve always made sure I had what I needed. I had a tough time finding my direction early in life, and I faltered a lot in college about what I wanted to do with my life. So, boyfriendless and armed with the luxurious college degree of Spanish literature (which was possible due to my first trip abroad, a fantastically liberating and inspiring summer session in Valencia, Spain, the trip to which I owe a lifetime of wanderlust), I decided to do what I’ve always had the privilege of doing: I went again the grain and moved myself to Colombia for a while. By that time in my young life, I had met so many other travelers, and not only ones from the United States–I met travelers from across the Americas, from Europe, from Africa, and from all over Asia. We were all–and still are–searching for something, for the kind of awareness that comes from a grappling with the self and the self’s cultural identity. (And I mention these places to suggest that my privilege is not uniquely American, but it is also not universal.) I made the decision–because I was able to make the decision–to devote my life to trying to make it as a writer, as a storyteller, and now, as an amateur photographer. And so far, it’s been no piece of cake, but I’ve got a lot of gumption and a lot of words up my sleeves. And I can’t wait to see where life takes me next.

pic3

I’ve met many people in my travels who respond to this decision in two ways. The first reaction is one of incredulity: “You get paid to travel?” (Um, not exactly, but that’s for another post). The second reaction, typically from those people whose reality is not one of leisure, they are often surprised and confused. For instance, I remember one moment in particular that has never left me: during an exercise at La Fundacion Esperanza in Cartagena, a place for teenage boys to come and learn life skills, a place where I was volunteering on Saturdays, we were asked to draw a picture of what we wanted out of life. When we shared our pictures, many of the boys showed images of themselves as proud fathers surrounded by a wife and children and standing in front of a two-story house with a driveway. My picture, on the other hand, was a picture of me sitting at a desk, writing, with a bookshelf behind me, my name scrawled onto the spines of some of the books. When I shared mine, there could have been crickets echoing throughout the room. One boy raised his hand. “But what,” he asked me, “is the profession?” Another looked at me. “Don’t you have children?” At that ripe age of 22, I realized that my notion of being a writer–being a travel writer, at that–was absolutely impossible for anyone else in that room to understand. Where were the rest of the my dreams, the ones these boys had dreamt about every day since they decided to leave the slums and dedicate themselves to something better? I had left those dreams out of the picture, and I was suddenly very aware of this privilege. I could work at becoming anything I wanted, I really could; that is not everyone’s universal.

And that is exactly why I travel.

Lots of us also talk about a need for a “nomadic lifestyle.” What this means, usually, is a restlessness, an inability to stay put for any length of time. It evokes a kind of necessary “traveling ethos,” a reputation built not on sitting still and smelling the roses but rather a reputation built on ephemera, a fleeting moment, a kind of being identified through refusing any other identity. While this is a kind of willful nomadism, it doesn’t quite capture the word’s original intentions, which, according to Etymonline.com, are: from Latin Nomas (genitive Nomadis) “wandering groups in Arabia,” from Greek nomas (genitive nomados, plural nomades) “roaming, roving, wandering” (to find pastures for flocks or herds), related to nomos “pasture, pasturage, grazing,” literally “land allotted,” and to nemein “put to pasture,” originally “deal out,” from PIE root *nem- “to divide, distribute, allot.” The kind of wandering associated with the “nomadic lifestyle” promoted by many of us travel bloggers is quite different from the notion of communities who had no permanent housing and who moved with the flock. (Mind you, my very first travel blog was sponsored by the domain nomadlife.org – but what did I know then? And, actually, it’s kind of a beautiful and romantic notion, so….) I don’t disparage the notion of nomadism; in fact, it’s a very important of travel blogging and marketing. What I seem to take issue with, though, is the idea that this nomadism reflects the idea of a perfect global village, a harmonious place where the writer just flits around in, untethered, unmoored to anything or anyone. For many people around the globe, this is hardly the case.

Some people (myself included) like to allude to this definition in some ways, claiming that we appreciate the kind of “slow travel” associated with getting to know local people, engaging in sustainable practices, shopping and eating locally, avoiding tourist traps, refusing the negatively-connoted word of “tourist” at all. And yet, a lot of the travel I’ve done lately is basically the antithesis to this kind of “pasturing” or “grazing;” instead, I’ve been whirled around countries by local experts, furiously taking notes and coming home with a head basically whizzing with images, conversations, ideas, and questions. I’m expected to write about and hopefully convince others to engage in similar practices and follow similar itineraries. I’m encouraged to spread the word, to be a new kind of marketeer, to engage in a kind of travel that is intimately related to tourism. I’ve done this for three reasons: 1) because I’ve been invited and the costs have been graciously covered, 2) because I am building relationships with people and organizations in the industry 3) because I adore traveling. It’s in my blood, it’s who I’ve become, it’s what I dream about when I think about my future. (The whole house/kids/retirement narrative has never been the first thing that comes to my mind–instead, my dreams are of sailing in the Andamon Sea, meeting a camel in India, dancing tango in Argentina, having the chance to physically see the places that continually fascinate my imagination and play in my dreams. That kind of thing). And it’s not that I don’t want those other things (I do!), but for the people who have the privilege of choosing, some people are homebodies, and some, well, are not.

pic1

I am not one of the homebodies. While I love a night on the couch in Tucson with my fiance Ryan, a ball of crochet in one hand and a cup of green tea in the other, these nights provide the necessary diversion from that other life–the life of living out of a suitcase, of packing and unpacking, of living with my camera slung around my neck, eyes and ears perked for the beauty and intrigue of this world. This is why I worked and wrote blog articles for 3 years before receiving a single piece of monetary compensation for it (looking back, I might not have done that, but, well, such is life). I travel because, yes, I’m selfish, curious, able-bodied, and just so happen to be a liberated woman from a democratic society that doesn’t demand a whole lot from me. I travel because my fiancee doesn’t mind (though, of course, I’d like to make my solo travels a duo at some point here). I travel because I do believe–as naively as it might be–that my ability to move my feet, speak English, and have long and interesting conversations with other people has been my life’s ultimate and random gift from the universe. I travel because I ended up being exceptionally lucky and pretty good on my feet in unfamiliar places. I travel because the world’s economy is distorted, because technology allowed us to invent airplanes, and because I didn’t necessarily want what life initially expected of me. We should always remember that not everyone has the ability to, as Mark Twain so elegantly put it, “throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” But because I could sail away, I did just that, and I consider myself very fortunate.

picofkandr

I think that’s where this post is taking me–encouraging me to consider all the “why’s” behind why I travel. Of course, I travel for those other delicious reasons, too: the thrill of adrenaline in an airport, the body-numbing exhaustion after an unbelievable day, the taste of a new spice, the feeling of spilling a new word from a new language off the lips, the taking of unusual photographs, the meeting of new people, the questioning of my beliefs, the sharing of culture, the finding of a really awesome souvenir in a mom-and-pop shop, the smell of a food I’ve never tasted, the awkward moments that make me wonder how I ever got around anywhere, the joy, the fear, the uncertainty, the lust, the love, the hate, and the total and unforgettable engagement with this world we all inhabit. I travel because I have an adventurous spirit, am good-spirited, and whimsical. I’m spectacularly unable to sit still and I have a very short attention span. And I’m in love with interesting narratives.

Maybe that’s what this blog is all about–sharing this stuff while keeping aware of the other stuff, that important I’m-still-one-person-in-a-big-world stuff.

So where are we now?

I’m not exactly sure yet.

This is why I am writing my own “why I travel” post.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: culture, place-based writing, travel writing, Travel Writing 2.0

If Not a Mother and Not a Maid, Then What? »

Comments

  1. Jen says

    June 18, 2013 at 5:30 pm

    I think this is so important–I follow a couple of travel blogs (I’m a 20-something traveler; also a tour operator) and I never reall y thought about culture in this way. I especially loved your story about being in Colombia…i can only imagine how much that moment changed your perspective.

    Thanks for sharing!!!

    Jen

    Reply
  2. Kristin Mock says

    June 18, 2013 at 5:36 pm

    Hey Jen!

    Thanks for stopping by! Glad you enjoyed the post 🙂

    Kristin

    Reply
  3. Patti says

    June 18, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    I want to applaud you. An eloquently written post, and the last paragraph poetry. But, (wow, workshop moment!) even though many write their “Why I Travel,” that doesn’t mean you have to apologize. Don’t let the critics of Elizabeth Gilbert get to you! Granted, I wasn’t a fan of her most famous work… and I honestly believe that the question of priviledge is generally a sexist question, only criticized when it comes to women. Ill be damned if good writing (and you ARE a great writer!) is overshadowed by “privilege.” So set that aside. I LOVE that being a deliberate traveler and scribe is who you’ve become. It’s truly inspiring. Love you Kristin!

    Reply
    • Kristin Mock says

      June 19, 2013 at 10:23 am

      Hi Patti!

      Thank you so much-you are amazing! 🙂 And yes, I agree-there are no apologies here! I think too often people don’t think about the outside forces that allows them the opportunities they have (I’ve certainly been guilty of this, too!). Chasing dreams is hard work, yes, but it’s also our responsibility to remember the rest of the world out there, too. Something for us non-fic writers to consider, at least 🙂

      Love you!
      K

      Reply
    • Kristin Mock says

      June 19, 2013 at 2:50 pm

      By the way, I’m really intrigued by what you said about privilege generally being a sexist question. Is it more criticized when women “sail away,” and why does that stereotype perpetuate? Definitely some food for thought….

      K

      Reply
  4. Lydia says

    June 19, 2013 at 6:23 am

    A deeply thoughtful and personal narrative. You have had some fabulous experiences; what is most impressive to me is the curiosity and respect you show for the people and cultures that are not your own. If only the world had more of that we would all be fortunate indeed. (And PS: nice shout-out to your parents. I know they appreciate it.)

    Reply
    • Kristin Mock says

      July 1, 2013 at 9:59 pm

      Lydia,

      Thank you so much for your sweet words! And yes, I always try to fit in a shout-out to my parents whenever I can 🙂

      Kristin

      Reply
  5. Ken Mock says

    June 19, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    I also agree that there needs to be more Kristin’s in our one world. Why do we spend so much of our time, wealth, and resources on hate and destruction rather than understanding and learning? All those who write about our world and its people must continue to do so without fail. As your readers what else do we have? We are ready to share through your eyes. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Kristin Mock says

      June 19, 2013 at 2:51 pm

      Thanks dad! Though I think one Kristin is enough to handle, haha 🙂

      Reply
  6. Emily Chiou says

    June 20, 2013 at 12:00 am

    I saw the picture of my friend!!! A great article 😀 I love it!!!!!

    Reply
  7. nicole says

    July 9, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    That’s some very straightforward writing! I think it’s great that people have their reasons for travel. We have ours: we simply love it. It’s so fun. And we learn so much. It’s like a walking anthro class on our trips. There’s no need to hide the reasons for travel in something that it’s not, or to try to justify it. we travel because we can. and that’s that.

    Reply
    • Kristin Mock says

      July 10, 2013 at 12:24 am

      Hi Nicole,

      Nice to “meet” you! I love what you said about travel being like a walking anthro class–what a great way to put it! And I couldn’t agree more 🙂

      I just checked out your blog–and I’m excited to start following it!! Hope you’ll follow me, too 🙂

      Kristin 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Wanderlust: What First Inspired Me to Travel | will teach for travel says:
    May 7, 2015 at 2:55 pm

    […] a WITS workshop, Kristin Winet’s ‘Why I Travel’ piece was presented as a unique example of what to include in an ‘about me’ or ‘why I travel’ […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Lydia Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Meet Kristin

I am a writer, a teacher, and a traveler. I write to inspire, to have fun, to catch interesting details, to find beauty in the world where I can, and I teach to help others think more deeply about their words, their stories, and their passions. Welcome to my site! Read More…

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

Join Me On Instagram

kristinwinet

Traveler | Writer | Storyteller
❤️ award-winning writer & wanderluster
✈️ 36 countries & counting!
🏖 currently in: Winter Park, FL

Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of things. It changes your daily rhythm, your space to think, your ability to throw stuff in a backpack and just go somewhere, the solitude of a writing life. I’ve been working on figuring out who I am in this new life, so I decided to take a baby step this weekend and hop back - slowly! - into my travel writing self 🙌 So tonight, I’m out exploring Cat Mountain Lodge, a super-cute boutique hotel right at the foot of the Tucson mountains 🏔 This pic is from the entrance ☀️ Ryan and Riley came for dinner and toured the property with me - and they’ll be back in the morning for a sunrise breakfast ☕️ Everything still feels weird and unknown, but it also feels messy and new. I’m glad for baby steps...I’m glad to be here❤️ Gladly taking advice from mamas who are also travelers!
.
.
.
#whyilovewhereilive #tucson #mountains #catmountainstation #travelwriter #travelmom #visitarizona #catmountainlodge #arizona #southernaz @catmountainstation5520 @visittucson
Happy 5 months to our sweet sweet love ❤️ He i Happy 5 months to our sweet sweet love ❤️ He is giggling, doing the happy baby all the time now, and has decided he’s a cat person (he started noticing Gman and Luigi!) 🐱 He can also sit on his dad’s shoulders! #babywinet
Our sweet love is 4 months old! Wiggling around li Our sweet love is 4 months old! Wiggling around like crazy and loving his toes :-) #babywinet
Happy 3 months, Riley!❤️ You’re becoming so Happy 3 months, Riley!❤️ You’re becoming so wiggly, curious, and happy....not to mention so many smiles! What a magical little guy you are! #babywinet
Riley is 2 months old and going strong!! Our littl Riley is 2 months old and going strong!! Our little man is starting to smile, coo when he’s happy, bat at things, and focus on objects in his new world 💕 Being home with him has been so special...this mama hasn’t changed out of her bathrobe or put on makeup in, like, a month - and she’s totally ok with that 😂 #babywinet #newmom #2monthsold
I know that babywearing has been a custom around t I know that babywearing has been a custom around the world for centuries (probably millenia?). Today, I see why ❤️ I finally figured out how to put on the Moby wrap and snuggle little Riley into it! When we’re feeling a little more brave, I might even take him out of the house and walk with him around the neighborhood 🥰 What a wild ride...so far, we’ve made it six weeks together!
.
.
.
#babywinet #mobywrap #babywearing #travelmom #newmom #newmomlife
The new cousins meet for the first time! Sweet Mil The new cousins meet for the first time! Sweet Miles and Riley in matching dinosaur rompers...this has to be the best moment ever❤️ Any other ideas for cute cousin pictures the next time we get together?? #babywinet
My morning view, a little different than what I’ My morning view, a little different than what I’m used to! ❤️ Our little Riley James, seeing the world for what always feels like the first time 🥰
.
.
.
#momtraveler #babywinet #newmom
Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom’s been a little busy lately, but she’s back (and promises not to post a million baby photos). **Happy one month birthday to our newest adventure!**
.
.
.
#babywinet #newbaby #baby #newmom
A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 An A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 And, omg, his fresh ceviche!!! *swoon* @abedhabush @viasabra
Our next day started off with a stroll down 2,000 Our next day started off with a stroll down 2,000 year old tile in the ancient ruins of Caesarea....I have to say, it's looking pretty good! 🤣😍 @viasabra
I love texture 😉😀😁 We don't get enough of I love texture 😉😀😁 We don't get enough of it here in the states...we always want to cover up every ding, dent, peel, or crack. I like this. Walking the streets of Tel Aviv 😍
Yummy vegetables! 🥑🍆🥔🥕🍄 Yummy vegetables! 🥑🍆🥔🥕🍄
On our #foodtour through the illustrious #Carmelma On our #foodtour through the illustrious #Carmelmarket with our first guide, Anat from @viasabra! Tel Aviv seriously has some of the best street markets you could ever imagine 😍 I'll try not to inundate you with food pics 😉
One of Israel's biggest controversies: whose hummu One of Israel's biggest controversies: whose hummus is the **best** hummus? If it's from #Abuhasan, then it's chunky and topped with fava beans. Ryan adored it...me...? Well, it did have beans on top, and they kind of looked like Mexican refried beans. I think I'll keep looking for my favorite hummus 🤣@viasabra
One of my FAVORITE things ever came at the end of One of my FAVORITE things ever came at the end of Day 1, and guess what? It starts with a pita!! 😂 This is an Iraqi Jewish food called #sabich. It's fabulous. And I love the chef who makes it - he told us he was an architect because everything is layered precisely inside the pita (namely fried eggplant and hard boiled eggs, among other things) 🥙🥙🥙
Yes, this is a carbonated water with plants in it. Yes, this is a carbonated water with plants in it. And we got to drink it (eat it?) while sitting in an old pickup truck in Levinsky Market (They have no seating in the market, so the owner drives his truck around and keeps parking it in different spots!) @visit_israel #levinskymarket
Starting our first morning off right - with a food Starting our first morning off right - with a food tour of Carmel Market, which is one of the best street food #markets I've ever been to. Here, we got to taste this thing called #burika, which is a Lebanese street food. Basically, it's a fresh #pita stuffed with mashed potatoes and fried egg and smothered in this spicy harissa red sauce. Never have I ever had something like this!! @viasabra @deliciousisrael @visit_israel
I didn't mention this in my first pic, but we are I didn't mention this in my first pic, but we are here with @rollinscollege as part of an #RIG grant to explore a question: Is there such a thing as an Israeli cuisine? 🌿🌱 We are working with @viasabra on our journey!

So, naturally, we start by exploring hummus. And when the famous #Abuhasan hummus spot in Jaffa is packed to the brim for lunch, you get the hummus as takeout and sit in the street 😉😉
Welcome to our Tel Aviv food tour!! I don't always Welcome to our Tel Aviv food tour!! I don't always post #food pics, but this trip kind of necessitates it 😄 Here we are, Tel Aviv, and first up? Falafel, of course 😁
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Follow me on Twitter

Tweets by @kristinwinet

More about Kristin

I am a writer, a teacher, and a traveler. I write to inspire, to have fun, to catch interesting details, to find beauty in the world where I can, and I teach to help others think more deeply about their words, their stories, and their passions. I'm currently living and working in Winter Park, Florida. Welcome to my site! Read More…

recent posts

  • “We’re Here For You:” The Unsolicited COVID-19 Email
  • A Look at Miami for Digital Nomads
  • On the Dark Shores of the Delta

Archives

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Looking for something?

kristinwinet

Traveler | Writer | Storyteller
❤️ award-winning writer & wanderluster
✈️ 36 countries & counting!
🏖 currently in: Winter Park, FL

Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of things. It changes your daily rhythm, your space to think, your ability to throw stuff in a backpack and just go somewhere, the solitude of a writing life. I’ve been working on figuring out who I am in this new life, so I decided to take a baby step this weekend and hop back - slowly! - into my travel writing self 🙌 So tonight, I’m out exploring Cat Mountain Lodge, a super-cute boutique hotel right at the foot of the Tucson mountains 🏔 This pic is from the entrance ☀️ Ryan and Riley came for dinner and toured the property with me - and they’ll be back in the morning for a sunrise breakfast ☕️ Everything still feels weird and unknown, but it also feels messy and new. I’m glad for baby steps...I’m glad to be here❤️ Gladly taking advice from mamas who are also travelers!
.
.
.
#whyilovewhereilive #tucson #mountains #catmountainstation #travelwriter #travelmom #visitarizona #catmountainlodge #arizona #southernaz @catmountainstation5520 @visittucson
Happy 5 months to our sweet sweet love ❤️ He i Happy 5 months to our sweet sweet love ❤️ He is giggling, doing the happy baby all the time now, and has decided he’s a cat person (he started noticing Gman and Luigi!) 🐱 He can also sit on his dad’s shoulders! #babywinet
Our sweet love is 4 months old! Wiggling around li Our sweet love is 4 months old! Wiggling around like crazy and loving his toes :-) #babywinet
Happy 3 months, Riley!❤️ You’re becoming so Happy 3 months, Riley!❤️ You’re becoming so wiggly, curious, and happy....not to mention so many smiles! What a magical little guy you are! #babywinet
Riley is 2 months old and going strong!! Our littl Riley is 2 months old and going strong!! Our little man is starting to smile, coo when he’s happy, bat at things, and focus on objects in his new world 💕 Being home with him has been so special...this mama hasn’t changed out of her bathrobe or put on makeup in, like, a month - and she’s totally ok with that 😂 #babywinet #newmom #2monthsold
I know that babywearing has been a custom around t I know that babywearing has been a custom around the world for centuries (probably millenia?). Today, I see why ❤️ I finally figured out how to put on the Moby wrap and snuggle little Riley into it! When we’re feeling a little more brave, I might even take him out of the house and walk with him around the neighborhood 🥰 What a wild ride...so far, we’ve made it six weeks together!
.
.
.
#babywinet #mobywrap #babywearing #travelmom #newmom #newmomlife
The new cousins meet for the first time! Sweet Mil The new cousins meet for the first time! Sweet Miles and Riley in matching dinosaur rompers...this has to be the best moment ever❤️ Any other ideas for cute cousin pictures the next time we get together?? #babywinet
My morning view, a little different than what I’ My morning view, a little different than what I’m used to! ❤️ Our little Riley James, seeing the world for what always feels like the first time 🥰
.
.
.
#momtraveler #babywinet #newmom
Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom’s been a little busy lately, but she’s back (and promises not to post a million baby photos). **Happy one month birthday to our newest adventure!**
.
.
.
#babywinet #newbaby #baby #newmom
A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 An A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 And, omg, his fresh ceviche!!! *swoon* @abedhabush @viasabra
Load More...
Copyright © 2021 · Designed by Krizzy Designs