“Travel while you’re young and able. Don’t worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money will ever be.”
An awful quote, a false attribution, a terrible font, set on a background of some cliff-face you are supposed to want to climb. To find yourself. To learn about the world. This bullshit is piped into young New Zealanders’ brains as though spending all your money on a holiday is the only way to become an adult. “Don’t worry about the money, just make it work.” Unless you have to support yourself on a small income, without parents who can bail you out if something goes wrong.
“Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you travelled” –Mohammed.
“Lovely to meet you, did you know that I am educated?”
“Tell me if you’ve travelled or shut the fuck up”
Mohammed didn’t say that, but whoever did knew that travel and education are both ways of learning new things, as is talking to someone, reading a book, watching TV, or looking at your butt.
“TRAVELING’S not something you’re good at. It’s something you do. LIKE BREATHING.” – Gayle Foreman
What does this even mean? Traveling will happen without you thinking about it, even when you sleep, and if you stop for five minutes you will die? WANKING’S not something you’re good at. It’s something you do. LIKE HOW YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM PUMPS BLOOD. LIKE FALLING DOWN THE STAIRS. LIKE DROPPING A DEUCE.
I travelled when I was 18, and it was fantastic, then I got into shit and my parents bailed me out. Profound. How fascinating. Traveling does create unique experiences, but it’s a privilege and a luxury that shouldn’t be foisted on people as a coming-of-age life hurdle. It’s expensive, often stressful, and there are plenty of ways to get life experience without going to another country.
Lucy Hunter
Critic Editor