Motives

[Maura Santangelo]

I have been following the comments on escapism, being a veteran of travel for
apparent humanitarian reasons, I can tell you that part of it was also
escapism.  There is nothing like a few weeks dealing with no hot water, no
toilet, inedible or unrecognizable food, social blunders, days in 4 wheel
drives on barely imagined roads, dust, mosquitoes, cold, heat, getting sick
away from any possible help, ....to build strength of character, give you a
sense of confidence and get a new perspective on life the universe and
everything.
The real trip is internal regardless of your motives.  There is a famous line
from TS Eliot which I cannot currently remember (can someone look it up, I
believe it was part of the Quartets) which does say this much better thatn I
possibly can.

Maura

PS. I have already started on my trip, I am now in Italy, will unsubscribe
after FRance


On Saturday 12 April 2003 01:07 am,
Bob Spenger wrote:
> If I were to be really candid with myself, I am afraid that I would find
> that my only really deep motivation was escapism - plus probably a measure
> of senile machismo.  But I try to avoid looking into to it too deeply. I
> just keep swimming after the Pharaoh's barge, i.e. I'm in "de Nile."
>
> regards,
>
> Robert
>