Summary

"Boarding Pass to the World" is a Medium publication that aims to bridge the gap between travelers and cultural enthusiasts through personal stories and experiences that highlight the beauty of diversity and the importance of empathy in understanding different cultures.

Abstract

The "Boarding Pass to the World" publication on Medium serves as a platform for storytelling, where writers share their travel experiences and cultural insights. It emphasizes the significance of open-mindedness and empathy, encouraging readers to embrace cultural differences and learn from the diverse traditions and practices around the world. The publication welcomes contributions from writers who can offer unique perspectives on multiculturalism, life abroad, and the humorous or embarrassing moments that come with cultural exchange. It also provides a dedicated space for Spanish-speaking writers to share their stories. The content is organized into five categories: Culture and Multiculturalism, Travel, Life Abroad, "Please, kill me now" moments, and Spanish, each with its own specific tag for easy navigation.

Opinions

The author values the enriching experiences that come from exploring and understanding different cultures.
There is an emphasis on the importance of anthropology in fostering a deeper appreciation for the diversity of human societies.
The publication promotes the idea that cultural differences should be celebrated rather than seen as barriers.
Good writing is prioritized over the writer's fame or following, with a preference for engaging stories over listicles or self-help articles.
Humor is appreciated in storytelling, but disrespectful content is not welcomed.
The author acknowledges the challenges of living in a multicultural society, including the potential for cultural misunderstandings.
There is a recognition that what is considered "normal" varies greatly across different cultures.
The publication seeks to create a more compassionate world through shared stories and mutual understanding.
A special invitation is extended to Spanish-speaking writers, reflecting the publication's commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

Why Boarding Pass To The World

Where Travelers and Cultures Connect

Drawing and Publication background made by the author

Why Boarding Pass to the World

This publication was born to be the meeting point between open-minded travelers and culture lovers.

When I was a child, I dreamed of being an explorer. I played with maps and — to this day — I always carry one in my purse (I know, weird…).

I considered myself open-minded until I actually started to travel. I still remember my shock and disbelief in my first trip abroad thinking how “weird” some of the locals were.

But I was only 13 in a time with no Internet. We used to travel without expectations.

Next time I traveled, other surprises awaited me, but this time I was ready.

Very soon, finding those cultural differences became one of the main points of visiting a country. I wanted to know how they lived, what they believed in, what they eat, why and at what time. I wanted to learn as much as I could.

By the time I started studying anthropology, I considered myself fully open-minded.

Boy was I wrong.

Anthropology is the study of human evolution, societies and cultures. It tries to find where we come from, how different we are, what similarities we share, which differences are biological or cultural. It’s like traveling in time and space without moving from your chair.

I learned that there are as many realities as people on the planet. And none is better than the other, only different.

I learned to stop comparing other societies with mine, even when sometimes I found their traditions terrifying. It was a full degree on empathy.

I also learned that what I consider “normal” is exotic to many people in the world and viceversa.

Once we fully open our minds, the world stops being about us vs them. We understand the human race, history, and the world as an integrated system full of connections, instead of isolated events. We learn our differences not as an excuse to divide us, but as a pathway to enjoying our diversity.

We feel part of something bigger than us.

Do You Want to Write here? Tell Us A Story

This publication is open to all good writing. I don’t care about your following or how famous you are, but I value readers’ time, so this is the only rule:

Tell us a story. We are obsessed with stories. Not listicles, productivity advice, or self-help pieces. Tell us your wildest travel stories. Immerse us in your favorite places, and help us re-live your beautiful story.

Write a 4 to 10 min clean article, easy to read, with no grammar or spelling mistakes (I can understand some preposition mistakes from non-native English writers though, English can be an evil language 😆).

What We’re Looking For

This publication is for you if you:

Want to share a different way to see the world.
Belong to a multicultural society or home. Is your spouse or children from a different country? Did you ever have any argument for a cultural difference? Did you integrate several cultures and make your own at home? Please, share with us.
Ever lived in a different country and want to show us the cultural differences and shocks you experimented. Humor is always welcome, being disrespectful not.
Traveled abroad with some preconceptions and reality slapped you in the face.
Love history and enjoy tracking down where our current traditions come from.
Want to share the “rarities” of your culture. What makes your country unique?
Share about those times that cultural shock led you to embarrassing situations. Do you have any “I wish the earth would swallow me up” moments? Let us know! I invited my in-laws to try my nipples once!
As a bilingual creator in a monolingual sphere, I want to give a space to Spanish-speaking writers. Feel free to submit your stories in Spanish and they’ll get published in the Spanish tab (I’ll publish the submission guidelines soon).

In general, use the Medium guidelines, or read the stories already published here for more info.

If you want to be added as a writer, please leave a comment here :)

Publication Tabs

We will organize the stories in five categories:

Culture and multiculturalism: curiosities from your own culture, stories about traditions or other societies, or a different perspective on any social debate. Do you live in a multicultural family or society? Feed our inner nerd! (please, use #culture as one of the tags) here are two examples of “weird” Spanish traditions: Millions of Spaniards Celebrate Christmas by Gambling, or how every New Year a whole country collectively chokes on fruit.
Travel: Share your story about your travels around the world. What did you learn? Was it different from what you expected? Did your trip make you a better or different person? This article summarizes the kind of travel we love to hear about (please, use #travel as one of the tags): Are you a traveler or a tourist?
Life abroad: Have you ever been an expat? How was your experience? Do you have any recommendations for other expats? Did you embrace the new culture? (please, use #life as one of the tags)
“Please, kill me now” moments: Mixing with other cultures and learning other languages can be challenging. Did you ever inadvertently do something rude? Do you still blush about that thing you mispronounced? I even invited my in-laws to try my nipples once! (please, use #this happened to me as one of the tags)
Spanish: All the topics above, writing in the language of Cervantes (please, use #Spanish and #español as two of the tags).

This is our chance to contribute to a more compassionate world, based on mutual understanding and respect. I’m looking forward to sharing this journey with you 🤗