Traveling Your Known Hometown
There is a place I have never visited. Not because I wasn’t able to go there, but because I’ve never had any interest to visit it.
This place is my hometown in France.
It’s strange to see how people don’t care about the place they live in. They travel far and spend huge amount of money to see exotic landscape but don’t appreciate what they already have.
Look at me for example, I traveled in more than 10 different countries and I am currently studying abroad. I was amazed by the giant pristine forest of Canada, the white and warm beaches of Vietnam, the blue and white houses of Greece… All of this triggered my curiosity and interest.
My hometown never lighted such passion, I was never excited by the view of the sea next to my home. Sometimes I don’t even see the ocean for months and I don’t miss it. Even when I visit my parents for a week or two, I don’t go to watch the sea. I stay at home on my laptop or with a book.
I have forgotten the diversity of plants and crustaceans living on the coast. I have forgotten the seafood and delicious dishes I could eat while watching the waves vanishing on the docks.
It’s sad, right ?
Last week, I found the solution to this problem. I went to my hometown as a tourist. I signed up for an excursion organized by my German university. I joined a group of 14 German students who were going to study algae in my hometown. I discovered my place through the eyes of people who never saw it before. They were amazed by every rock, they collected shells on the beach and took lots of photos.
Thanks to them, I realized the beauty of my hometown. A beauty I used to admire when I was a child but that I slowly forgot.
You should enjoy the place you live in. In case you don’t know what is amazing about your town, invite a friend and for sure he will be able to prove you there are cool places to enjoy where you live.
Try to become a tourist even in the place you know. Take your camera, check on the new places you could visit, actively go sightseeing your town. This way you will break the cycle of your daily life and fully enjoy your place!
Have a nice trip!
