Travel Experiment Two
Has there ever been a moment when travelling where you were extremely worried about how something would go but once you finally choose to do it, it proved to be more than worth it? What is the thing that worries you most as a traveler? And have you ever considered the impact of bias and what it plays on traveling? Well I can now answer all of these questions confidently after our second travel experiment, this one in Nashville Tennessee. To begin this one was way different than our first travel experiment both in being very successful by being able to take care of all of our needs but also seemingly unsuccessful as this time around we did spend a little money and ended up driving there. But travel experiment two just like our first one was also above all things a learning experience. Going forward I think I will continue to learn more about how I react in different circumstances, what I need to do to prepare, and the importance of mindset and letting go of bias especially as a traveler.
If there had to be a major
difference between our first and second travel experiments it would have to be
the fact that during our second one, we ended up being a lot more successful in
the accommodation aspect. As I had learned from our previous travel experiment when
it comes to accommodation planning ahead is key. During our first travel experiment
where we had failed to do this, we ultimately suffered from miserable sleep
that impacted the rest of our trip. Thus, when it came to planning our next
travel experiment accommodation or finding a place to stay was the first thing
I tried to figure out. The primary method that I have been using for this again
is couch surfing or an online website which allows travelers from across the
world to stay in people’s homes in exchange for a good travel story and new
friends to hang out with. When looking for a host in Nashville I reached out to
several people well ahead of time so I could give them time to respond to my request
before actually leaving for my trip. What I found odd however was that even
though I had sent my requests out several days ahead of time people only
finally contacted me the day I was leaving for the trip. When it came down to
making a decision on whether or not I would be able to couch surf during this experiment
only one host was left to accommodate us. Out of all the hosts I was ashamed to
say this was the one I was worried about and if it wasn’t for my ability to
break my bias and take the step in accepting his offer our trip would have been
totally different. Ultimately even though I was worried about accepting this
mans request Tom Jackson ended up proving to be the best host in Nashville. As
far as accommodation, travel, food/ water, and attractions he graciously took
care of it all. So that part at the beginning where I said we spent money,
technically it wasn’t even ours but Toms which he graciously gave us for not only
enjoying the Country Music Hall of Fame one of Nashville’s most famous attractions
but also for anything else we might need it for. We got to party at this man’s
house, he took us out to eat for some delicious local food, and gave us a tour
of Nashville in his car including music row which is where a lot of famous
musicians from the area live. Not only was he a great host but he also had a
cool history of being the son of one of the most famous political consultants
in the US and following in his father’s footsteps he has even had the privilege
of working for the 2020 Biden campaign. The only things we really didn’t do
with Tom were see some of the city night life Friday before getting to his apartment
and going to the county music hall of fame which he would’ve also went to if he
didn’t have a meeting. If there had to be one thing, we failed at with this
experiment however it was the fact that we kind of cheated to get there by
driving in Ian’s car. If you’ve been listening to the podcast Ian is my life
long best friend that has gone on several adventures with me. Other than that,
we had a great time, spent no money, and enjoyed a lot better sleep than our
first experiment all thanks to Tom Jackson.
This travel experiment was a perfect
example of the miracle of “seeking discomfort” as the phrase has been floating
around YouTube and shows that not only are there still extremely generous
people in this world but that most of our adventures in life come from being
able to push away our bias and fears. During the time I have been writing this I
have been thinking about this phrase “seek discomfort” and what it means to be
a real traveler. You see I’ve come to realize two major things while doing not
only this travel experiment but also with my journey into a life of travel as a
whole. One thing I realized was if you want a real travel experience you need
to “seek discomfort”. For me the discomfort I experienced on this trip was with
finding my couch surfing host. When it finally came down to choosing a host, I
had been uncomfortable with my choice at first but once I met Tom and learned
who he was as a person that initial discomfort was absolutely worth it. He had
turned out not only to be one of the most amazing hosts I have met but also taught
me the importance of this lesson in “seeking discomfort” and trust me it truly
will surprise you. The second thing I learned was that there never really are
failures when doing these travel experiments but only learning experiences and
a lot of them at that. Honestly the only thing we really could’ve improved or “failed”
at during this experiment was the transportation. As the purpose of these experiments
was to “travel for free” we essentially failed because we drove to Nashville in
Ian’s car. The upside to this however was once we got to Nashville Tom did give
us the rest of our rides for free. To improve this flaw for next time we would
simply not ride in Ian’s car to get there, that was my learning experience not
a failure. My second learning experience
really just came from being lazy and although it doesn’t impact this blog directly,
I just had a lack of motivation to vlog and actually record any good footage
for this trip. Albeit at points this was probably a good thing as there were
some things, we did that others might find uncomfortable such as partying and
climbing or doing some urban exploration around the city. Next time I simply
learned to find something to motivate me in continuing to record and document
these experiments as they aren’t a learning experience if I can’t look back at
them to improve. Overall, I have been enjoying these experiences, learning a
lot, and hope to continue as many of them as I can in the future.
As I have already discussed the
phrase “seek discomfort” could not be underestimated for this travel
experiment, it reflects a lot of what we went through and should be a guide for
anybody seeking a different experience when they travel. As far as how the trip
went Tom Jackson is arguably one of the kindest people on the planet and
because of his generosity the experiment was more than successful. When it
comes to our next travel experiment or experience, I will always look back on
the kindness he gave us. But what will our next experiment look like? What is
next on my itinerary as a traveler? Honestly, I don’t know yet but somehow, I
am comfortable with that fact. Life is a roller coaster best served and
experienced unexpectedly and without planning. At least that’s what I have
learned so far from both of these travel experiments which as a learning experience
have taught me more than my one semester at college. About the generosity of
people, the importance of stepping outside our comfort zone, and living a
fulfilled life full of satisfaction by both being present in the moment and
breaking our barriers. Whatever happens and whatever my next article will be
about I plan to continue following my dreams as life is to short not to be
doing so. Until the next one, Carpe Diem and be a dreamer of the day.
Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writingJMD/
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/jacob-drake2
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