Why Grow up? travel -Matthew Sprouse Section 10

In the book "Why Grow Up," Susan Neiman speaks about education and how it is one of if not the most important parts of life. Education comes in many forms, and people learn in a multitude of different ways. Whether it be by putting your nose down in a book or going outside and learning to build a birdhouse, everyone learns somehow. Susan Neiman wrote about how education does not just stop there but lies in traveling as well.

Augustine introduced a metaphor in the fourth century, "the world is a book, and those who do not travel know only one page." Susan mentions that Augustine was not a hypocrite to his word. She mentions that Augustine was a man born in Algeria who moved from Carthage to Rome, ending up in Milan before finally returning to his homeland. She talks about how even Kant himself said that travel was a suitable means of broadening one's knowledge.

Another great quote, this time from Rousseau is, "I hold it to be an incontestable maxim that whoever has seen only one people does not know men: he knows only the people with whom he has lived." This idea is still pertinent in a society where we can watch videos from all over the world. Seeing something on a screen rather than being in the moment experiencing the world around someone will never compare Susan brings up. I do not know about you, but in my experience, this sentiment holds up in almost every case.

It is easy to fall into the trap of assumption. Susan talks about the trap of education and the ignorance that can come along with it. She talks about how she has met and talked with educated people from all around the world, such as educated Germans who did not think Americans understood irony or Britons who thought Nazis were not also normal people. The truth of these assumptions is that they stem from a lack of travel while also being educated, which gives a feeling of knowing more than one actually does.

Susan makes her point that in order to get the most out of not only one's education but life as well, it is a requirement to be well-traveled. Traveling allows you to gather knowledge of the different peoples and inhabitants of the earth that we all share. To miss out on an entire world of possibilities would be a tragedy. I agree with Susan when she said that if someone is given the opportunity to travel, do not miss out on it. Traveling is one of the most amazing opportunities anyone can be given. It is a way of not only educating someone but also putting the world into perspective. A tip Susan gives about traveling is not just to tour but to live where you travel. As in staying for a little while, what would be best is to live amongst the people there as I am working a job for a few shifts. Good luck, and stay safe on your travels. The world is your lemon!