Comments on: Curiosity Begins At Home

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 02:32:10 +0000

@Kathy: Thanks for your comment. Nice to see you here. I like the sentiment, particularly the killing of complacency and most especially intolerance (one thing I find myself increasingly unable to tolerate these days).

Chennai — great city. (By the way, Audrey’s family lived there for two years when she was a baby.)

Speaking of tolerance, one of my fondest memories of Chennai was of a Muslim cab driver who said while driving us to the train station, “I am Muslim. But we are all brothers here, Christian, Hindus, Muslims.” A genuine moment.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:58:04 +0000

Maybe curiosity killed the cat, but it also kills complacency and intolerance…and perhaps–Alzheimer’s? You’re right…it’s all about attitude, whether at home or abroad.

Kathy–living in Chennai, India

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 08:56:09 +0000

@Theresa: Very good point about teaching abroad vs. teaching at home. Fantastic suggestion to either volunteer or teach English as a second language at home — or both. My dad does it and he’s always regaling us with stories of the people he meets (and instructs) and how they are from all these places that we’ve traveled to. It’s rewarding, it gives back, and it makes for a very small world.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:50:26 +0000

For me, one of the best things I did when we returned home was volunteer to teach English as a Second Language at our local Literacy Center. In my class were people from Iraq, Burma, Africa, and all over Latin America (and I’m in little ol’ Durham, North Carolina, not some big city). I really enjoyed interacting with these people and learning about their cultures and their lives, both here in the U.S. and in their home countries. I can’t wait for classes to start up again this fall. It’s honestly one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. I think people often think about going abroad to teach English, but there are also so many places to do it right here at home.

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:11:07 +0000

Hi Audrey and Dan,

Just wanted to let you know that I really appreciated this article. It was an important reminder to me to remain open and curious about people, places, and things locally. A very good practice indeed!
Safe travels and thank you,
Heather

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:11:21 +0000

@Don: By George, I think she’s got it!

@Heather: Great to see you here and thank you for your comment. Am glad to hear that it was a useful reminder. I’ve found that it’s easy to take things for granted particularly when they are so familiar and close to home. Thanks for the safe travel wishes!

By: Don

Don — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:56:20 +0000

Hi Audrey & Dan:

Thanks for your timely reminder about the importance of nurturing curiosity.
Traveling the road of inquisitiveness seems almost to occur spontaneously in those places we refer to as foreign or distant, but in those places we call local or home there is a danger of overlooking the treasures we have in our midst. Your wonderful attachment about Scranton with its past and present riches and warts is just such an example. Having called Scranton our home for 70+ years we realize how easily that can happen. We seem to have become a miniature United Nations in the past decade almost without knowing it, and, despite some occasional minor glitches, we seem to be enjoying our expanding diversity. Despite its many disappointments and bumps it has been a joyous ride and we know there are still some treasures to be found. I enjoyed your post about and photos of Scranton and will share a few of my own in this section. The comments have been interesting but special kudos to George for his humorous overview. C’mon George, we are waiting for you to write that quintessential play about this unique place we call home.

By: Claire (Travel Funny Travel Light)

Claire (Travel Funny Travel Light) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:45:28 +0000

Yes, I have been to India, but I pysch myself out by telling myself, “Claire, just because you have been to India does not mean they want to be your friend!” I will keep you updated.

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:33:30 +0000

@Claire: Great story. I appreciate both your curiosity and your hesitation here. Hopefully you’ll see them again and find a way to engage them. Your motivation is a genuine one, so I’m sure they’ll be open to conversation. Have you been to India? Lots of shared experience if you have.

Every time I return to someplace familiar (say in the U.S. or in Europe), I admit that my curiosity is intact, but my courage to approach people for random conversation or a photograph is a bit more in check. I suppose that’s my sense of what will fly culturally.

Good luck…I’ll be curious to hear about your opening conversation with them.

By: Claire (Travel Funny Travel Light)

Claire (Travel Funny Travel Light) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:48:25 +0000

another excellent post. i am a naturally curious person who loves to travel and loves all things travel. i always want to know people’s stories. but when at home, in my sheltered environment of WV, it is easy to clam up. for example, i was in church last week and an Indian family walked in. This is not a normal occurrence in my town! I kept stealing glances at them throughout the service and was nearly overwhelmed with my curiosity to find out about them, get to know them. But all i could manage at the end of the service was…Hi, how are you??
And that was it! Siiigh. Better luck next week. Hopefully!