A Round the World Adventure

Travelling shatters your stereotypes. Over the past few months (we’ve been on the road now for almost three), we have discovered over and over again how ignorant we are of other countries - their history, politics, geography, and culture.

It’s been a few weeks since we posted anything due to a combination of no internet and busy schedules, but the theme of the last few weeks has been discovering a country beyond just the typical stereotypes and generalizations.

On our first day in France, we told our Parisian friend that when we think of France, we think of berets, the Eiffel Tower, and poodles. (“Puddles?”, she asked. “Why do you think of puddles?”).

After 8 days in France, though, our picture of the country is so much broader. There are berets, and towers, and poodles, and elegant churches, mouth-watering cheeses, constant baguettes, and darling cafe’s. All of the stereotypes exist, but none of them make the country. When we think of France, we will think of…

-Joyful Christian friends, who choose Christ even if they can easily name the small number of other Christians they know. “France is the graveyard of the Christian missionary,” and a country far more prone to atheism and religion than relationship with Christ.

-Kindness, even in small things, and especially to two ignorant American girls, who speak the following words in French: Bon Soir!, Merci, Pardon, ma cherie, au revoir, bonjour. Everyone we met was kind and generous and hospitable.

-Fascinating discussions…on the separation of church and state, on the laws against the burka and how they will affect the country, on politics and history and so much more.

The benefits of traveling are endless, but this week, our favorite is the way that it opens your eyes to a world much bigger than the one we’ve always known.