By Kathy Hughes
Contributing Writer
As readers know, I love to discover where various words come — words, like everything else, have a history. Recently, the word “travel” came to mind, having just logged a trip to Finland, and back!
Travel, particularly air travel isn’t what it used to be, an elite mode of transport that only a few had experienced. Passengers dressed up, if you were going to fly, you wanted to look the part. The cabin crew, predominantly stewardesses, were required to be nurses (presumably because people were likely to throw up, all over their fine clothes).
Again, travel isn’t what it used to be, but then again, neither am I. The demands of connecting with four flights, finding my way through foreign airports, all the while keeping adequately nourished, hydrated and rested, avoiding getting DVT (deep vein thrombosis- a blood clot) over a thirty hour period, were almost too much for me.
Of course travel was seldom, if at ever, comfortable. People have travelled ever since learning to stand upright, and put one foot in front of another. Taking all this into account was why I was surprised only at my own ignorance to learn that “travel” derives from “travail,” meaning “work.” Travel has always been work — dirty, uncomfortable and dangerous.
Why do we do it? Even if it’s only across town, or over the next field, people seem to be programmed to roam around. It is a push/pull phenomenon. The pull being the search for a home, pursuing game, fertile soil, or even a mate. Simply a better climate, more, fewer or better neighbors, a higher standard of living, more opportunities — all have kept people on the move since time immemorial. The push derives from several factors — the ancient escape from fire, flood, famine, pestilence, discrimination and war. Some people travel to meet up with family or friends, others seek to escape them.
Even with all these reason, there remains much about travel that cannot be explained. I find it incredible that people would cross the ocean or prairie, sometimes more than once, for no good reason, except, that is to explore and have new experiences. Even though it is uncomfortable, arduous, dangerous and expensive, there are people who just want to go back.
People ask me, “Where are you going next?” Right now, having just recovered from jet lag and exhaustion, I cannot truly say. Maybe I’m getting too old for this and I have lost some of my self-confidence; however, given good health and opportunity, I’m likely to set off again, boarding passes in hand, if only one more time. I’ve always intended to go back to France, and there’s England and now I’ve added Ireland. My niece lives in Senegal, and I’m the only family member not to have visited. I hear Goa is an interesting place to visit. Now that the fatigue had lifted, I realize that, despite everything, I had a fantastic trip to Finland.
