“Travel leaves you speechless, and then turns you into a storyteller” — Ibn Battuta (1304-1377), one of the world’s first great travelers, 100 years before Marco Polo. An Arab born in Morocco, he traveled over 73,000 miles and visited about 40 countries. As a scholar of Islamic law, he easily found work all over the Muslim world as a traveling judge or advisor to rulers.
I like to quote that adage when I discuss the concept of global citizenship, and how it can enrich one’s life. I was privileged to discuss my experiences and this concept with Joe Dorey of Fearrington Story Corps.
Some people think you must be wealthy or at least upper-middle class to travel widely or live in another country. That’s not necessarily the case. It’s often a matter of priorities and choices — to value experiences over THINGS; and look for foreign opportunities that pay, and/or offer free or reduced-cost housing.
What do you think? Share your experiences. Post comments below, send me a link or an audio file. I’ll put the responses together in future podcasts.
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