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| Photo by Francesca Del Gobbo
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Red Eye
By Jeff Booth
The way we travel is as important as where we travel. I'm not talking about RV versus mountain bike versus Eurail. The mode of transportation doesn't really matter, but our mindset does.
As travelers, we can make a difference with our actions on the road. Whether it's being a cultural diplomat (real international politics occurs on trains and in cafes); or impacting the community in a positive way (volunteering, spending money to support ecologically-sensitive practices.) There are a dozen adages on the supposed differences between tourists and travelers, but maybe the single most important distinction isn't the amount of passport stamps or the most remote destinations, but travelers are on a conscientious journey.
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I've been a tourist when I stumbled through Venice looking for only the cheapest menus turistica; I felt like a traveler when I took time from checking off "sights" to talk with a Venetian about the impacts of rising sea level and crumbling architecture. We can choose to slow down, learn, give back to communities, and support natural diversity. It's not about holier-than-thou eco-agendas or culture wars; being a conscientious traveler just means taking the time and effort to reach a deeper understanding of a place.
On another note, everyone familiar with our magazine for the past six years will realize we are making a name change. Though we've lost the "World" from Student World Traveler and are now just Student Traveler, by no means are we changing our focus. It's still global and independent. We think our readers are obviously world travelers (or plan to be) so there's no need to bang them over the head with it in the title.
Enjoy getting lost,
Jeff
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