Can Travel Be a Force for Peace? This Tour Leader Thinks So.

And now you’re making use of this method to excursions in the USA?

I used to stay in Washington, D.C., which is a really segregated metropolis, particularly on a category degree, and I spotted that my mates and I wouldn’t enterprise out of the neighborhoods we already knew. So we began to develop a tour of the town, and we received a Republican and a Democrat to colead it. That first journey was unbelievable. Watching the information, you’ll suppose that in case you put a Republican and a Democrat collectively, they’d simply discuss previous one another. However that wasn’t the case in any respect. Some of the fascinating conversations we had was on a go to to the Heritage Basis, which could be very conservative. Among the liberal folks within the tour group had by no means had this type of open dialog with a conservative that wasn’t simply sound bites, however an actual, productive dialog. By the top of it, the dialogue was about “What’s the answer?” somewhat than “You’re doing this improper or that improper.” It was fascinating. And that’s what occurs on our excursions in Israel and Palestine. That’s what occurs in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia.

You spent your childhood in a spot with an extended historical past of battle. How has that have knowledgeable this work?

I grew up in Jerusalem, however I by no means had an actual dialog with a Jewish-Israeli individual till I used to be 18 years previous. My brother was killed by being overwhelmed up in jail by Israeli troopers, so I grew up very indignant, very a lot with the concept that the opposite is evil. After which after I was 18, I made a decision to check Hebrew as a result of I needed to — not as a result of I wished to. Dwelling in Jerusalem, you’ll be able to’t survive with out Hebrew. I bear in mind strolling into the category pondering, “None of those folks in all probability need me to be right here.” And I couldn’t have been extra improper. My Hebrew instructor was essentially the most unbelievable human being. She even tried to talk Arabic to me to make me really feel welcome. And that was the primary time I felt like I used to be handled like a human being by the opposite.

However earlier than that second, I solely knew one narrative of Israel, and lots of Israelis in all probability solely know one narrative of Palestinians: the one they hear within the information.

Is that what you imply while you say that essentially the most troublesome journeys might be those which might be closest to residence?

I feel it may be a lot simpler to be open to studying about points or issues which might be taking place 5 – 6 thousand miles away. Typically after I speak about my work with Syrian refugees, folks will say, “Oh, I want to go and volunteer with Syrian refugees in Jordan or Turkey.” And I ask them, “Have you ever volunteered with Syrian refugees in your personal neighborhood? As a result of if not, you must begin there, after which perhaps go to Syria.”

We have a tendency to consider journey when it comes to distance, however I feel journey is mostly a way of life, a frame of mind. And in case you be taught to journey in your personal neighborhood, you’ll be taught to journey while you go overseas. For me, the toughest journey I ever took was going from my residence in East Jerusalem to West Jerusalem. It’s only a 15- or 20-minute stroll, however making that journey introduced concerning the largest change for me, as a result of it challenged me essentially the most.

Many individuals need to loosen up after they go on trip. Why ought to they select to go on a difficult, dual-narrative journey?

There’s an assumption that when folks journey, they’re not considering studying. And that’s not true. Even surveys inform us it’s not true. Folks need to do good as they journey, and they’re searching for tradition and connection. I’ve enjoyable in my travels: I’m going see museums, I swim within the ocean, I get pleasure from music, all of that. However that’s not all that I do. I prefer to say that journey is an act of diplomacy: Be a diplomat as you’re touring and exit and meet somebody new and listen to their tales. And it’s a lot enjoyable! It’s the factor that you’ll bear in mind, and that you simply’ll inform folks about while you come again.

Paige McClanahan is the host of The Higher Journey Podcast.