01 Mar [ Time + Experience ]

Travelling is integral to a person’s growth. It becomes part of a process between time and experience. Opening your mind to see more, meet more, laugh more, and live more is really what we will always be looking for as we grow. We seek adventure, we seek shock, we seek memories, we seek different people, same people, the feel of something new, belongingness, nature – we seek love. This doesn’t come by so frequently if you don’t break free from the environment that has already sculpted, and has already passed and gone through as a part of you. That homely part of you is always looking to rediscover yourself. It craves an unknown. It craves a thrill – and what better personal thrill than accomplishing an impulse to get the hell out of there?

Travelling can mean many things to different people. Its interpretation doesn’t necessarily have to mean physically moving, yet it is always growing. In my case today, I refer to travelling as literally moving. Countries, to be precise. Today I find myself a long way from my hometown in Australia, in the big expensive city lights of San Francisco. I am here on college exchange and to practice my religion of burgerlism. But as usual, I have already gained a lot more than just weight. Six weeks in, I’m so happy with myself. I’ve learnt more than what I was supposed to in class, and I learnt it all on my own will. I learnt more about myself. I’ve concreted a personality with adaption, but I haven’t changed myself. I’m just experiencing and growing. And I’m sure most of my colleagues here on exchange are starting to feel the same way, in their cliques and at the events out here in SF. We’re not really changing – we’re growing. And what’s beautiful is that we are all growing together. If this is the result of time and experience together, then this is living. And we’re living our lives well, for the memories we’ll hold on to in maybe just a few years’ time, or maybe even in another twenty, or thirty.

We’re in this together. Like a delicate ecosystem of a family, we are helping each other have the best time we can. We actually need each other because we are a group with the same goals, and they may not seem like it now but they are important goals. We need to connect and unite – because if we don’t experience this to its fullest potential, we’re all going to get full time jobs soon and miss it anyway.

So keep that in thought for the next person you meet at TGIT.

Lake Merced’s late sunset charms