An international perspective
Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 03:39PM 
This is my baby - 22-year-old Brady - set to leave for his trip to New Zealand this morning. He is bringing only the bare essentials with him - 500 pounds of video games and old t-shirts. He'll be roughing it. With two of his buddies, he'll be working in Wellington for the next year or so. At least he'll be working when not pestering Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro about making him an Orc extra in the new Hobbit movie being made there in "Welly-wood."
I hope he will be absorbing some of the county's culture, values and perspectives as well. It's my firmly held belief that everyone should spend some time living and working internationally. I was lucky enough to work in Saudi Arabia as a teacher for 5 years and the experience changed not just my view of the Arab world, but the view of my own country as well. There are things like the home delivery of a Sunday paper, green parks and a mostly honest police force that I will not take for granted for the rest of my life. And I'll always remember that the US is not universally loved (for some good reasons); that some degree of cultural modesty is appropriate.
Fates, please be kind to this young man and his friends. But don't let Brady fall in love with a Kiwi girl and never come home...
Reader Comments (5)
That jacket gives me weird vibes...seems I've seen it somewhere before--perhaps on my own soon to be 21 yo. He has a jacket JUST like that! Yes reality checks come in the oddest ways. My son had an aha moment today too--had his apartment broken into and his well stocked stash of assorted gaming systems and games (too many to count) all stolen. EGADS. Irreplaceable in his opinion. Oh yeah, Mom, my laptop was taken as well. Sigh. Priorities are slightly askew here At least Brady is escaping that brutal frozen season you all call Winter. He will in all likelihood return home with blonder hair, a tan, and maybe uh--a GF? Best wishes and safe travels to Brady down under. Peace for the parents. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
Odd. My 18 year old daughter has the same jacket! And your post, Doug, is touching to me, as I have the same hopes for my girl. I hope that she gets to have wonderful experiences in other parts of the world, and that her life is enriched by it. Another part of me though, selfishly hates to see her go and leave...us!
My husband and I got to live in Europe for about 5 years during our early professional years, and it truly did change our world forever. I find even now, 20 years later, the people that I am drawn to are people that, in some way, have had that same kind of experience. The people we experienced that with are our life-long friends. It changes you to look at your country through the eyes of another culture.
My son backpacked and stayed in hostels in New Zealand and Australia and loved it. He still travels a lot with his job and just returned from Canada. It's always hard for me when he is far away, but he loves a life of adventure. He has done everything from deep sea diving to surfing and loves it all.
@ Hi Cathy,
Well, no about out-of-sight-out-of-mind. I think about kids and grandkids everyday.
I did the email that he has arrived safely and the weather is nice. His timing of moving to the Southern Hemisphere during our fall, their spring, did not go unnoticed!
Good luck with your son recovering his treasures.
All the best and thanks for the comment,
Doug
@ Hi Jamie,
I'm happy the post resonated with you. I expect the attitude toward travel and living abroad are transmitted from parent to child. I traveled a good deal with my kids and they now both like to go places themselves.
There is a quite from William Least Heat Moon's Blue Highways about how people who go and come back are always different from those who never leave. You've inspired me to look it up!
Thanks,
Doug
@ Hi Betty,
I traveled quite a bit with Brady, both nationally and internationally. Our "big" trips were through Europe and to Australia.
I have a theory that the person with the best stories to tell in the nursing home wins. I am guessing your son is living his stories now.
Thanks for the comment and all the best,
Doug
Doug, pass this message on to Brady? (or let me know the e-mail he is using? TIA, Sara
Good luck. Brady! Will you consider doing another illustration for this year's KQ conference issue from afar? Bring home lots of stories, Sara