One of my favorite ways to learn is through travel. Leading up to my trip to Berlin this past summer, my reading list included the novella collection The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood and the psychological thriller The Innocent by Ian McEwan. My watch list included the musical Cabaret and the bittersweet comedy Good Bye, Lenin! Researching Airbnbs led me down a rabbit hole about the history of Berlin boroughs, including Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. The website atlasobscura.com identified some lesser-known museums and oddities to explore.
Traveling to new places presents the opportunity to learn more, regardless of age. When preparing this education, family and senior living issue, I especially resonated with a question posed by Plymouth recreation supervisor Meghan Constantini: “How do we feel young?” She says, “By doing new things each day, breaking the routine and seeing new places.” Constantini details how Plymouth’s Community Tripsters program allows adults 55 and older the chance to check off bucket-list destinations.
For the young explorer, sibling authors Anusha and Arnav Chakraborty draw on their own experiences, visiting over 30 countries to write their first book, It’s Time to Travel the World, which presents 12 global cultures and destinations to early readers. “We love to explore the food, languages, landmarks and culture of new countries,” Anusha says. Learn more about the Chakraborty siblings alongside two other Plymouth authors.
Travel encourages us to be lifelong learners. Whether you’re visiting a familiar locale or broadening your travel horizons, I’d encourage you to dive headfirst into the history for a richer and more nuanced experience.
Until next time,
—Madeline Kopiecki
