Karl's Blog

Fitting the Mold

Traveling to a foreign country can sometimes feel like being a newborn baby. You’re dropped into a completely new culture where you don’t know the language, have no concept of where you are, and need the guidance of someone with experience to survive. For these reasons and more, it can be extremely daunting to embark on this experience.

Throughout our time here in Greece, we had to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and that was no easy task. As you begin to move through the streets you begin to notice the similarities between you and the individuals surrounding you, but where there are similarities there are often also differences. Because of these differences, you have to remain adaptable. In all of my travels, adaptability has been the most important tool in my toolbox. You enter the country and you are molded in a way that is conducive to where you come from. However, in order to realize your full potential you have to be willing to shift and change so that you can immerse yourself in the culture of the country.

Towards the end of our trip we took a pottery class where we were able to shift and mold clay into bell-shaped dolls. When I began to mold the clay it was hard and reluctant to change shape, but when I added a little water the cracks closed and it became more flexible. This is exactly what is needed when you travel. When you apply adaptability techniques while traveling you are able to shift your mindset and mold it into whatever it needs to be be to maximize your experience. Opening your mind to the language by doing something as simple learning how to say hello, goodbye, or where is the bathroom can drastically change your experience in a positive way.

After more consideration, I realized that while this tool is beneficial for travel, when used in everyday scenarios it has the same power. There may be precedents set but there are many ways to move throughout life. When learning to navigate a new work culture, friendship, or school adaptability is the tool in your toolbox that can never stop helping. This lesson is one that I will take with me beyond the streets of Greece and apply as much as possible to my life moving forward.