1 . Many of us are familiar with the excitement of planning a vacation to an exotic destination. As the departure date approaches, anticipation builds, and the possibilities seem endless. However, upon returning home, the experience often fades quickly as we settle back into our routines. That incredible experience becomes like a dream — similar to watching a movie, but a lot more expensive. But does it have to be like this? What if it could be a transformative experience that enriches our lives?
Over 200 years ago, Mary Wollstonecraft, a philosopher and feminist, started a journey to Scandinavia during a difficult period in her life. Despite her initial intentions to win back her lover, she found comfort in documenting her travels in “Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.” Through her observations and reflections, she not only revolutionized travel writing but also healed herself emotionally.
Wollstonecraft’ s approach to travel offers valuable insights for modern-day travelers. Instead of simply sightseeing, she actively engaged with her surroundings, learning about local customs and history, and questioning her own assumptions. She embraced the unpredictability of travel, allowing herself to explore without strict plans.
Here are some goals we can construct from Wollstonecraft’s approach to travel: Try to actively know the place you are in. Observe the customs. Interact with the locals. Learn the whys behind the observation. Explore the history. Try to understand the answers in relation to what you are experiencing now. setting aside any previous assumptions. Notice how the journey is affecting you. What new insights do you have? Are your opinions and beliefs challenged? Don’t plan out every detail. Embrace uncertainty and explore.
So how do we put those goals into practice? Here is where mental models can enhance the travel experience. Exposing ourselves to diverse cultures and perspectives to broaden our worldview. Challenge confirmation bias (认知偏差) by engaging with ideas that differ from our own. Recognize that happiness and fulfillment can be achieved in various ways.
By including these principles into our travels, we can transform them from mere entertainment into profound end enriching experiences that leave a lasting impact on our lives.
1. What word best describes our feelings upon returning home from a vacation?| A．Excited. | B．Inspired. | C．Disappointed. | D．Astonished. |
| A．To show the transformative power of travel. |
| B．To highlight the challenges of traveling alone. |
| C．To emphasize the importance of documenting experiences. |
| D．To prove the possibility of finding comfort in strict travel plan. |
| A．The map is not the territory. | B．Travel brings love back to your life. |
| C．Create your own sunshine every day. | D．Believe in miracles, trust the journey. |
| A．Ignoring differing ideas to avoid bias. |
| B．Limiting exposure to new perspectives. |
| C．Seeking entertainment rather than enrichment. |
| D．Broadening worldview through diverse cultures. |
2 . Travel allows us to experience the world. But as we travel, we are also leaving our footprint on every place we visit. This is why culturally immersive (沉浸) travel is so important. Because the wrong kind of travel negatively affects the world. One of the reasons we started this blog was to help others travel better and feel comfortable getting off the beaten path, interacting with locals, and take you “Beyond the traditional Bucketlist”, if you will.
People who only get 2-weeks off per year are often just looking for an easy destination with a beach to relax on. This isn’t travel. This is a vacation. But “Immersive Travel” or “Cultural Travel” is an entirely new type of trip. It is about experiencing and preserving the various traditions around the world. It’s about being open to new experiences and willing to step into another’s shoes. Cultural travel is jumping in with both feet and leaving your idea about what your trip should be behind you. It’s eating local dishes and sleeping in guesthouses. It’s building genuine connections with locals. It’s learning about the history of a country and leaving your trip with a greater understanding of the place you came to see and the people who live there.
Often times in today’s age, “travelers” will visit a country just to snap some photos of the famous sights to post on Instagram or to drink the night away, or even just to relax on a tropical beach. But that kind of vacation can be harmful to the very communities you’re traveling to.
Beyond supporting the local communities and the preservation of local customs and traditions, you’ll also experience some personal benefits through cultural travels. There’s simply no way to travel this way with a closed mind. You’ll get to know different cultures intimately and understand them a lot better. You’ll also become less judgmental of others the more you travel.
1. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the first paragraph?| A．To stress the negative influence of travel. |
| B．To describe the importance of cultural travel. |
| C．To recommend a totally different type of travel. |
| D．To convey his unique feelings about cultural travel. |
| A．establish close connections with the locals during the travel |
| B．choose a tourist attraction for adventure and exploration |
| C．show more interest in the history of a travel destination |
| D．post the photos taken in the journey on the social media |
| A．It is focused on studying local people's lifestyle. |
| B．Its travelers should be open-minded and understanding. |
| C．It is a specific way to make judgments of other cultures. |
| D．Its major concern is preserving local traditions and customs. |
| A．A travel brochure. | B．A blog post. |
| C．A historic magazine. | D．An encyclopedia website. |
