The more I see, the more I think,

the more I think, the more I learn,

the more I learn, the more I see.

My time in Italy is almost up. Between the time of my last post and this, I have had so many thoughts, reflections, inklings of complex things I wanted to share (to who?). But I let them pass as always, because in life I prefer to feel it out first before saying anything. Because if I interrupt and interject my ongoing feelings and experiences with thoughts then I end up under appreciating the moment instead. Then what would have been the point of that? My thoughts can come later..

With every new place I have stepped into I have needed to shed an old layer of skin to painfully grow a new layer. Some people say we should not be influenced so much by other cultures or people and risk forgetting our own. But I have never been such a huge advocate of my old culture anyways.. and as I progress maybe I will expand to include any other culture. Because I like different aspects of living of different cultures. Who I am.. what I am.. that’s a much larger and deeper answer than simply stating my roots and tracing my movements. Although, telling people that I’m a Malaysian Chinese (only of Chinese descent but not from China), studying in America for my undergrad education, and currently studying abroad in Italy can be a rather tedious but good starting point in trying to define my identity.

Point is… I want to find a way of life that suits ME. Not my country’s culture, religion (if I have one), peers, family members’ lifestyles and opinions. I mean ultimately I did grow up and live in that country (oh… it’s just that country that I call now?) for 19 years of my life, so it is inevitable that it remains the largest and most significant part of me that I have. But that does not mean I have to like every single part of that culture. I can choose to reject or transform parts of the culture to suit who I am and will continue developing into in the future. And this sits well for all the other cultures I have encountered in my very short  21 years of life.

I think it is important that people read. Very important that people read and travel. Much more important that people read, travel and think/feel. Most important that we should read, travel, think/feel, and compare. 

Comparison is the basis of analysis. It’s what keep you thinking not just in a fixed manner that you usually do, but in a flexible, more multi-dimensional manner than you used to. Comparison is the link between:

• your original thoughts and experiences growing up in xxx place,
• the extra materials you read about things out of your world,
• first hand encounters of things you see, feel and experience out of your world,
• and fresh/reminiscing thoughts on the new things you see, feel and experience out of your world.

As one can see, to me stepping out of your world really is a good thing, be it mentally or physically. But the ability to link them all together and begin to understand your own origins from the viewpoint of another (hopefully your new transformed self) is truly enlightening and frightening at the same time. But it is the most rewarding part of all. Because all of a sudden you see things about yourself, your peers or others that you have not seen before. And it gets you thinking.

That’s why I am adamant about the value of a liberal arts education. This education can come in many forms, be it school, readings, group discussion etc. But I personally did not truly understand the value of putting many thoughts, values, and cultures into conversation until I came across those things first hand in a country outside of my own. Because all of a sudden you see that it’s REAL. It doesn’t just exist in a faraway land like a fairytale or a nightmare. It is staring you right in your face, challenging you to understand it and befriend it.

That’s where things don’t quite match up doesn’t it…. traveling out of your world is a rich man’s/woman’s pleasure and treasure. That outside exposure is vital to any education and cultivation of the mind, and not everyone can afford it. And traveling once is never enough. Traveling forever is never quite enough.