Final Words

Throughout this semester I have been able to tap into a different style of writing but I was still able to talk about topics that I am passionate about. When I originally signed up for this class, I didn’t know if this would go down the route or learning about the travel industry or writing about our travel experiences. I think I was leaning more towards the idea of writing about our own travel experiences. But I was pleasantly surprised when I learned on the first day that we would be focusing on the travel industry.

I have been pushed to think about aspects of travel that I had never put this much thought into. I always spoke about issues like race, gender, sexual orientation etc before but never in the exact context of travel. I learned so much about these topics in relation to travel and I am so happy. Intersectionality being brought to travel seemed weird but made perfect sense.

We talked about things I guess I had thought about before but never really thought deeply about. For example, traveling alone as a woman or just with women, I thought about it, but never thought deeply enough about it to learn and look at why this is common. I had always thought about how when we traveled as a family, sometimes we would have to split up because two women with two daughters of color can be a lot for some people and too different for some cultures. These things we faced as a family that we just pushed to the side, but in reality, they are real issues that others also face and are being talked about. It was almost like a sense of validation to hear these things especially in the context of a university course.

Beyond learning new things about travel and the industry, I was able to become a better writer. Working on integrating quotes, the right use of pictures to create a greater story, and using more descriptive language to enhance my writing. While some of those things seem small and like things I should have learned years ago, they have been something I have struggled with in the past. But this class I was able to focus on them and work on them without the pressure of a crazy strict analytical essay. It made writing and learning fun while still beneficial.

This class was not easy and challenged me as a writer and learner. But the class brought to light how important these different intersections and subgroups of this topic of travel are to talk about. I think speaking about these topics helps those in these communities that are facing these adversities while trying to do something fun is powerful. If you have the power and privilege to not face one or all of these things, there is no reason to not speak about them and help bring the voices of those who are minorities up. I also think sharing your own experiences of facing these adversities is so important. Change can’t happen if people are always silent. To speak about these things, brings attention to them, and helps create a safer and more open world for everyone.

I am definitely going to miss this class and the conversations we were able to have. I learned so much about the travel industry and how to be a better travelers and educator. Sad to say goodbye, but I hope these conversations continue beyond this classroom. I know I will be continuing them, because travel is truly one problems that we do not talk about enough.