Have you ever studied or taken classes on a trip? What did you study, and perhaps more importantly, what did you learn while on that trip? What would you like to learn on your travels this year?
I have studied on trips. I have taken classes on trips. Part of this was bringing university work abroad with me & part of it is just the love of learning. My most notable class I’ve taken while traveling was a cooking class in Paris in 2005 – in which my travel companion & I perused the farmers market, bought fresh ingredients & were ushered back to a personal (& gorgeous) kitchen.
That part of the trip was also of interest as I was the only vegetarian in a decidedly non-vegetarian cooking class. But there was still plenty for me to do as a sous-chef.
The funny (& difficult) part was explaining why I am a vegetarian. Most of the time when people ask, they want to know whether it is ethical-based, compassion-based, health-based, etc. But when I was in Paris – people wanted to know why I would ever choose to limit the choices of delicious things I could have. It caught me more off guard than any other questions I’ve received about my vegetarianism.
What I learned? I tasted a radish that was so delicious by itself, it might have spoiled me forever. I finally understood what really good (& expensive) balsamic vinegar was – & why a drop on a single raspberry could be just enough.
I’m not sure if I have my eyes set on any specific learning for traveling this year. I would like to become a more relaxed traveler & do some ‘at home’ work to learn more vocabulary in different languages.
Great post…we have a nearly identical picture from one of our trips to Paris…Great view up there:)
this post makes me want to run off to Paris ASAP!