Okay...since I'm going to be yakking with you every Tuesday about how to write about travel and a far-flung life, I figure I better start with a couple of key definitions. That way, all you writers interested in writing about your own far-flung lives will be on the same page with me.
Here goes...DEFINITIONS
far-flung lifeFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (I'm anticipating...)
- a life in which you travel to different places on a regular basis (ex: I'm an American. My husband is from Ireland. Our daughter is Vietnamese. We live in Shanghai, China. We get around.)
cultural spelunker
- a life that jolts you out of your comfort zone
- one who arrives in a new country (state, city, etc.), looks around at unfamiliar people & places, smiles, & digs in
- fearless explorer (or perhaps explorer despite fear)
- one who is compelled by odd smells, strange glances, dark alleyways, wacky foods, cultural conundrums, language barriers, & so on
Q: Do I have to travel out of my home country in order to have a far-flung life?
A: Nope. Everyone's definition of far-flung is different. Perhaps you travel from Chicago to Japan twice a year...yep, that's far-flung. Perhaps you divide your time between Montana and New York City...yep, that's far-flung. Or perhaps you stick close to home but cross into a neighboring county twice a week...yep, that's far-flung (as long as--and this is the key--the journey throws you out of your comfort zone in some significant way).
Q: Do I have to be an expat like you?
A: Oh, god, no. If you travel & get out of your comfort zone, you qualify.
Q: Is cultural spelunker a real term?
A: It is now. I made it up.
All set?
Good. Spend the week thinking about your far-flung life and meet me back here in a week.
Happy travels.
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