There are two kinds of travelers. There is the kind that goes somewhere to see, and the kind that goes somewhere to grow. The first traveler has an easier time, but I think the second traveler comes away stretched. He isn't just a foreigner in town to sample the scenery or a vacationer escaping life. No. The second kind of traveler feels his place. He is captured by the wonder of his surroundings. Drawn into a deeper understanding of the vagaries of human nature.

The first kind of traveler gets to the airport and sighs and heaves at the long lines, harried staff, and crowded escalators. He looks at his watch, shifts around in his chair, and pokes at his food. After trying to sleep for a few hours, he'll pop open the airplane window and wonder, "How far away are we anyway?" before annoyingly shifting his weight to try to get some more shuteye. Across the aisle, the second traveler. He's had a relaxing day; exciting, in fact. He got to the airport with time to spare. Smiled at the check-in agent and exchanged niceties with the security staff. There's no rush, no need to worry -- afterall, the journey is just as fascinating as the destination. It's a new experience everytime.

When in Paris, the first kind of traveler may eat snails in the Latin Quarter because, well, that's what you do when you visit France. The second traveler, on the other hand, may not even touch snails. Instead, he'll sit in a cafe -- a one-room, family business type of place with a glass front that looks out onto the street -- and watch the world go by. Not necessarily trying to understand it. But learning from it nonetheless. He'll visit the Eiffel Tower, but instead of trying to find that oh-so-perfect shot, he'll find a park bench back by the Ecole Militaire and marvel at the structure. "What is it in a man that can create such a structure? How has this come to be known as the symbol and center of touristic France? "

I would argue that the first traveler wasted his money. He came, he saw, he left. And for what worthy purpose? To show photos to friends back home? To put another notch on his travel belt? To scoff confidently that snails aren't all that special after all? It's true. Go to a place, whether it be Paris, France or Two Beans, Alabama and come back the same -- you are the first kind of traveler. But come back from a place, with a better knowledge of the world we live in and the people who run it (believe it or not... not just America!), then you are gladly welcomed as the second kind!

There are only certain insights that can come to a person once he has seen the world naked -- as it really is and was meant to be experienced.