This is the final week of my Rhetoric of Travel Writing course! My writing challenge is to address the idea of becoming “agents of change” when we travel. Possibilities abound!
Debbie Lisle in chapter 6 of The Global Politics of Contemporary Travel Writing quoted Roland Barthes who argued that “all texts are polysemic - that there are always multiple and infinite interpretations of any text” (264). Barthes says that the text can have “malleable meanings” (264). How true! Most of us have probably had those "ah-ha" moments when we read something for a second or third time and feeling as if it has a new message, a "malleable meaning!"
I also read another chapter from David Spurr’s The Rhetoric of Empire. Spurr wants travel writers to find alternatives to colonial discourse (185). One aspect of chapter 12, Resistance, that stood out to me seemed similar to that of Roland Bathes. Spurr wrote, “ethnography that wants to incorporate thinking must do more than stand on ideological opposition, it must remain open to other forms of interpretations” (195).
In addition, I listened to a couple of TEDTalks again this week.
One was from a woman named Jacqueline Novogratz whose topic was “Inspiring a Life of Immersion.” She takes philanthropic resources and invests in “patient capital” where individuals take the resources and convert them into changing the world in positive ways (10:36). One of my favorite quotes from Ms. Novogratz was when she referenced a short story called “Oh Yes” by Tillie Olsen. “Better immersion than to live untouched” (1:33). What a profound statement that begs the question of how do we each do this?
Next I watched/listened to Sheikha Al Mayassa. Her topic was “Globalizing the Local, Localizing the Global.” Mayassa is a woman from Qatar who believes in changing culture from within, but at the same time reconnecting with traditions (1:16). According to Mayassa, many Qatari women are using the Doha Film Institute as a way to edit and tell their own stories in their own voices (7:18). She mentioned that The Doha Tribeca Film Festival allowed the cities of Doha and New York to explore her part of the world. Ms. Mayassa said, “They’re learning our culture, our language, our heritage and realizing we’re just as different and just the same as each other (8:54). Isn't it enlightening to realize that so many diverse peoples can come together, simply to learn about the other?
Where does this leave me? I'm still a novice travel writer. Well, in reflecting on the writing of my trite little story, “The Downtown Bus Station” I realized I didn’t do anything too earth shattering. I probably won’t be mentioned in any academic paper for a dissertation publication. No one will likely invite me to do a TEDTalk.
But I do think I have become an “agent of change.” But it didn’t start over the last five weeks of this course. It started nearly 30 years ago when I stepped on a bus, slid over to the window and allowed an inquisitive young man to talk to me.
Read on for the final installment of "Downtown Bus Station"
Debbie Lisle in chapter 6 of The Global Politics of Contemporary Travel Writing quoted Roland Barthes who argued that “all texts are polysemic - that there are always multiple and infinite interpretations of any text” (264). Barthes says that the text can have “malleable meanings” (264). How true! Most of us have probably had those "ah-ha" moments when we read something for a second or third time and feeling as if it has a new message, a "malleable meaning!"
I also read another chapter from David Spurr’s The Rhetoric of Empire. Spurr wants travel writers to find alternatives to colonial discourse (185). One aspect of chapter 12, Resistance, that stood out to me seemed similar to that of Roland Bathes. Spurr wrote, “ethnography that wants to incorporate thinking must do more than stand on ideological opposition, it must remain open to other forms of interpretations” (195).
In addition, I listened to a couple of TEDTalks again this week.
One was from a woman named Jacqueline Novogratz whose topic was “Inspiring a Life of Immersion.” She takes philanthropic resources and invests in “patient capital” where individuals take the resources and convert them into changing the world in positive ways (10:36). One of my favorite quotes from Ms. Novogratz was when she referenced a short story called “Oh Yes” by Tillie Olsen. “Better immersion than to live untouched” (1:33). What a profound statement that begs the question of how do we each do this?
Next I watched/listened to Sheikha Al Mayassa. Her topic was “Globalizing the Local, Localizing the Global.” Mayassa is a woman from Qatar who believes in changing culture from within, but at the same time reconnecting with traditions (1:16). According to Mayassa, many Qatari women are using the Doha Film Institute as a way to edit and tell their own stories in their own voices (7:18). She mentioned that The Doha Tribeca Film Festival allowed the cities of Doha and New York to explore her part of the world. Ms. Mayassa said, “They’re learning our culture, our language, our heritage and realizing we’re just as different and just the same as each other (8:54). Isn't it enlightening to realize that so many diverse peoples can come together, simply to learn about the other?
Where does this leave me? I'm still a novice travel writer. Well, in reflecting on the writing of my trite little story, “The Downtown Bus Station” I realized I didn’t do anything too earth shattering. I probably won’t be mentioned in any academic paper for a dissertation publication. No one will likely invite me to do a TEDTalk.
But I do think I have become an “agent of change.” But it didn’t start over the last five weeks of this course. It started nearly 30 years ago when I stepped on a bus, slid over to the window and allowed an inquisitive young man to talk to me.
Read on for the final installment of "Downtown Bus Station"
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When she returned to school in August, as promised, she found several postcards from the Midshipman in her Student Union Post Office (SUPO) Box. Excitedly, she poured over them until every word, every slant of handwriting, every sentence was committed to memory.
Her SUPO Box became her portal into his world, and his dreams and desires merged with her own. The ambitious young man was becoming an agent of change in her life. A new course was set for her life and a newfound strength was discovered within her to do well in school, with the hopes that one day she could, like him, accomplish her own goals.
On occasion she would even receive a phone call from him.
When she returned to school in August, as promised, she found several postcards from the Midshipman in her Student Union Post Office (SUPO) Box. Excitedly, she poured over them until every word, every slant of handwriting, every sentence was committed to memory.
Her SUPO Box became her portal into his world, and his dreams and desires merged with her own. The ambitious young man was becoming an agent of change in her life. A new course was set for her life and a newfound strength was discovered within her to do well in school, with the hopes that one day she could, like him, accomplish her own goals.
On occasion she would even receive a phone call from him.
As the semester continued on, the two of them talked about seeing each other again. Plans were made and the Midshipman made arrangements to fly from Annapolis to Arizona over his Christmas break to stay with the family of the young woman who was home from the University of Arizona. It had been six months since they had met on the Greyhound bus earlier that June. While in Phoenix, he took her to the 1985 All Academies Ball, hosted by the Parents Club.
Continuing with their long distance relationship, although never seeing one another again, they persevered for three years in their letter writing tradition albeit with much less frequency.
In 1988, the two eventually graduated. She with a teaching degree from the University of Arizona and he from the United States Naval Academy with a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He had one more year of school - this one with the Marine Corps; meanwhile she began her first year of teaching. And still their letter writing persisted into its fourth year.
In 1988, the two eventually graduated. She with a teaching degree from the University of Arizona and he from the United States Naval Academy with a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He had one more year of school - this one with the Marine Corps; meanwhile she began her first year of teaching. And still their letter writing persisted into its fourth year.
In 1989, a phone call was made and an unwavering promise that when he drove from North Carolina, across the country to ship his vehicle to his first duty station, Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, he would be stopping in Phoenix to see her, in person, for the first time in four years. Steadfast, he adamantly let it be known that he was going to take her out to dinner before he continued on to California and eventually Hawaii.
The day of his arrival she was a mess emotionally. Despite the occasional phone call from him along the way on his journey, she was nervous, anxious, restless and a tinge excited. He on the other hand, while apprehensive, was still enjoying his trek across the country, savoring the adventure.
Finally, the time had come for their paths to cross once more. This time, not in a crowded, noisy bus station, or in a Greyhound bus traveling through southern Arizona, but in her mom’s front yard where she could be seen peeking over the fence, searching for his car and a first glimpse of him after four years. When she spotted his silver Mazda RX7, she darted through the side gate and ran out into the yard to meet him.
The day of his arrival she was a mess emotionally. Despite the occasional phone call from him along the way on his journey, she was nervous, anxious, restless and a tinge excited. He on the other hand, while apprehensive, was still enjoying his trek across the country, savoring the adventure.
Finally, the time had come for their paths to cross once more. This time, not in a crowded, noisy bus station, or in a Greyhound bus traveling through southern Arizona, but in her mom’s front yard where she could be seen peeking over the fence, searching for his car and a first glimpse of him after four years. When she spotted his silver Mazda RX7, she darted through the side gate and ran out into the yard to meet him.
Kelly and Joe eloped on 3 Aug 1990. They were married by the Justice of the Peace in flip-flops and tank tops on a Friday afternoon in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was the eve of the Gulf War in 1990 and three days later he was activated for deployment.
A year later, they renewed their vows at MCAS Kaneohe Bay Officers Club. They have been through two, year-long deployments since that time, countless TAD trips, lived in four states and had 15 addresses. They currently live in Gilbert, AZ with their three daughters. This month (June), marks 29 years since that glance and smile in the Phoenix Greyhound Bus Station.
This August they will celebrate 24 years of marriage.
Still wondering where that next adventure will lead them!
A year later, they renewed their vows at MCAS Kaneohe Bay Officers Club. They have been through two, year-long deployments since that time, countless TAD trips, lived in four states and had 15 addresses. They currently live in Gilbert, AZ with their three daughters. This month (June), marks 29 years since that glance and smile in the Phoenix Greyhound Bus Station.
This August they will celebrate 24 years of marriage.
Still wondering where that next adventure will lead them!