Journal 2 – Does Roughing
It demonstrate a pre-interstate treatment of Primeau’s idea that “Americans
have treated the highway as sacred space”? (1) Why or why not?
Driving on the highway
has always been exciting for me because you get to experience so many different
kinds of people from the United States. I feel like some people are constantly
living in a bubble and not willing to immerse themselves into another way of
life. While I was reading Roughing It,
I noticed how Twain’s narration made it seem like the smallest things made him
the happiest on his journey; “we saw the first specimen of an animal known
familiarly over two thousand miles of mountain and desert” (Twain 13). I think
this is a good example of how Roughing It
allows travelers to realize things that they would not usually be excited
and aware of. Twain wrote a whole few pages about this rabbit and described it
with a very detailed description. I do not think that many people would be
writing about a rabbit if they were not roughing
it; they would be discussing the different museums and sites they
experienced. Twain makes it clear that on his journey it was the little things
that made the trip the best part.
I think one of my favorite things
about traveling is meeting new people and seeing the way they act compared to
me. In Roughing It Twain describes
many encounters he had with other people. I thought the funniest part was when
he talked about the women who joined him in his journey and would not shut up.
He stated that “…we suffered, suffered, suffered! She went on, hour after hour,
till I was sorry I ever opened the mosquito question and gave her a start” (Twain
9). Meeting people is the best part about traveling and it allows you to learn
and hear so many different adventures. Listening to the stories from other
cultures can also help you realize and understand things in so many different
perspectives.
Twain describes how being from the
city and traveling on the country road is a whole different experience. I have
never been a city girl and I love traveling for miles and miles and understanding
new things. Twain describes the luxury of being away from the city stating “…
we felt that there was only one complete and satisfying happiness in the world,
and we had found it” (Twain 12). Being away from the city makes you realize how
simple life can be and we do not constantly have to be an in rush to go somewhere
or constantly be doing something. I am not saying that loving the city is a bad
thing because I like going to a big city every once in a while, but I think it
is so important to expand your horizons and visit new places. Just like Primeau
states, “Getting away is a chance at a new start, a special time to discover
self and country…” (Primeau1). Traveling on the road can be such a great
experience because you can appreciate the small things, meet some amazing people,
and see what different places have to offer!
First off, I like your view of the highway. You would be exposed to many different people from the ability to travel fast. Also, I can see how it would get people out of their comfort zone easily. I found that story about the talkative woman amusing as well, but it is interesting when meeting new people because it is simple to identify similarities and differences between yourself and the new acquaintance. The last quote used really sets the expectations for traveling and life. It’s the simple things that are so beautiful and that may mean the most. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteYour connections are spot-on...
ReplyDeleteI like the comment you made about Twain and the small things making him happy. People are always saying “it’s the little things that count,” but he truly shows this through is writing. His whole story seems to highlight all of the little pieces and details, which backs up the excitement Twain had to travel in the beginning paragraphs. I agree that meeting new people is half the fun of traveling, it is almost always entertaining to find the differences! And Twain’s example was spot on for how terrible it can be sometimes. While I agree with the direction of your last paragraph, getting away is always a good thing, but I am definitely more of a city girl. So, that is for sure where I would prefer to escape for a while.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
I love the way you broke this down into the different aspects as I think each of them work to build the whole experience when traveling. As you noted, many people often forget the small things, especially when traveling along the highways today; it's quite easy to get wrapped up in the "big" things such as tourist spots or the destination, but often times the journey plays just a big of a part in making travel memorable. Twain is a huge advocate of that. His writing details things that would otherwise seem insignificant, but his interest and fascination with them are what make them significant. I think there's a lot to take away from his writing; to make note the smaller things, to let the journey be just as important as the destination, and to take interest in other people's experiences, not just our own. Great post!
ReplyDelete