Mark Twain met people on his road trip in Roughing It just like we will meet other people on our road trips unless you do not like people at all and avoid conversation. The point is that we are going to meet some nice people on the road that we can be ourselves around and have a good time just like Mark Twain did while he was out on the road. We are going to have travelers alongside us to have a conversation with to keep our sanity. They will not be strangers like Mark Twain had to deal with, but there will be people that you can laugh and joke around with. Being yourself is like being in your sacred place only certain people see it and those should be the people you travel with.
Today an abundance of people get lost in their own thoughts on the highway especially if it is just a long straight road where nobody is around you. I even did it today thinking back to my high school days while traveling home to visit my parents and brother. I was listening to J. Cole as well and he will defiantly get you thinking about life. Traveling is about getting lost in the scenery and having fun while doing it. In Roughing It Twain does get lost in traveling and tells us all about his experiences with other travelers and him explaining his hardships. We do treat the highway as a sacred place because that is often when we are traveling and get caught up in our thoughts while looking at the scenery.
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ReplyDeleteYour point-by-point comparison of your own travels with "Roughing It" makes sense, Mike...
ReplyDeleteMike,
ReplyDeleteI love how you flipped Twain's story into a travel experience today! That is a great way to relate Twain and Primeau together. I think that the comparison of Twain's "interstate" and the today's highway was really awesome. I really liked how you mentioned all of the things that you would do on your tip to Florida and mentioned how Twain did similar things. Over I really enjoyed reading your response!
Michael,
ReplyDeleteYou brought up an interesting point that there are always the point of the road trip that no one discusses. I think Twain shows this since there are points in his trip across the west that he doesn’t mention but instead uses highlights to bring up the most important or relevant points. I like that you said being yourself is like being in your sacred space because it gives a unique definition and meaning to what a sacred space really is. Like you, I get completely lost in thought when I am driving home and jamming to my favorite music and in a sense create my own sacred space.
Comments to Mike Dudics
ReplyDeleteI agree that the highway can make traveling exciting because you can pull off on several exits and see what is around. I am sure that anyone can think of funny stories to tell from their own road trips. I found it interesting how you tied being yourself into being a sacred place. I did not think of it this way, but I do agree. If people cannot be themselves, then they cannot have the full experience and enjoy themselves. I think the biggest aspect of a sacred place on a highway is the scenery, as you mentioned. I like how you related your blog to your own life and to the audience as well.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteMost people do not like having encounters with other people while traveling on vacations. Personally, I find it to be inviting when you encounter someone who has the same interests as you. You can generally spark up a conversation with anyone who seems friendly. Sometimes it is awkward to talk to others on vacations but when you both have the same intentions in mind; it makes for a memorable conversation. Usually people travel to relax and set their minds on an ease of relaxation. I agree with you when you say Twain uses these traveling experiences to find others who are actively involved in the discovery of other places but sometimes the best people to talk to are complete strangers.
I resonate when you said that you noticed that Twain always seemed excited when he traveled. I am an anticipated world traveler and I want to have the enthusiasm that Twain does when traveling. If I can’t enjoy what and where I am at, then all of the effort, money, and potential memories will be destroyed. However, I believe that traveling evokes a sense of spontaneity and even romance. People are known to be at their happiest on vacation and on their honeymoons. I hope to one day, travel across a number of countries, living only out of one backpack; one very large backpack. That is my goal.
ReplyDeleteMike,
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point about how Twain had to have everything carefully picked out for his trip. It is so true that we don't have to worry if we forget something essential because everything is so readily available to us. Of course we still have packing lists but not nearly to the extent of what Twain would have had. I also really like what you said about the people you met and travel with. It is a great testament to friendship if you are able to travel with that person. If sharing travel and experiencing new sights and places is something sacred, then wouldn't that make your friendship with the people you travel with sacred as well? I like to think so.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you discussed that the people we can be ourselves around can be considered a sacred place. I have not really ever thought about that before. Being with people who you can joke around with and have a good time with is what makes traveling on the highway so sacred. Also, I like how you brought up listening to music while traveling because I often find myself listening to the lyrics of songs while I am driving and that has always been so soothing for me. I really liked how you related Twain's article to your own personal experiences.
In my experience, I've found that most highways in America are long, really straight roads that go on for hundreds of miles without really changing, therefore it's so easy to get lost in your own thoughts or in the lyrics of music. I think that having people along side us, to keep us sane as you said, is part of what makes the journey sacred; the experiences and the stories that come from those journeys, whether it be with people you left with or people you met on the way, are what make travel so important. I think that you did a great job of showing that in relation to Twain and his experiences.
ReplyDelete