Tidewater Traveler - October 2011

Yak or Savor?

by

George W. Sellers

Have you seen the movie “My Life in Ruins?” I believe it came out during the summer of 2009. I am not very good at recalling the names of actors and actresses, so I looked it up to be reminded that Nia Vardalos played the role of Georgia, a Greek-American tour guide working in Athens. Georgia is very serious about the land of her personal ancestry and is fully committed to understanding her heritage and sharing it with others. On the job she leads typical tourist groups through the ruins of ancient sites like the Acropolis and the Parthenon in Athens. She strives to educate and to mold an appreciation of the past for her clients.
Georgia becomes frustrated by the shallowness of the vacationers in her groups. Instead of being asked how such structures were built, or what the designs at the tops of the columns mean, or which great orators spoke here, the questions to her are: Do they have a T-shirt for this place? Will we have time to go in the souvenir shop before we get back on the bus? Does Athens have a McDonald’s or KFC?
When she suggests that everyone pause silently on the hilltop to hear the wind breathe through the ancient columns just as it did for the great thinkers hundreds of years ago, the silence is interrupted by a digital device announcing a new high score, and then further disrupted by laughter. Georgia’s efforts to inform and enlighten are diluted by superficiality and inattention.
Granted – sometimes presentations at historic sites can be a little too serious – too dry, but it is true that many travelers do not pause to consider and appreciate the enormity of what they are experiencing. There are folks who pay thousands of dollars and spend weeks of time to be in the presence of some of the most spectacular things in the world and then talk right through the experience. 
A couple of years ago I told a group-travel client that I enjoyed observing him during the trip because he seemed to be savoring every moment of every experience, soaking up all he could to better appreciate everything around him.  I’m sure the other folks enjoyed their trip, and no doubt they have the souvenirs to remind them – no doubt at all.  But, I truly believe that memories are the best souvenirs – memories developed from a thorough immersion in the moment of the experience.  I told this client that at some point in the future I thought I might write an article about how people “approach” travel and would welcome his remarks. Here is his reply . . . 
“Whenever I go on a trip, I strain very hard to listen to what the leader-at-the-time is saying about his/her area.  Usually a portion of the group I’m with is talking at the same time the leader is.  And usually the simultaneous conversations have nothing to do with where we are or what we’re doing.  This chatter nearly destroys my hearing.  One of these days I might invest in hearing aids.  They might help me to filter out the junk and hear the main speaker.
“On our trip, I strained very hard to hear about Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, the pearls, The Great Wall, Cloisonné, the making of silk, The Terra Cotta Warriors, scenes along the Daning River through the Small Gorges, and other things.  Sometimes I had difficulty hearing the speakers over the conversations of people not paying attention.  I strained hard - not just because we spent a sizeable chunk of money, but because I sincerely wanted to hear everything the Chinese hosts had to tell us about their country and its wonders. 
“It was difficult to hear the Chinese hosts while, at the same time, being bombarded about someone’s kids, or grandkids, personal interests, opinions or jokes.  I know that others don’t have that same feeling, so I silently struggled through the experience and tried to make the best of it. 
“Unlike most people, I just don’t have the need to be constantly talking.  I want to hear the sounds, see the sights, smell the smells, and absorb the feeling of the areas that I’m visiting.  And I feel the need to be a good follower for the guy or gal who’s the leader.  I admired your patience and your ability to keep our group together in spite of all the different directions people went in at the same time (physically and mentally).
“I can hear idle chatter any time; but I’ll never again be in the areas that my wife and I have visited around the world.  Until I’m able to shed the belief that yakking while the leader is explaining something is rude and inconsiderate, I’ll continue my struggle to get the most out of our trips.
“And thanks again for being a good leader.
“P. S.  I know the chronic yakkers don’t set out to be disrespectful or rude.  It just happens.”
How about you? In the presence of greatness, do you yak or savor? I suspect that many of us have played both roles at various times. Teachers, of course, have dealt with this phenomenon for centuries in their classrooms. In recent years premium tour companies have successfully managed yakking and increased savoring with the use of wireless headsets for walking groups. The tour leader uses a wireless microphone and transmitter; each member of the group wears a wireless headset or ear bud. The director’s voice is heard clearly by each participant at a personally controlled volume. If a group member wishes to linger a bit at a given point, the leader’s voice is still heard clearly. Being right up front or hanging at the fringe of the group does not affect the clarity of the presentation.
It is tough to write on a topic that many will deem to be negative in nature, but I am willing to bet that each of us has experienced a situation where we have tried to hear something being presented to a group only to be distracted by idle chatter and yakking. I just love the line by my client when he wrote, “I want to hear the sounds, see the sights, smell the smells, and absorb the feeling of the areas that I’m visiting.”  Do you yak or savor?
May All of Your Travels Be Happy and Safe!
May all of your travels be happy and safe!

George Sellers is a Certified Travel Counselor and Accredited Cruise Counselor who operates the popular travel website and travel planning service www.SellersTravel.com. His Facebook and e-mail addresses are George@SellersTravel.com.