Marjan Kiany: Travel

“How travel changed my life” by Frommer is an article about the travel experiences of the author. Mr. Frommer achieved these experiences by traveling for more than forty years to hundred countries. He traveled to southern Africa, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and some other countries. He perceived people live after their own fashion, but these fashions are somehow similar to other countries. Also, the Village of idiots is a NFB film which exhibited a story about a man who was thirsty to be knowledgeable about the world. On the way he loses his way and returns to his city by mistake. He thinks that he had arrived in a new city .Therefore, when he sees the style of people’s life, he thinks everywhere in the world is the same. How travel changed my life and village of idiots have some similarities and contradictions.

These two stories are similar in two points. The lessons they learned from their travels can be the similarity of their experiences. We are all responsible for one another is one of the lessons. In Frommers’ story, people celebrate together without caring about the religious differences. In Village of idiots, people participate in a couple’s marriage ceremony to make them happy. We are all alike is another lesson. By reading the article and the film, we perceive that everybody has his or her own concern. In How travel changed my life, Frommer met two Japanese parents who were concerned about their kid’s teacher. In the movie, parent’s concern was their kid’s fighting.
On the other hand, there are two contradictions between “How travel changed my life” and “The village of idiots”. Their approaches are different. In How travel changed my life Frommer travelled around the world to have good understanding of other parts of the world. In Village of idiots, Schmendrik saw just his own city from another view point. In addition, in Frommers’ story, he faced with different people from different nationalities. In The village of idiots, Schmendrik met his own people. Moreover, their achievements are different. Frommer was more knowledgeable than Schmendrik. Schmendrik was not wise enough even to choose the right way; he could not realize that so many similarities are questionable.

Consequently, the point of view of Frommer is different from Schmendrik. He saw people with other nationalities whose actions are similar. He becomes mature by seeing the differences besides similarities. Schmendrik did not achieve maturity. He just realizes the similarities. Everybody can trust Frommer experiences, for he had real experiences. It is obvious when somebody travels a lot, he or she gains more experiences.