 There
are many reasons to travel, possibly as numerous as there are
travelers. Cross Cultural Journeyers tend to be individuals
who resonate with Pico Iyer’s sentiments (see sidebox). Our journeys
are journeys of the spirit as well as of geography; we are cognizant
of the inner experience which is an integral element of every external
exploration and adventure. We travel to see and come to know and
appreciate other cultures, other peoples, other lands, but we also go
to put ourselves in new situations where our hearts and minds and
spirit can blossom and flourish.
Why travel with us?
Our repeat travelers, who are many, appreciate the small groups…the
good-spirited, like-minded travelers…the conscientiously planned
itineraries with lots of attention to detail…the opportunities to
interact with local people …the terrific combination of an
experienced, knowledgeable trip leader with ties to the culture along
with a competent, fun-loving trip manager who pulls the group and trip
together…and they appreciate the flexibility of plans that can
gracefully accommodate and take advantage of the serendipitous and
spontaneous chance encounters that present themselves along the way.
The exotic destinations speak for themselves. Does your soul long for
the vast steppes of nomadic Mongolia? To bask in Bhutan’s pristine,
Buddhist treasure land? To go deep into the Amazon rainforest to learn
the wisdoms of Quechua shamans? To stand on the rooftop of the world
and allow yourself to be touched by the spirit of the indomitable
Tibetan pilgrims and the sweeping vistas east of Lhasa? Or to sink
roots deeper into our own heritage by paying your respects at the
Navajo and Hopi reservations?
All of these journeys are available to you in 2006. We warmly invite
you to join us and the CCJ family this year. Think of it--the
adventure of your life could be just a few months away!
Carole Angermeir, President
Cross Cultural Journeys
Wilford Welch, Chairman
Cross Cultural Journeys Foundation
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We travel initially, to lose ourselves;
and we travel, next, to find ourselves … We travel to open our
hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers
will accommodate … We travel, in essence, to become young fools
again—to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more
~Pico Iyer
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AS RESPONSIBLE TRAVELERS WE...
• Travel in a spirit of humility and with a genuine desire to meet
and talk with local people
• Are aware of the feeling of the locals, and respect their customs
in our action
• Cultivate the habit of being present, of listening, of not always
talking and having answers; of learning by watching and listening
• Realize that other people may have concepts of time and thought
patterns different from ours—not inferior, just different
• Discover the richness of everyday activities in another culture
instead of always seeking the exotic
• Remember that we are among many visitors, and do not expect special
privileges
• Make no promises to local people that we cannot implement; keep the
promises that we make
• Always respect temples and other sacred places and their holy
artifacts as we would the churches and temples in our homelands
• Show particular respect when we photograph: exchange a few words and
then ask permission to photograph; respect a "no"
• Spend time each day reflecting on our experiences, considering the
possibility that what enriched us may have robbed another
• Utilize the opportunity of travel for personal and transpersonal
growth and global understanding
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