Travelling with family is a gift in itself, but it also inspires us to learn about and understand others, and to appreciate each other and what we have at home.

In early November my daughters took me on a cruise for my birthday, with my sister. What a wonderful gift! They took care of everything, and used points and cash to fund the travel by air and ship. I had never been to Florida, or on a cruise, so it was a wonderful adventure. The cruise allowed us to spend time with each other away from the internet and TV, and also to see places we had never been.

A cruise ship is a whole different world in itself, and this was a pretty new and fancy ship outfitted with various restaurants, pools, decks, and shops, like a little isolated town at sea. We shared living spaces with about 3500 strangers, and we learned about some of these folks too. It is easy to get used to being pampered, but the ship visited Caribbean islands that were populated mostly by descendants of slaves who were shipwrecked there centuries ago, so that kept us in touch with reality. Most of the Caribbean islands were fought over by the British, Dutch, French, and Spanish, so they still carry various ties to those countries and cultures.

Each island or group of islands has its own government and laws, yet many of the peoples are related by heritage and origin. We experienced hot tropical weather, and visited places where buildings had been demolished by hurricanes. We saw unfamiliar animals and foliage, so we asked questions and will continue to learn. We saw salt ponds used to create income for local island populations. We saw varied architecture created for the tropical environment, with styles related to Europe and North America. We experienced different art forms, heard different music and rhythms, and tasted a variety of foods. We noted how various peoples met huge challenges like devastating hurricanes, and were amazed at how they survived and started over. In Southern Florida, we visited the Everglades where everything lives in salt waters – a whole different world.

This trip gave me a new appreciation for what we have here in McCauley, Edmonton, Alberta, and Canada. There is so much here at home to appreciate. The opportunity to spend time as a family, when we all live in different places, is a really wonderful gift to be cherished. We laughed and told stories, and found new ideas we shared. We talked about family past, but also shared ideas for our various futures. We all gained new understandings of each other and our relatives, but also of the role we share in making the world a better place.

Visiting other countries and seeing things from new perspectives gives us valuable insight into our own lives. Travel helps us understand other people and perspectives, and how we fit into our world. Travel inspires us to embrace our neighbours and explore new ideas. With family, travel is a gift of love and understanding, wonder, and compassion.

Joanne McNeal is a McCauley retired educator, also proud grandmother, artist, musician, and human rights activist.