Kansas Snapshots by Gloria Freeland - September 12, 2025

"Let's go!"

I enjoy traveling, but it isn't everyone's cup-of-tea. So I never ask if someone wants to see my trip photos or suggest they go. It's an urge that will come - or not.

Husband Art said he never had any intention of traveling farther than Canada - and only then because it was next to his home state of Wisconsin and he would have to go out of his way to avoid it! But when he saw a slip of paper on which his great-grandfather Thomas had written the name of his hometown in Wales, he wanted to see the place with his own eyes. That was 42 years ago and he's been traveling since.

As a youngster, visiting my California kin was exciting enough for me. But in college, I studied Spanish and made friends with Latin American students. When I discovered the Peace Corps would send me to a place where I could use my new language skills and help people, I said, "Sign me up!" Two years in Ecuador followed, then two more working on a newspaper in Costa Rica.

My folks didn't seem interested in global travel, but when I suggested they visit me in Costa Rica, they were ready to go! In 2005, I told mom we could see the home her father built in Sweden before he emigrated to the U.S. and meet relatives we had never met. I did't have to ask twice.

None of these stories involved someone pining away to see the canals of Venice or the Paris skyline with the Eiffel Tower in silhouette - or Rome's fountains or the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.

Sure, some folks have a seemingly innate desire to visit these famous sites. But for most of us, it is more likely to be a byproduct.

I was also pretty certain foreign travel would never happen with some people - such as my brother Dave. He has always been super comfortable with his life in Kansas, frequently kidding me about our many international trips. So when he told me he was going to Ireland, I immediately checked to see if that place down below had frozen over!

He, too, now had a motivation and went after it. His beloved Kansas State Wildcats opened their football season this year in Dublin and it involved a package deal, so the tour company would take care of any anxiety-generating unknowns. His companion Marilyn played a role, too. She likes her home, but enjoys traveling to new places.

But the game wasn't all they saw. During the 10-day tour, they visited such iconic places as the Cliffs of Moher, the Giants Causeway, Blarney Castle, and the Titanic museum. And there were also surprise elements. Dave said he loved the architecture, the castles, the fields dotted with sheep and lined with stone walls, and the friendly people. His only complaint? Nine hours "in a flying sardine can!"

Wow! He went from a "newbie" to a seasoned traveler in one trip!

Dave's son Paul also attended the game, but his trip was sparked by a desire to spend time with six fraternity brothers from his college days, all of whom were at or nearing the 50-year milestone. A bonus was playing a round of golf along the Emerald Isle's Dingle Bay.

"Adopted German son" Tim, who is a Wildcat fan, and wife Meike were also among those wearing K-State's purple-and-white at the Dublin game. They said it was a nice getaway for just the two of them.

Friend Bryce has notched 137 countries and said his first urge to travel came in the fifth grade when he saw a picture of a llama with the Andes Mountains in the background. "That was my first spark to get me interested in going to other nations," he said.

My early motivator was curiosity to see something exotic or exciting away from Kansas. Then I was interested in meeting people and going back to visit them. Now, I try to "seek discomfort" because it leads to unexpected and usually wonderful experiences. Sometimes it's uncomfortable and scary, but those experiences stimulate growth in the mind and soul.

I put my toe in that "seek discomfort" water during my Peace Corps adventure. I realize now that the organization had my back, but at the time, I wondered why I had left everything I knew and loved for the unknown. But it did "stimulate growth in the mind and soul."

These days, my motivation is different. It is largely to reconnect with people I know, with a dash of adventure thrown in. Tim and Meike are young, and reconnecting is part of what motivates their travel, too. We have met them in Germany many times, Wales twice, Prague once, and Manhattan once - although Tim has been here many more times.

Their sons Mats, 8, and Timo, 6, are already travel pros, as their parents want them to experience new cultures and explore new places. Tim says, "While they don't like taking car rides which are longer than 30 minutes, they love hopping on an airplane and flying to foreign destinations." Seeing airports around the globe is a bonus for Tim, as he works in airport management in Berlin.

Curiosity, learning about other cultures, finding ancestors, seeking discomfort, reconnecting with friends ... Once someone finds a motivation, "Not interested" seems to turn into "Let's go" pretty quickly.