When Faced with the Unexpected, We Seek the Familiar
By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert
We are faced with a situation most of us never could have anticipated—stay at home orders, fear of an unseen health enemy and serious disruption of our economy. I think almost all of us would like to have a return to normalcy—the familiar rhythms of life.
And for most of us, that world is a world with travel.
So, this week, I’d like to write about how we in the travel world will get back to the familiar—our world with exciting travel.
Appreciation of What Travel Does for Us
Our world seems topsy-turvy—unexpectedly the simple things have just gone away temporarily.
For example, meals and meal time has changed in such a short time. It’s almost as if what could be a more fun and often exciting event, now has become a necessity instead of a memorable, pleasant experience (except maybe in our home—with a great cook like Anne, I am more than well fed!)—we just don’t like to be deprived of anything, especially the chance to eat outside our homes on occasion.
It sure makes me appreciate our world and the familiar even more than before this pandemic hit us.
Humans have always seemed to bond at meals, especially as societies matured.
A meal was even better with a view, at a different local and sometimes during a trip. Someone brings you your meal, often offering something unusual, different or even fabulous. It becomes an occasion and makes memories. Many times it was during a trip. You didn’t have to do dishes afterwards—don’t you miss that right now?
A Memorable Meal on an AmaWaterways cruise with a group we led in 2015
Familiar. Memorable. Exciting. Fun. Usually shared with someone special to you.
I’ll bet you sure would like to go to eat out at a restaurant right now, instead of carry-out. And get on an airplane, and start traveling again.
Where did it all go—the simple pleasures of life and our great experiences of travel?
The answer it is still there but just postponed a little. Trust me it will come back!
For me, I think I appreciate travel more than ever now. I am already ready to get going again and help folks return to normal.
I predict there will be a surge in travel requests when this event settles down, so it might be a good time to start thinking about a return to normalcy.
Resilient Travelers
Almost every one of our clients are resilient travelers. I define these as folks who still see the value of travel, know it will come back and anxiously want to get on the road, airways, the trains and ships.
A true resilient traveler my classmate Jeff
We all love to dream. Most of you can close your eyes and imagine a better place than you are presently experiencing (I pretty sure I am right about this right now!). Often it is travel you dream about—getting away, experiencing new places, the sights and sounds, the food and wine, the iconic buildings and spaces, and expanding your knowledge of the world.
Dreaming about historic sites in France—I sure miss these!
Doesn’t that just sound awesome right now? It sure does to me!
We will be ready to help our resilient travelers.
Perhaps the famous Irish poet (Nobel Prize in Literature 1995), Seamus Heaney, said it best in this quote which has some strong meaning for our resilient travelers
“If we winter this one out, we can summer anywhere”
We can get through this together.
Biding Your Time
It is a good time to bide your time—start thinking about what you are missing and what you are going to do to fix it. Maybe a bucket list. Maybe a trip with friends. Maybe that river cruise you were putting off.
So why do folks create bucket lists? Why do they anticipate travel and a break from the routine? What is it about travel that is so important?
One of my bucket list places—Peterhof Palace, near St. Petersburg, Russia
I certainly don’t have all the answers, but it usually begins with a desire to see and experience something different. We humans are curious people.
Anticipation is excitement about something that is going to happen. The key word is excitement. Our curiosity is endless—will it be fun, boring, memorable, dull or just average? Our minds are such a powerful thing—mankind has created such amazing things and better ways to live because we used our brain power. Now you should go and see what has been created or preserved.
I was always curious about the beauty of the Alhambra. I promise you it didn’t disappoint! Alhambra Palace walls
But in the time of the unexpected, how do we get to the familiar? I think the first step is for us to stay in contact with you and build better bonds as we bid our time together.
It is our job to discover what great is to you, and advise you, our client, how to get it. It is a constant process of getting to know you, building trust, adjusting to lifestyle changes—a dynamic process that requires us to contact you often. The more we know about you, the better job we will do when travel opens its doors shortly. .
Expectations
Expectations are a strong belief that something is going to happen. The key word is belief.
I just think many of us have dampened our expectations right now—where did the familiar go?
Please don’t lower you expectations. We expect to start traveling soon and so should you.
Believe travel will return soon—it will.
Believe you will travel safely, you will experience good things and have fun again—you will.
Don’t be a pessimist, be an optimist. I predict the familiar will come back soon!
Let me leave you with a though from Maya Angelou, the famous American poet:
“Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay”
We believe it should be hope—please be hopeful—we expect travel will get better when this subsides.
We will be Here When This Passes
Trust me, this too will pass. It is just a question of when.
Medical folks at some point will come up with methods to deal with this problem, travel suppliers will strengthen their preventative measures and the travel industry will improve to provide you better, safer trips.
My Final Thoughts
In the face of the unexpected in travel, we are going to help you get back to the familiar—great travel to dream destinations. We are here for your needs. We like to think of ourselves as your good friends, ready to help, because that is what real friends do for others.
We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise experts, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations. As you can see, our full service agency can get you to almost anywhere you desire to travel and provide you a great experience and vacation.
When you are spending your hard earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience.
Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!
HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 48+ years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:
AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent
