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Are We Just Tourists of New York?
The Sheltering Sky really questions the difference between tourist and traveler in many different passages. The conversation between Lyle and Port on pages 52-53 shows the clash of definitions as to who is really a tourist and who is a traveler. Lyle speaks of having “an itinerary which we try to follow exactly” whereas Port believes that “the only way to travel, at least for us, is to go when you feel like going and stay where you feel like staying”. Personally, I think I would agree with Port that a traveler might have potential plans (as in they will eventually take a train to Boussif, but leaving on an exact date doesn’t matter) but not a strict itinerary.
I like to say now that I live in New York, but this got me to thinking, are we all just tourists of New York? Now perhaps we could be considered travelers, but it is most likely that we’ll be returning “home” during the summer. This “home” would then contradict Port’s previous definition of a traveler. Unfortunately, I guess having my flight booked home for Canadian Thanksgiving puts me into the category of people with itineraries…so as much as I’d hate to say so, I guess I’m a tourist.
Hmmm...
I don't know, I agree with meagan and jacob in saying that it's a really disheartening look on things. I think that you could say that SOME of us are tourists, but I think that you have to take into consideration a few other factors. We are here for a purpose other than visiting here or just seeing things, we are here to live our lives, and just happen to be in the city. True I chose this school because of location (one of many reasons) but i dont feel that we live in this place on a purley one dimensional level if that makes sense. We are emerging ourselves in the culture and trying to make this place our own, and in that way the definition of "tourist" doesnt quite fit. This place is probably more my "home" that the house that my parents own, because this place is MINE and before I was just living there.
That is pretty disheartening
That is pretty disheartening to think about. I would like to say that I live in New York because from now on I'll be spending most of my time here (going home a month for Christmas, a couple months in the summer), but according to Port's definition that would make me a tourist. I guess it's up to everyone to define tourism and traveling in regards to their own life; I see New York as my home now, and don't really feel the same attachment to where i came from since I have officially moved out. But does that make me a tourist when I go back home? The lines tend to be ambiguous. Just something interesting to think about I guess.
That is pretty disheartening
That is pretty disheartening to think about. I would like to say that I live in New York because from now on I'll be spending most of my time here (going home a month for Christmas, a couple months in the summer), but according to Port's definition that would make me a tourist. I guess it's up to everyone to define tourism and traveling in regards to their own life; I see New York as my home now, and don't really feel the same attachment to where i came from since I have officially moved out. But does that make me a tourist when I go back home? The lines tend to be ambiguous. Just something interesting to think about I guess.
I guess you're right in
I guess you're right in saying that we are all basically tourists here in New York but somehow I cannot fully feel it because somehow i feel more at home here than anywhere else. I think it all depends on how loosely your concept of "home" is. If your home will always be your parents' house than you will always find yourself a tourist. It is only when you can fully accept the place your in as your home that you can begin to become a true traveler; free to wander whenever you please because nothing is really attaching you to a single place.