The Juxtapositions of Travel

I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to do a fair amount of international travel over the past decade. Every time I start to get ready for a trip, I can't help but think of two comic writers and their thoughts on travel.

The first is David Sedaris's book Me Talk Pretty One Day. Mostly essays about Sedaris's time living as an ex-pat in France, I always remember the line he has about how Americans show up in France looking like they're there to mow the lawn. I find it hard not to think of that when I'm trying to decide what to bring on a trip.

But the thing about dressing like you're there to mow the lawn is that it doesn't take much to do it. A pair of shorts, a T-shirt and some flip-flops and you're golden. Attempting to avoid insulting the culture you're visiting requires a bit more material. But when I start to think about aiming higher, the second person who comes to mind is George Carlin, and his piece on stuff. I won't even try to summarize; the five minutes it takes to watch is well worth the time:

So now travel prep has boiled down to the choice between insulting the people where you're visiting or exemplifying the idiocy of dragging your shit stuff across the planet. 

In my travels with my XS, I tended to opt for the idiocy. It's categorically impossible for the XS not to look fabulous, so I always felt like I should make an effort to avoid looking like a landscaper by comparison. As a result, my suitcase was generally pretty full.

Not this time.

Apologies to the Vietnamese, but I'll be showing up dressed for yard work. When I finished packing I realized I'm only taking one shirt that has a collar, and I'm only taking that because I read once that you'll have an easier time getting through the airport if you aren't dressed like a landscaper. 

I also realized that nearly everything I'm taking is polyester. Natural fibers take too long to dry and don't really compress, both of which can be problematic for travel. So polyester it is.

Yeah, yeah, first world problems without a doubt, and I'm not sure what to do with the fact that it's visiting a developing nation that's prompting them.