From the gardens, ancient ruins and art museums, to the tastes of foreign lands, Kamala Markandaya would agree that cultures stimulate the senses in different and exciting ways. One friend currently studying in Mexico City wrote in an e-mail message that his taste buds would never recover from the various new combinations of spices his host family served him.
The Book of Confucius. Quality of life and solitude are good and well while enjoying the fine cheeses and well while enjoying the fine cheeses and wine of France or the sangria and tapas of Spain. But some Harvard students flee from the "good life" and pursue soul seeking under more rugged conditions.
Such risk-takers are influenced by the philosophies of Eastern thinkers from V. S. Naipaul to Confucius.
Colin H. Wood '00 wanted a break from the routine and rigid structure of Harvard life so he cashed in on his advanced standing and bought a one-way ticket to New Delhi, India. His free spirit has inspired him to live day-by-day, without the routines, schedules and agendas that typically keep our wanderlust in check.
"I am heading to Thailand next, and after that I have no idea where I am going or when I am coming back," he wrote to a recent e-mail message.
"I think I'll go to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and then down into Malaysia and Singapore, but who knows. I love not having anything written in stone," he added.
Don Quixote. Love, passion and romance are often a welcomed component of aesthetic appreciation. From sketchy Italian men to vast Mediterranean beaches, falling in love (or at least dreaming about it) is an integral part of a heightened attention to the quality of life. From Pablo Neruda to Saavedra Miguel de Cervantes, romance has often sparked personal revelation.
So, if you, like Sartre, are searching desperately for an exit from your current Harvard routine, find a local travel agent ASAP. Heed the words and images created by the foreign poets, writers and dreamers. After all these writers have inspired generation of travelers before you.