Seeing Things from a Wider Lens | Silondiwe Mathebula | TEDxKhiva Presidential School

Key Concepts:

• Traveling as a transformative experience
• Embracing uncertainty and new cultures
• Personal growth through travel
• Connecting with others and shared humanity
• Importance of living fully and creating memories

1. Introduction:

• The speaker, Selon Dwatula, expresses her passion for traveling and how it has transformed her life.
• She acknowledges her fear of airports and turbulence, but emphasizes the valuable lessons learned through travel outweigh the discomfort.
• She thanks the audience and organizers for the opportunity to speak.

2. Traveling Shapes Identity and Character:

• Selon emphasizes that traveling shapes our identity, character, teaches us about ourselves, and connects us with others in unexpected ways.
• She recounts her parents' initial concerns about her traveling abroad, questioning the safety and necessity of it.
• Selon argues that staying in one place limits experiences, exposure to new cultures, and self-discovery.

3. Embracing Uncertainty in the UAE:

• Selon shares her experience in the UAE, highlighting the initial anxiety of navigating a new country, language barriers, and the intense heat.
• She learned to embrace uncertainty, trust strangers, and find joy in simple moments, like the relief of air conditioning in a car.
• The Emirati people taught her the importance of family and tradition, prompting her to reflect on and appreciate her own roots.
• She learned Arabic phrases that have become integrated into her daily life, leading people to assume she is Muslim.
• The phrase "inshallah" embodies a sense of hope and belief for her, regardless of religious affiliation.
• She uses "alhamdulillah" as an expression of relief after safe landings.

4. Lessons Learned in Ethiopia:

• Selon recounts a humorous story about a layover in Ethiopia, emphasizing the importance of avoiding short layovers (1 hour) to allow ample time for navigating airports.
• She shares another experience in Ethiopia where she had a 9-hour layover but was broke, teaching her the value of patience.
• Despite considering herself an impatient person, she learned to endure the discomfort of sleeping on airport benches.

5. Finding Yourself Lost in Turkey:

• Selon describes getting lost in Istanbul, Turkey, due to a dead phone battery, highlighting the importance of carrying a power bank.
• She learned resilience and the importance of asking for help, even when facing language barriers.
• A local shopkeeper assisted her in finding her hotel, reinforcing the idea that "we are not an island" and should seek help when needed.
• She met fellow travelers, shared meals and stories, and experienced a sense of belonging, realizing the shared humanity that connects people despite cultural differences.
• She learned Turkish phrases like "teşekkür ederim" (thank you) and "merhaba" (hello), which helped her connect with locals.

6. Discovering New Strengths in Uzbekistan:

• Selon shares her experiences in Uzbekistan, where she currently lives, emphasizing the personal growth and self-discovery she has experienced.
• She recounts a traumatic experience at the bazaar where people took pictures of her and touched her hair without consent.
• She learned to navigate such situations by being more aware of her surroundings and using phrases like "net" (no) or "yo'q" (no) to deter unwanted attention.
• She discovered new passions, such as walking long distances (8 km), and rediscovered old ones, like writing poetry, reading, and meditation.
• She has adapted to the different customs and culture of Uzbekistan.

7. Poetry Show in the UAE:

• Selon briefly mentions a successful poetry show she had in the UAE, highlighting her artistic talents and the support she received.

8. Shared Humanity and the Journey of Life:

• Selon emphasizes that at every destination, she has met someone who has made her rethink her beliefs or laugh until she cried.
• She shares a fellow traveler's sentiment that "we all share one big family tree, we just have different branches," reinforcing the idea of spiritual connection.
• She acknowledges that feeling like "a fish out of a pond" in new places teaches valuable lessons about adapting and growing.
• She states that traveling is not just about seeing the world but about a journey of life.

9. Conclusion:

• Selon encourages listeners to embrace the excitement, fear, and connections found while traveling.
• She reminds everyone that each experience shapes who they are meant to become.
• Her favorite phrase is "do not just exist, but live," urging people to go out, meet new people, and learn new things every day.
• She quotes, "The world is a book, and if you do not travel, you only read one page," emphasizing the importance of experiencing different cultures and perspectives.
• She imagines that on one's deathbed, memories and experiences are the only things that matter, not material possessions.
• She reintroduces herself, highlighting her background, travel experiences, and passions, emphasizing that she is constructed by the places she's been and the people she's met.
• She concludes by encouraging everyone to travel to find themselves.