Dear Editor,

I’ve often stressed the importance of leisure in development. I found Lisa Hanna’s column entitled ‘Your degree won’t teach you this, only the world can’, published in the Jamaica Observer on April 6, very timely and appropriate.

Hanna stressed the added value of experiences gained abroad, especially for young graduates, whether it is for work/study or pleasure. She pointed out the valuable skills one can acquire, such as confidence, emotional intelligence, timing, patience, and collaboration. I’d add it also opens our eyes, giving us a greater perspective and appreciation of life, cultures, and history, and most importantly, the variety of options which exists. These things you simply can’t learn in a classroom, not even at universities or in text books.

Travelling helps to broaden our perspective and open our eyes to possibilities. I recall living in another Caribbean island for a year, where it was actually possible to sleep with doors and windows unlocked without fear. In Europe especially, work-life balance is an important part of culture, many organisations offer generous vacation days, mandated by law, usually a month, and paid holiday bonus is quite common to ensure leisure is well spent. In Denmark, and many other countries in Europe, cycling is a way of life; people commute to work and school on bicycles, which is not only good for the environment (less cars, traffic, and pollution), but also provides daily exercise. Europeans are generally slim and cities are developed for safe biking. Parks are also everywhere for picnics and lunch breaks or just to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

There are countless museums and places to visit in foreign cities, which are not only steeped in history, but also fascinating and pleasing to the eyes. Many museums are free to the public on certain days to allow greater access. The more you experience, the more you appreciate and learn.

The first time I visited the US I recall being surprised by the level of obesity, especially among African Americans, some quite young. I soon realised the impact of racism and history amidst a culture driven by fast food and large servings, even in restaurants. As I travelled more I could appreciate the stark differences with Europeans, whose diets are healthier and leaner. Europeans are also less caught up with materialism, placing greater emphasis on quality of life and simple pleasures, such as having a coffee at a sidewalk cafe or enjoying a gelato on an afternoon stroll.

Indeed, travel teaches us to listen more than we speak, we observe more in silence, due to the different languages and cultures we encounter. It is not surprising that countries which place a greater emphasis on leisure consistently rank atop the list of world’s happiest countries. We need to encourage young graduates to take advantage of the increasing number of opportunities to see and experience parts of the world. Beautiful experiences bring positive energies, which nurture the soul and help us to be better human beings. There might be unpleasant experiences too, these are all life lessons which improve our awareness and help us to appreciate Jamaica more.

Degrees are in abundance these days, but what really sets people apart are the lived experiences.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com