Wow, what an adventure. Looking back on my trip feels a bit surreal. "I did that?" Yes, I did that.
Europe
The whirlwind trip across Europe was lovely, and I enjoyed the "go, go, go" feeling of switching trains followed by the relaxing train rides watching the scenery. But if I had had the luxury of an additional week to get to Beijing, I would have spent more time in Europe. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in London, my accidental day in Berlin was educational, and my three days in Moscow were just right.
The Trans-Manchurian Railway
As for the Russian rail adventure, being on the train straight across a continent was a one-of-a-kind experience. I honestly don't know if I would suggest taking the train all the way, or planning a few stops as most travelers do. You just can't replicate the amazing things it does to your head knowing you can't get off the train for a week! But on the other hand, making stops allows you to see more. Things I didn't see, lessons I didn't learn, stories I can't tell.
I did come up with one route that I suggested to my friends in Beijing: to experience the Trans-Manchurian railway, take the No. 19 Russian train out from Beijing to the Russian city of Irkutsk, spend a day or two in Irkutsk, and return to Beijing on the No. 20. This shorter trip has all the exciting parts of the full rail trip without taking too much time or being on the train for so long! If you want more specific advice on planning a Russian rail trip, feel free to contact me personally.
The Rule of Law
I had hoped to learn about people's perceptions of the "rule of law" on this trip. I tried, I really did. But do you know what people have to say about it? People from all over the world say the exact same thing: "Rule of law? I don't really know anything about that, but I do know that my country's courts do a good job. We have problems. Some of the judges are not well-trained. The legal process is slow. It's expensive. But it gets the job done, and I trust the courts. As for me personally, I stay as far away from the courts as possible. I don't want to get involved in a legal dispute." ~Directly quoting every single person I ever talked to about this from England, Belgium, Germany, Russia, China, the United States, etc.
I'm not disappointed that that was the answer I received. No, it confirms for me what I have been writing about in my legal research paper all year. I know many will disagree with me, and maybe will be angered by this view, but it's the one I hold: The "rule of law" doesn't mean anything to the citizens who it's supposed to benefit. It is often a buzzword that makes us feel good about our judicial system and our system of governance. It's a way to point a finger. It's a badge of approval. Let's dig deeper, America, and break that down into something more meaningful, okay?
Beijing
My time in Beijing was so special to me. I experienced China in a way I hadn't before: in a big, modern city that still has so much of old, rural China hidden in it. It's a place that's hard for people to love, which makes it so easy for me to love because I love flawed things. I love Beijing because it's dirty and dry and crowded and noisy and frustrating and modern and impossible and fast-paced, so when I found a quiet and simple place to escape all of that, I think I just loved Beijing more for its faults.
Lessons
The lesson with the largest impact that I learned on this trip is to better value friendships. Friendships take so many forms and have so many different purposes. I realized that I have a wide range of friendships, and it's not just the close ones that matter. I met many people only briefly on this trip, but they have each left a deep impression. Some of them I hope to keep in touch with. Others, I know I will not or cannot contact, but that doesn't make their contributions to my life any less valuable. Moreover, I better appreciate my friends "back home," my constant friends that are a part of my everyday life in Ohio. But do you know what? My travel life is no less "real life" than my Ohio life. The various parts and segments of my life are all interconnected and make me who I am. That's what I learned on this trip.
Europe
The whirlwind trip across Europe was lovely, and I enjoyed the "go, go, go" feeling of switching trains followed by the relaxing train rides watching the scenery. But if I had had the luxury of an additional week to get to Beijing, I would have spent more time in Europe. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in London, my accidental day in Berlin was educational, and my three days in Moscow were just right.
The Trans-Manchurian Railway
As for the Russian rail adventure, being on the train straight across a continent was a one-of-a-kind experience. I honestly don't know if I would suggest taking the train all the way, or planning a few stops as most travelers do. You just can't replicate the amazing things it does to your head knowing you can't get off the train for a week! But on the other hand, making stops allows you to see more. Things I didn't see, lessons I didn't learn, stories I can't tell.
I did come up with one route that I suggested to my friends in Beijing: to experience the Trans-Manchurian railway, take the No. 19 Russian train out from Beijing to the Russian city of Irkutsk, spend a day or two in Irkutsk, and return to Beijing on the No. 20. This shorter trip has all the exciting parts of the full rail trip without taking too much time or being on the train for so long! If you want more specific advice on planning a Russian rail trip, feel free to contact me personally.
The Rule of Law
I had hoped to learn about people's perceptions of the "rule of law" on this trip. I tried, I really did. But do you know what people have to say about it? People from all over the world say the exact same thing: "Rule of law? I don't really know anything about that, but I do know that my country's courts do a good job. We have problems. Some of the judges are not well-trained. The legal process is slow. It's expensive. But it gets the job done, and I trust the courts. As for me personally, I stay as far away from the courts as possible. I don't want to get involved in a legal dispute." ~Directly quoting every single person I ever talked to about this from England, Belgium, Germany, Russia, China, the United States, etc.
I'm not disappointed that that was the answer I received. No, it confirms for me what I have been writing about in my legal research paper all year. I know many will disagree with me, and maybe will be angered by this view, but it's the one I hold: The "rule of law" doesn't mean anything to the citizens who it's supposed to benefit. It is often a buzzword that makes us feel good about our judicial system and our system of governance. It's a way to point a finger. It's a badge of approval. Let's dig deeper, America, and break that down into something more meaningful, okay?
Beijing
My time in Beijing was so special to me. I experienced China in a way I hadn't before: in a big, modern city that still has so much of old, rural China hidden in it. It's a place that's hard for people to love, which makes it so easy for me to love because I love flawed things. I love Beijing because it's dirty and dry and crowded and noisy and frustrating and modern and impossible and fast-paced, so when I found a quiet and simple place to escape all of that, I think I just loved Beijing more for its faults.
Lessons
The lesson with the largest impact that I learned on this trip is to better value friendships. Friendships take so many forms and have so many different purposes. I realized that I have a wide range of friendships, and it's not just the close ones that matter. I met many people only briefly on this trip, but they have each left a deep impression. Some of them I hope to keep in touch with. Others, I know I will not or cannot contact, but that doesn't make their contributions to my life any less valuable. Moreover, I better appreciate my friends "back home," my constant friends that are a part of my everyday life in Ohio. But do you know what? My travel life is no less "real life" than my Ohio life. The various parts and segments of my life are all interconnected and make me who I am. That's what I learned on this trip.
