S2E4: Jen Montague - 'Big Moments in Little China'

“No matter what our differences are, or what our backgrounds are, there is always going to be a way for us to cooperate and communicate with each other, which I think is really beautiful, and an amazing part of travel.” Though cultural variations can make it seem like every human has a great deal of differences from another, when it comes right down to it, there is so much everyone has in common. In our world, people actually have a great deal of similarities, and traveling to faraway places and getting to know the area you have traveled to can help bring that out during your own personal adventures.

Our guest for this week, Jen Montague, is a travel photographer and a writer - though she considers herself, first and foremost, to be an adventurer. She takes photos when she travels because she enjoys capturing the day-to-day moments of far-away places, and then sharing what she sees with those around her. She also writes articles, and would love to write more, if anyone would be interested in working with her. She loves traveling and learning from other cultures around the world. She believes that, “wherever you go in the world, there’s so many things that we actually have in common.” It is hard to travel to a culture and a country that you are unfamiliar with and that is not your own, but Jen talks about how you have more in common with distant strangers than you might think. In a truly inspiring tale about a visit to China, Jen discusses how drastically different Beijing could be, while also revealing just how close humanity is at their core. Thanks to globalization and a natural human curiosity, the world is a lot smaller than ever before. That makes travel that much more fun and exciting - you have so much in common with the people you share your world with. Join Hayden and Jen as they discuss the worth of a photograph, a secret section of the Great Wall of China, an unexpected Chinese culture, and how playing games with children can break any language barrier in minutes.

• 3:07 - Jen starts out with a personal discussion of what she believes it means to be truly lost.
• 10:40 - Jen starts her story about traveling to China, aptly named “Big Moments in Little China”. While in China, Jen learned that - while it can be drastically different in terms of culture, and it can be very crowded, very hot, with a lack of personal space - the people there are closer to her own culture than she ever could have expected. Jen is amazed by old temples and structures made by hand, and so she traveled to and climbed the unkempt Wild Wall section of the Great Wall of China.
• 21:00 - Jen and Hayden start discussing her thoughts and experiences concerning Chinese culture, and just how completely unexpected she found it to be. Jen recommends familiarizing yourself with an unfamiliar culture and being aware of their way of life, but also keeping an open mind. Can blending in give you a better experience abroad?
• 27:04 - Hayden recounts a time when he learned that the language barrier might not be as much of a problem anymore with the younger generations, thanks to natural human curiosity. Jen leaves us with a bit of optimistic advice for all of your future travels and experiences with new cultures.

Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital