Five Countries I Want to Visit and the Authors Who Inspire Me

I have seen enough of the world to know that I want to see more. Quite honestly, it’s hard for me to stay in one place for very long, which was a mitigating factor in my becoming a teacher—summers off—and choosing to call a bustling, diverse, colorful city like San Francisco “home.” I have what friends refer to as “the itchy feet syndrome.” I love stepping off a plane, and being reborn in a place where the language, customs, and people are completely new.

I recently created a list of places I have always wanted to visit, and the authors who have helped me form a relationship with the culture, land, and history of each country—grounding my imaginings into clearer vision, passion, and understanding.

This is not a list of light summer reading. All five of these countries have been embroiled in major conflict in the last one hundred years. There is a part of me that feels forever called to social justice, to the story of “the underdog,” and to the spirit that prevails. You will find all of this within the following countries, pages, and people.

Cuba

I’m sure most of us have probably read The Motorcycle Diaries and know the subsequent legacy of Che Guevara and his influence in Cuba. I can’t help but think of mojitos and hot nights dancing salsa to live, raucous drums in the streets of Havana when I think of traveling to Cuba. But it’s not just the dancing that entices me. Cuba is mysterious to me, in part because there’s the legal challenge of getting there and in part because of its fascinating political history. A friend of mine told me that she and her new husband traveled to Cuba for their honeymoon and spent an evening smoking cigars and listening to Cuban mobsters tell their stories.

Don’t get me wrong: I’ve heard both sides of the argument, and I know that some people see Che as a hero and some see him as a cold-blooded murderer. I can’t claim to know enough objective information to take either side. What I appreciate about Che Guevara is his writing and his ability to draw attention to the voice of the oppressed.