The Worldly Traveler

Many of you reading this are probably like me and have spent your entire life residing in the United States of America. Similarly, you must wonder what it’s like out there in the rest of the world. Wouldn’t you love to travel and experience new countries and cultures firsthand? This unquenchable thirst for adventure leaves many of us wondering when, if ever, we might get the opportunity to have that experience. Such is not the case for the worldly traveler that is my father, Bruce. He astonishingly has lived in seven different countries on different continents throughout the globe all before the age of 17. Bruce’s father George, my grandfather, was an American Ambassador. He and his household had the responsibility of representing America on U.S. embassies in countless countries around the world. In fact, my father was born on a US embassy base in Karachi, Pakistan! As if growing up in places like Kenya, Germany, Taiwan, and South Africa wasn’t adventurous enough, my father chose to embark on his own federal career within the military at the age of 19. Several deployments and assignments led him to new destinations across the globe for the next 30 years. Adventure lives in all of us, and for my dad, traveling had become a way of life, not just a seemingly impossible idea.

While interviewing Bruce, regarding his unusual upbringing and extensive military career, it was fascinating to hear the unique perspective of a man who has experienced a life many have only dreamed of. When asked if moving around constantly while growing up impacted him in a negative or positive way, he had this to say: “So when I was growing up, I didn’t really look at it negatively. Moving from different cultures, homes, and languages was educational and exciting! It put a lot of reliance on your family as well. As I got older however, the negative impact of moving around was being deprived of a sense of belonging. Home was wherever my parents landed. Home was a structure, but not a location and that was really hard. However, I always thought of the United States as “Home” and wanted to be that typical American kid growing up (during that time).” As astonishing as it might have been for someone to be exposed to SO much of the world at such a young age, it also came with its own set of challenges. There really wasn’t much time during his particular residencies to develop lasting friendships or a sense of belonging. At one point, he goes to say, “I was an American in a foreign country.” It just goes to show that every situation produces more than one outcome in any given circumstance.

The year was 1981 and an eager 17-year-old Bruce had finally made his way back to the U.S. of A. He spent a brief amount of time living in Canada with his parents before deciding to attend college back in the states at Lincoln Memorial University. By the age of 19, Bruce had decided to start his career by joining the Army. For the next 30 years, he would find himself being deployed on numerous occasions. He was stationed in places like Germany, Panama, Italy, Iraq, Korea, and countless places in between. I wanted to know if he knew from a young age that he would have a career in the military. After asking him this question, Bruce replied earnestly saying, “No, but my dad had tried several times to get me into government service. I did admire what my dad did, but I wasn’t interested in Foreign Service. I spent my time trying civilian jobs and realized a career that would be structured and stable was definitely achievable through the military.” While he did not join the Army for the soul purpose of traveling, it admittedly was an exciting part of the job for him.

Throughout the interview, there were many elaborate stories and intriguing facts that he was happy to share regarding his travels. Of course, the topic of strange and delicious foods came up. When I asked which country had the best and most outrageous local cuisine, he laughed and said, “Taiwan definitely had the best and the strangest! You never really knew what exactly you were eating. If you liked it, you liked it! Rumor has it, some locals would eat baby mice soaked in rice wine.” It is because of my father that I developed a palette for strange and unusual cuisine. Most of the condiments in my fridge right now are from the Asian market.

Not only did Bruce live in extraordinary locations, he was also experiencing defining moments in history. He was in South Africa during the Apartheid, which was the systematic and highly regulated policy of racial segregation under a white-minority rule. Later in his life, he embarked on his first overseas deployment to Germany, while the Cold War was in full force. During this time, he somehow managed to acquire and bring home a piece of the Berlin Wall. While he was stationed in Iraq, he helped carry out Operation Iraqi Freedom which lasted almost 8 years! Being somewhere is only half of the story, it’s what’s happening around you that constructs the memories associated with the location.

Like so many other individuals throughout the world, I hope to one day have worldly experience like my father. It’s because of him that I aspire to see so much of the world! He has since retired from the military and lives a comfortable life here in Arizona working for the Army Corps of Engineers. His adventures don’t stop here though! He’s mentioned plans of traveling America in an RV sometime in the next 10 years after his working days are over. It was an extremely enjoyable experience interviewing my dad over the phone and learning details about his life that I didn’t know beforehand. I couldn’t conclude the interview, however, before asking one final question. My inquiry was, if there was someplace he’d been before, that he would love to visit again someday. I could tell he was eager to respond to my question, but he casually answered: “I always loved Germany. Although I saw a little bit of Germany when I was younger, I mostly remember it from my military service. But Italy is somewhere I feel the need to explore more. I’m very interested in their ancient historical landmarks and their beautiful landscapes!” I truly look forward to the day I get to embark on my own journey filled with grand adventures, new perspectives, and memories to keep for a lifetime. I would be honored to follow in the footsteps of such a remarkable man, that I am privileged enough to call my father.

Works Cited

Payne, Bruce. Personal interview. 10 June 2018.