Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland.
TRAVEL IS A VITAL life experience. With-
out traveling to new places, meeting new
people and exploring new cultures, it’s im-
possible to grow. Fortunately for us, travel
is part of the norm in the 21st century.
Technology has made it easy—and af-
fordable—to jump on a plane and explore
places we once only dreamed of seeing.
As West Virginians, the opportunities
that exist in visiting other cities and coun-
tries is that we not only get to share the
Mountain State with others who may not
have experienced Almost Heaven, but we
can learn from others, bringing knowledge
home with us to help improve our state.
This past May, my family and I traveled
abroad. We visited the southern part of
Ireland before spending a couple of days
in London. During our time in Ireland’s
lush landscape and London’s fast pace,
there were a few things that stuck with me.
First, people around the world are
familiar with West Virginia and its anthem,
“Take Me Home, Country Roads.” It did
not matter where we were or what we
were doing. As soon as someone asked us
where we were from, they instantly knew
our little piece of Almost Heaven. From
the store clerk to the bartender to the cab
driver, everyone immediately cracked a
smile and said, “Country Roads!”
Second, people enjoy West Virginia’s
can-do attitude and friendly nature. I had
the chance to speak to a London native
who has spent time in the U.S. and was
lucky enough to attend Bridge Day a few
years ago. He told me about how he is in
love with the beauty of the state as well
as those brave enough to take part in the
Bridge Day festivities.
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The London Eye on the sout
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bank of the River Thames.
Third, people in Europe are more re-
spectful of their towns and cities. We
drove hundreds of miles while we were
in Ireland and were constantly amazed at
the fact that there was no garbage litter-
ing the beautiful landscape. It is pretty sad
that it was so noticeable to us because it
speaks volumes about our culture in the
U.S. There is actually a €150 fine for not
putting your gum in the garbage.
With the budget crisis West Virginia is
facing, I can’t help but wonder if enacting
and enforcing littering fines—yes, that
includes cigarette butts and chewing gum—
would be beneficial to both our beautiful
landscape and our bottom line. This might
help clean up our roadways, which most of
our visitors experience firsthand, and our
waterways, and it might add a little more
money to our dwindling Rainy Day Fund.
As West Virginians, some of us tend to
cling to home, but I encourage all of our
readers to take advantage of any and all
opportunities to travel, whether it’s across
the state line or the Atlantic. It will open
your eyes to a variety of cultures and new
ways of thinking, and more than likely you
will not only feel renewed but inspired as
well. Wherever these country roads take
you, embrace the beauty of the world—and
then come back home and help us move
the Mountain State forward.