"Wherever we go, across the Pacific or Atlantic, we meet, not similarity so much as 'the bizarre'. Things astonish us, when we travel, that surprise nobody else"

Travelers inevitably encounter a sense of wonder and difference far from their own homes, not because the world is truly filled with outlandish oddities, but because the lens of their own experiences makes the unfamiliar seem extraordinary. The act of crossing vast oceans, whether the Pacific or Atlantic, places individuals in contact with cultures, landscapes, and ways of living dramatically divergent from what they know. These differences, so striking to the traveler, may appear commonplace, routine, or even unremarkable to those who inhabit those places. The bizarre, therefore, is not an inherent quality of the destination but arises from the juxtaposition of the visitor’s expectations and the realities that confront them.

This process reveals much about the subjective nature of perception. When stepping into an environment shaped by different histories, climates, and social norms, one's foundation of the familiar is shaken and replaced with sights and experiences that challenge long-held assumptions. What is staggering to the visitor, the customs of greeting, the flavors of food, the rhythms of city life, tend to be invisible to the locals, who have long internalized these aspects of daily living. The astonishment of the traveler can thus be read as a form of cultural self-reflection, a powerful reminder of the boundaries formed by upbringing and habit.

Moreover, the notion that surprise emerges uniquely for each individual implies that every journey is as much inward as outward. The traveler learns about both the distinctiveness of other cultures and the parochial nature of their own. The journey brings to the surface the realization that the norms one takes for granted are, in fact, mere particulars among a world of infinite possibility. The shock of the new is not universally shared, underscoring the deeply personal nature of discovery and the endless potential for human diversity to amaze, confuse, and enthrall.