Travel, Perspective, and the People We Meet Along the Way
Bruce Shaffer gave a thoughtful and memorable presentation reflecting on travel, time, and human connection.
He began by comparing two kinds of travel: the planned tour where every stop is scheduled, and the self-planned adventure where every detail must be arranged. But Bruce reminded us that neither kind of travel necessarily allows us to truly know a place or its people.
To really understand people, he said, you have to spend time.
Bruce then shared stories and photographs from his time in Southeast Asia, particularly around Pleiku in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. He spoke about the Montagnard people, their villages, homes, gardens, families, and children. His photos showed everyday life: houses on stilts, children playing, families gathering, gardens growing, and people making do with what they had.
His message was simple and powerful: children are children everywhere. They do not choose where they are born, yet the place of their birth shapes their opportunities. Bruce reminded the club that those of us born into comfort and freedom carry a responsibility to notice, care, and serve.
