Lit eZine Vol 3 | p-1 | From The Lit eZine Desk

At LIT eZINE we aspire to create a collective of lone voices and make them heard.

Hello Readers

It’s widely agreed that summer is the perfect season to travel. Pandemic restrictions have long eased up. In fact, post-pandemic is a term we use now that implies the pandemic is over. The idea of exploring new places excites us again. But how do we know the pandemic is over?

There is no clear scientific indication of when the pandemic ends. However, it is believed a pandemic is over when people stop paying attention to it. Therefore, caution is still necessary as we move around and interact with others.

One benefit of travel is social connection. People crave human connection, especially after the isolation and loneliness we experienced at the peak of the pandemic. Unfortunately, studies also show we have become ruder, and public-facing workers are on the receiving end of unreasonable demands.

When planning our travels, it is crucial to consider the impact of crises such as the pandemic, war, and climate change on the communities we visit. Also, when we are constantly moving from one place to another, it becomes challenging to consider the needs or feelings of others. The ticking off our must-see lists and taking selfies for our social media feeds can rob us of meaningful engagement.

Experiential travel is not new. People have been travelling for experience since the dawn of time, whether from village to village or across continents. Slowing down and spending time with locals often reminds us of our shared humanity.

As you read this issue, I hope you will be inspired to familiarise yourself with literary works by authors from places you have never been to. As the saying goes, we get to know a country through its writers.

Overall, remaining open, flexible and trusting in order to immerse ourselves in new cultures can help us become more tolerant, giving of ourselves and create lasting memories.

Here’s to human goodness and things to ponder post-pandemic.

Happy Reading!

Khaya

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