I grew up in a small rural village in the western part of Ukraine. Throughout my childhood, I never heard anything about being eco-friendly or mindful of my actions, but I was taught to always respect the house of a person welcoming you. In the past several years, I have been outside Ukraine, and this message has evolved with my experience and knowledge. I used to show respect by taking off my shoes at a friend’s house or cleaning dishes after visiting a relative, but since I left Ukraine, the term “host” has come to represent the entire world. Now, it is not just the people I try to show my respect to, it is also nature.
I believe you should leave a place better than you found it, and I try to adopt this thinking in my daily life. One of the biggest steps I have taken is limiting my reliance on taxis and Ubers. I am lucky enough to be able to walk and not feel discomfort, so I always push myself to walk 40 to 50 minutes instead of taking a taxi. It helps keep my conscience clear and my muscles active.
In London, where I am going abroad, I hope to implement this rule as well. I will live a 40-minute walk from my classes, and I am aiming not to take a single taxi, which will push me to be more mindful of my punctuality and wake-up time. Another way I try to respect the host is by supporting local, what they call in America, mom-and-pop grocery stores and food spots. I remember watching a documentary on how harmful importing food can be for the environment, and I decided to kill two birds with one stone: reduce my carbon footprint and see the smile on a local owner’s face. This decision came naturally to me, but I believe it is still a meaningful part of my effort to protect the environment.
In London, I also hope to adopt the European culture of biking. The city seems like a perfect place to own a bike, so I am strongly considering getting a used one or renting one while I am there. I will only be in London for a limited time, and I think biking will help me explore this enormous city while also enjoying the great British weather (though I might need to get a rain jacket). While there are many more steps I should and will take, this is my starting point.
One thing that makes eco-friendly travel especially meaningful to me is knowing that my parents would be proud of me for continuing to respect the house of a person welcoming you: whether that house belongs to a neighbor, a country, or the Earth itself.
