We are trying to spread the word about ‘Cross-Cultural Empathic Understanding.’
Posing for a photo on an Oregon beach last year on our roadtrip up Highway 101
Episode 142 - Travelling With Joel David Bond - 7 Years In Iraqi Kurdistan, Stranded On A Greek Island During COVID + Flight Attendant Tales
My latest Winging It Travel Podcast episode features Joel David Bond, who shared some fascinating stories about his past travel experiences.
We have a three-pronged attack for the episode, which centred around Joel’s experience on a Greek Island during COVID-19, which brought up some uncomfortable home truths. He outlined the whole experience in his book As Large As Your Spirit.
Secondly, we delved into Joel’s previous role at British Airways, which lasted two years but gave Joel years' worth of stories to tell and enough to write a book on. I can not wait for it to be released.
We ended with Joel’s most recent experience, spending seven years in Iraqi Kurdistan, which he loved, but the ending was shocking and cruel.
So we have a sobering discussion about white privilege and the refugee crisis coupled with an emergency evacuation out of Iraq with some hilarious flight attendant stories sandwiched in the middle.
If that entices you, then check out the episode below.
Otherwise, let me delve into some topics that piqued my interest.
Joel David Bond enjoying the mosque - credit - Joel David Bond
Asylum seekers are trying to reach Europe, and Joel is trying to reach the Middle East - a crossroads in life.
We delved into COVID quite early on in the episode, and to be honest; it is a subject I don’t talk about much because travel during this period was a luxury as the world dealt with a pandemic.
However, I did not see where this conversation was going.
As soon as Joel described his life as being stranded on the Greek Island due to the pandemic, I had an inkling of where this might go for a discussion.
If you are all aware of the news, the Greek Islands are the first port of call for asylum seekers or refugees who are trying to reach Europe from Asia or even Africa; a lot of them are housed there.
Joel couldn’t get back to Iraq, so his host at his resort let him stay at discounted prices until they waited it out. Joel, being a charismatic and enthusiastic human, wanted to visit the refugee camp on the island and volunteer.
In our episode, he describes his intense guilt when he begins teaching English to the refugees housed there. He has to explain that he wants to return to their country or that part of the world where they are from.
Then he compares the relatively luxurious resort he was living on to the conditions of these camps, and white savourism comes into the conversation.
We talked about how he felt that teaching English was one of the most important things to do in the camp, given that these people will need it for where they finish.
The conversation makes you realize the white privilege, passport privilege, economic privilege and all the other privileges we have when we travel. We also must help and make the world a better place.
I can’t do this part of the conversation justice with words, so you will have to listen to the full episode, but it will get you thinking about your current situation, other people in our world, and how you view travel.
Book cover of As Large As Your Spirit
Having your life turned upside down in a weekend by the CIA in Iraq.
After ambling around London for a few years post-British Airways, Joel embarked on a journey into the unknown: teaching English in Kurdistan, Iraq.
Admittedly, Joel thought the advert was for Turkey, but when it came to the interview, it was actually for Iraw, but he went for it anyway.
It is fair to say that, in this discussion, I think Joel absolutely loved his life in Kurdistan.
He built a thriving community, did a great job, was able to travel around the Middle East, and even wrote a book while he was based there.
He had everything he wanted, and life was great!
Until…the American Consulate rang him on a Thursday, advising very heavily that he leave immediately as there was a very credible threat to his life, no other details.
By Sunday, he was back home in Kansas and in shock.
Here is a snippet below.
Joel’s Iraq Evacuation Story
Why is it important to return home after your travels?
Circling back to the title of this blog, Joel believes that he has a duty to spread the word about ‘cross-cultural empathetic understanding,’ and I agree that this is a collective duty.
We have to spread the word about our experiences of different cultures and peoples, which is critical to understanding the world around us.
The 24-hour news cycle spreads fear to people who do not even know the people they are talking about.
The newsreaders only read from an autocue; they have never been to places they speak of and, quite frankly, have no idea what they are discussing. They are told what to say.
People like us who travel to different cultures need to share stories about the countries we visit.
We need to go on speaking tours, be a guest on podcasts, appear on travel YouTube interviews, and write blogs to spread the good word about the world's amazing people.
I am glad Joel is getting out there to talk about his story and to inspire others.
Kudos Joel!
Check out my latest YouTube episode in Vienna, Austria.
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My Instagram promotion for my episode with Joel David Bond
Who is Joel David Bond?
Joel David Bond - credit
I'm Joel David Bond, and I specialize in creating experiences that promote cross-cultural understanding and empathic connection. As both a seasoned traveler and educator, my work is built on over two decades of overseas living and cross-cultural immersion.
Joel David Bond is dedicated to helping people navigate their cultural world with mindful intention, fostering empathy and understanding across borders. With a profound belief in the power of travel to create a more empathic world, Joel brings a unique perspective to every journey, drawing from over 20 years of overseas living and cross-cultural experience, as well as a master's degree in education and a background as a global flight attendant.