Our Philosophy
Sojourn- v- to stay as a temporary resident; to travel about; n- travels of exploration.
English
Philosopher Alfred North Whitehead once defined civilized society as
one that exhibits “the five qualities of truth, beauty, adventure, art,
peace.”
Sojourns has heeded this statement and made it the heart of our day-to-day strategy.
Adventure
Somewhere
in each of us is an appreciation for, if not a lust, for adventure. But
carpools, late nights at the office, orthodontist bills and many other
details in our lives are directing our time and money away from taking
that safari across the Serengeti, climbing up to Machu Picchu or seeing
the Great Wall of China up close and personal.
Adventure
seems far away. But now you will be able to sojourn—visit
temporarily—far away lands via our “global marketplace”.
Additionally,
in cooperation with the Foundation for Sustainable Travel, you can
experience a glimpse of the cultures of our partner artisan groups
through frequent cultural events which will highlight traditional food,
music, drink and of course art.
And
together we’ll host travel lectures, classes, and many other events
that will highlight global issues, promote sustainable travel, protect
indigenous cultures and embrace the differences that create the
tapestry that is the people of the world.
Art
Art
in all its forms—paintings, sculptures, carvings, pottery, embroidery
and well, all the items you’ll find in the store, will help to convey
an understanding of the people and cultures with whom we partner around
the globe. In many cases, we have information about the traditional—and
often ancient—methods used to create the art and artisans products
you’ll find in Sojourns. And we even have information about the artists
and how the opportunity to sell their products through the fair trade
network here in US has improved their lives.
That’s where the peace part of the equation comes into play.
Peace
By
understanding the people and the traditions behind the art, we hope
we’ll create more understanding about cultures that are vastly
different from our own. This understanding, we hope, will help us
embrace and even appreciate our differences rather than separate us.
And this is the first step toward peace.