Good morning, everyone. Today, I would like to talk to you about how the journeys that we experience in life are often more important than their destinations.
(Theme 1: Literal Journey is More Important Than the Destination)
In Madam Rides the Bus, we see Valli who yearned to travel by bus. She worked hard and saved up her money such that she could finally travel on the bus. During this journey, she was firmly present in the moment and absorbed all the sights and sounds that she experienced. She was delighted by watching a young cow running on the road and was fascinated by all the colourful shops and large crowds that she could see. Once she reached the city, she did not get off the bus to explore her destination. She stayed on the bus so that she could experience the journey back home. Even though it was the same route, she was still thoroughly excited by everything. It was only when she saw the young cow dead on the road did her spirits dampen. For Valli, it did not truly matter what her destination was, what did matter were the experiences and learnings she gained throughout her journey.
Unlike Valli, for the pilot In The Black Aeroplane, his destination was important to him. He was flying back home and was looking forward to reuniting with his family. But an unexpected storm turned what he thought would be an easy, insignificant journey into a significant one. The pilot saw another plane through the storm which guided him to safety. It was only when he safely landed and spoke to a lady at the control tower did he learn that there were no other planes in the sky! Thus, a journey he initially saw as unimportant turned into a great mystery that would always be on his mind.
(Theme 2: Metaphorical Journey is More Important Than the Destination)
Valli's bus journey to the city is a journey of exploration and discovery, as she learns about the world outside of her village. The pilot's journey through the storm is a journey of courage, as he faces the unknown. Both of these journeys are important because they teach the characters about themselves and about the world around them. Both of the characters experienced journeys that impacted them, changed them and would stay with them forever.
Conclusion:
To conclude, I would like to say that by seeing how their journeys impacted them, we can learn a lot from Valli and the pilot. In our own lives, we often focus on the destination, whether it is a test result or a new toy. But the journey to achieving these destinations is more important. The journey is where we learn and grow, where we experience new things and challenge ourselves.
Thank you.