BY TODD SKINNER, Sales Representative

When I graduated from university (so many years ago), I had just one big goal: save up some money, pay off my student loans, and leave Toronto to travel the world. I wasn’t entirely sure where this desire came from, but my mom’s stories of hitchhiking with two girlfriends through Europe post World War II certainly had a major influence.

Skiing has always been a central part of my life, so I naturally started my journey as a ski guide at a kids’ camp in Switzerland. There, I met fellow ski guides and travellers from around the world, including many Canadians. I loved hearing about different cultures and travel adventures, and whenever the Canadians began talking, it seemed to take less than a minute before we were connecting the dots about who knew whom. This prompted an American friend to ask, “Is Canada just one big small town?” Maybe that was the first sign that I would learn as much about my home country as I would about the others I visited. In fact, I joined a group of Canadians, and together we rented a big red Ford Transit and traveled through Checkpoint Charlie into East Germany shortly after the Berlin Wall had come down. It was fascinating to see firsthand the toll an oppressive regime takes on a country when rights—including economic rights—are revoked from its people. More insight and even more appreciation for home.

Fast forward through crewing on sailboats in the Mediterranean, motorbiking through Turkey, trekking in Nepal, and relaxing on beaches in Thailand—eventually, a good friend from home and I decided to teach English in Japan to extend our travels. I immediately began studying Japanese, but my progress was slow since I spent my days teaching English and many evenings hanging out with other English teachers. Leaning on my skiing background, I decided to hitchhike to Nagano (host of the upcoming 1998 Winter Olympics) to find a job teaching skiing and immerse myself in Japanese.

The first thing I learned was that Nagano was at least a nine-hour drive away—and that Japanese people don’t hitchhike. However, I also learned that while they don’t do it themselves, they understand it’s something Westerners do, so they don’t mind picking up hitchhiking foreigners. In fact, some really enjoy it—it gives them a chance to practice English. My trip to Nagano was so successful that I probably made it in exactly nine hours. I was picked up by families, students, a tow truck driver, and even a moped driver. As soon as I put my thumb out, I had a ride. I ended up getting a job teaching skiing for the season at Shiga Kogen Ski Resort, which became a highlight of both my time in Japan and my travels overall.

Looking back, through all those great experiences and the many stories from my early travels—and with so much kindness extended to me as a young Canadian abroad—the biggest takeaway might have been an even greater appreciation for home. That feeling has never left me. I’ve carried it through the last 25 years of living and raising a family in Lawrence Park, Toronto.

(Above) Todd Skinner at his home in Lawrence Park. Pictured behind him is a furoshiki or decorative scarf his daughter Maddy brought back for the family from her travels through Japan last year.