Jane Goodall: A New Way of Seeing
"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."
When Jane Goodall traveled to Tanzania in 1960 to study chimpanzees, she wasn't the world's leading expert. In fact, many scientists doubted she belonged there at all. She had no university degree at the time and broke many of the "rules" of scientific research by naming the chimpanzees instead of assigning them numbers.
But Jane noticed something others had missed. She observed chimpanzees making and using tools — something scientists once believed only humans could do. Her curiosity transformed our understanding of animals and reminded the world that careful observation often begins with compassion.
Jane didn't just explore a new place. She explored a new way of seeing.
What we can learn: the best explorers don't travel to prove what they already know. They travel to discover what they don't know. Real exploration begins with curiosity, grows through empathy, and ends with a wider view of the world — and yourself.
Travel Is Fatal to Prejudice
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."
Describe a time when learning about another person changed your thinking.
📝 Open the reflection journal template →Step Into Someone Else's World
Objective: practice curiosity before judgment.
Choose one person or community
Whose daily life is very different from yours. It could be someone who...
- Lives in another country
- Speaks another language
- Practices a different religion
- Has a different ability or disability
- Grew up in another generation
- Works in a job you've never considered
- Has experienced migration or displacement
Spend at least twenty minutes learning about their life
Read. Watch. Listen. Ask respectful questions if you have the opportunity. Then ask yourself:
- What assumptions did I have?
- Which of them changed?
- What surprised me most?
- What strengths do they have that I admire?
- What might we learn from one another?
🔥 Reflecting Around the Fire
Exploration isn't about collecting passport stamps. It's about collecting new perspectives that are different from our own.
Every new perspective helps you understand both the world — and yourself — a little better.
Listen, Observe, and Create
🎧 Listen — "One Day"
Matisyahu. A hopeful reminder that empathy can build a more peaceful world.
Or find this song on your platform of choice:
🎧 Also Listen — "Should I Stay or Should I Go"
The Clash. A different kind of question about belonging and choosing your path — find it on your platform of choice:
The Internet Doesn't Always Show the Whole Picture
The internet lets us explore the world — but it doesn't always show the whole picture. A hotel can look luxurious because of carefully chosen photos. Travel videos often skip the difficult parts. Social media highlights extraordinary moments while hiding everyday reality. Even reviews aren't always trustworthy.
Before believing what you see online, ask:
- 1 When was this photo or review posted?
- 2 Who created it — and why?
- 3 Are multiple sources saying the same thing?
- 4 What's missing from this picture?
The best way to understand a place is to experience it yourself — or learn directly from the people who live there.
Curiosity beats assumptions every time.
🔍 Interactive Bonus
Compare: a travel influencer's photos, the same location on a map, visitor reviews, and local community photos. How different are the stories they tell?
Keep Going
📚 Read
🎥 Watch
Jane Goodall: "What Separates Us from the Apes?"
Her talk on curiosity, observation, and connection.
🎥 Anthony Bourdain
Watch this space for this video.
Mudita Foundation & Aung Myae Oo Monastic School
Where our own business ideas began — our learnings from Myanmar and beyond, created 10 years ago.
🎧 Also from the book
Optional: explore traditional Burmese music to experience another culture's sounds. (Playlist link pending — Jess to add.)
Put It Into Practice
📸 Myanmar Photo Journal
Walk through photographs from Aung Myae Oo and daily life at the monastery school. Jess's own photos go here once ready.
🌍 Compare Your Day
Interactive activity comparing a typical school day with that of a Burmese student.
🧠 "Assumption Detective"
Spot hidden assumptions in headlines, images, and stories.
💬 Global Conversation Wall
Share one thing you learned from another culture and read reflections from other Rebels around the world.
You Don't Have to Explore Alone
Want to share your ideas with other Respectful Rebels around the world? Coming soon — we're working on:
- Bonus Rebel Quests
- Fun interactive activities
- More printable resources
- Family discussion guides
- Monthly challenges
Join the wait-list for the Respectful Rebels community, where young people and families can safely share ideas, stories, and encouragement with fellow rebels around the world.
Join the wait-list →The Explorer
You stepped beyond what was familiar and discovered that some of life's greatest lessons aren't found in classrooms — they're found in conversations, communities, and experiences.
Explorers don't just visit new places to collect passport stamps. They notice. They listen. They ask questions. They learn from people whose lives look different from their own.
Complete the Rebel Quest above and save your answers to add it to your backpack.
🎒 View my backpack →When you're ready, jump back into the book to choose your next quest.