Good questions about the journeys of a life reveal an emotional map of who someone is. This is not only about tourism: it is the moves to new towns, the place of a first home, the trip that changed everything, the address that became something missed. Every place someone has passed through holds a chapter of their story.
Places of origin
- Where were you born, and what was that place like?
- Did you have to move to another town or province? Why?
- Which place from your childhood would you most like to see again?
The trips that left a mark
- What was the most unforgettable trip of your life?
- Was there one that did not go as planned — and became a good story?
- Is there a place you have always dreamed of seeing?
The meaning of places
- Which place makes you feel at home?
- If you could go back to just one place from the past, which would it be?
An itinerary that becomes a book
Together, these places trace the path of a whole life — a route only that person could describe.
Organize the account around places the person chooses, without inventing a route they never took. Check town names and approximate dates, keep track of where photographs came from and explain what is still uncertain. A trip within a province can matter as much as a move to another country. Before sharing, let the person choose which memories and places they want to make public.
To go further, see the guide to writing a family member’s biography.
Swap the generic map for the person’s own journey
Ask the storyteller to name the cities, provinces, territories or countries that were part of their life. A trip may have been tourism, work, a visit or a necessary move; do not assume it was freely chosen. Mark approximate dates and place names that need checking. For families in Canada, the story of staying in the same community can be as important as one of crossing great distances.
Further reading: Oral History Association — participants.
See also ideas for starting a family record.