In "Vertigo," Joanna Walsh explores the transformative experience of traveling abroad, highlighting how it alters one's sense of self. This unfamiliar environment brings about a feeling of strangeness, where the traveler begins to perceive themselves differently. The experience fosters a disconnect, prompting introspection about one’s identity in relation to the new surroundings.

Walsh articulates that this shift can lead to a kind of clarity, as if the change in setting reveals deeper truths about the self. The concept of transparency suggests that in the face of the unfamiliar, individuals may find a clearer view of who they are and how they relate to the world around them, ultimately enriching their understanding of themselves.