If I recall correctly, it was just a few years ago that I realized just how much I wanted to travel. I wanted to experience the world: surfing in California, riding the London Eye, going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and laying on beautiful beaches. I wanted to do it all. I only started seeing this dream as a reality when I traveled to London and Berlin this past January for an inter-term class. That trip gave me the bug. Two months later, over spring break, I journeyed to Canada just for the hell of it and all on my own, and enjoyed every minute. These two trips have gotten me rolling on what I hope to be an ongoing journey for the next several years, and here are my reasons why.
1. Experiences
I admit that I have been known to get pretty damn comfortable with watching Netflix every night or laying out in my own yard and reading. I need to keep reminding myself that even though it is really nice to relax like that, no great experience will come from these habits unless I go out and force myself into that experience. I have to keep reminding myself how much I want to see the Taj Mahal and the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. There are about a hundred more places I want to see besides those, and when I think of all of the beautiful sites and views that there are to see out there, I almost get overwhelmed. The hardest part about something like this is actually taking the plunge and doing it. Remember that.
2. Inspiration
As an aspiring writer, I have started to realize that if I want to write something great then I need inspiration. Unfortunately I do not have the ability to simply come up with fantastic stories off the top of my head. I have no doubt that seeing everything on my list (which is actually never-ending) would more than inspire me to write everything that I ever thought I could. For example, I only spent two short days in Canada, yet I found myself writing almost everywhere that I stopped to eat or get coffee or just sit. I loved the feeling of needing to write, which is when I truly realized that I also absolutely need to travel.
3. It's unconventional
Ever since I was a younger teenager, I thought that I didn't want to be the normal kid in the family. My brother took that route, getting married and starting a family and getting an adult job right after college. I could always see myself as that cool aunt who's always getting back from somewhere exotic and bringing exotic presents for Christmas. I love that version of myself, so it's become a sort of goal of mine.
4. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance
The way I see it, we only have one shot at really getting out there and experiencing everything we want to, and that's when you're young, impulsive, and free of responsibility. That time is usually right after college: no real job yet, hopefully with some cold hard graduation cash in your pocket. I know some people want to save up all their money for their real life after college. But for me, I'm just trying to save up everything so that I can travel the world after college, and then maybe eventually come back and figure my real life out.
What I'm saying is this: do it, see castles and ancient ruins and breathe-taking views from mountains and beaches, take that chance before you get too weighed down with all of those pesky adult responsibilities that start to pop up out of nowhere. Figure the rest out later. I know some people absolutely cringe at the idea, but as I said previously, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Honestly, traveling can get really stressful sometimes, but the experience that you look back on once you're home will always seem unforgettable no matter what.
