Vacations are fantastic, but not everyone gets the satisfaction of having a month, week, or even day off on a regular basis, let alone given the chance to travel. While I have been fortunate enough to visit outside of my homeland, spending such a popular and prideful holiday in another country has put quite a bit into perspective for me. These few concepts may seem blatant, but with preaching must come practice, and anyone celebrating the nation's birthday could use some food for thought now and then. So, in honor of the Fourth of July, here are a few things to keep in mind as you kick back at the family barbecue.

1. Do not take water (or any other resources) for granted.

Picture this. You come home from work or school one evening, and all you want to do is take a nice long shower, eat a late dinner, and go to bed. You head into the bathroom to start your nightly routine when you suddenly remember that this place is in a drought and the water in your complex was shut off an hour ago. You have to fall asleep breathing in the scent of your own sweat and feces because you can't flush the toilet until the morning. When we hear about people all over the world trying to survive with little to no clean water, we exclaim sympathy, but are quick to change the subject; yet, when even the slightest damper is put into our daily routines, we panic. We're not used to not having things at the tips of our fingers. Sitting by the pool with a cooler full of ice is a luxury. Having a choice between hot and cold on the faucet is a luxury. Reaching for a bottle of water in the fridge is a luxury. Flushing the toilet, (yes, flushing the toilet) is a luxury. Be thankful for it.

2. America isn't the only patriotic country.

Americans have red, white, and blue everywhere, no doubt. Parades, barbecues, fireworks-- nothing is more American than having everything adorned in stars and stripes, nor was the Fourth of July complete without wearing some Tommy Hilfiger flag tee that your mom bought on sale. I am in no way trying to say that being patriotic is about material items because it isn't. All of the colors and decor that represent a nation are just symbols to show your pride, but true pride comes from within. You can preach until the cows come home about the United States to people from another country, but beware that they have their own place to call home and be proud of as well. However, the great thing about America is that there are generations after generations who have moved to the States from other countries and stand proud of their roots while still celebrating their ties to the USA. This country does wonders for those who physically, mentally, and legally work for it.

3. People and their lifestyles are different- accept it.

While this is seemingly obvious, it definitely needs some reinforcement. Most members of this generation preach about accepting others for who they are, no matter how they live their life, but that's not as easy to do when traveling to another country as it is when traveling somewhere else in America. It's not just about accents or regional foods. When you visit another country and step beyond the "paradise" illusion provided by tourist areas, you quickly realize how difficult it is to be taken away from what is familiar to you. You become the minority. Your job is no longer to make minorities feel accepted, but to adjust to the majority because you're in their homeland. The gift shops and restaurants may cater to your every expectation of a vacation, but you have to look past that. These waiters and cashiers and room servers don't work to provide for you- they're people, they have lives and families. While their lifestyles and cultural customs may seem foreign, they are likely thinking the same thing about you. They are no different than any other human being. The way you see the world is not the only source of vision, and your shoes are not the ones to take a walk in if you ever want to truly understand that.

4. Embrace your roots.

I love the USA, and I will always identify as an American because it's where I'm from and who I am. The land of the free and home of the brave is where I was born and raised, and no one will ever be able to take that away from me. A traditional American will tell you that there is no better place to live because we have it better than everyone else, but a traditional patriot from another country may say the same thing about their homeland. No one will ever be able to fairly judge who is right or wrong because no one will ever know. Everybody sees the world differently-- if we didn't, this world would be pretty boring. You can't control where, when, or how you were born, but you can control how you see yourself and those around you. So, don't be ashamed of your roots. Make the best of them, live your life, and keep in mind that others are just trying to do the same. Happy Fourth!