I have been to Mexico, Ireland, Italy, France, Czech Republic, Austria, England, Canada, and Spain three times.
When I name off that list, all I can think is how thankful I am to my parents for making travel a priority in our household growing up. Without my parents I would obviously not be the person I am today. But without the travel they’ve exposed me to, I would be far lesser in character, empathy, and bravery. Here are a few reasons why travel is so crucial to becoming the best you, you can be.
It teaches you how to react in times of stress.
A few years ago, my dad left all of our hotel/flight information in an airport in Germany. Or there’s the time in Canada, when my family accidentally left me on a double decker bus. You never know what conundrums travel will bring. Our truest, most sincere coping skills appear in a foreign country, surrounded by strangers who are likely speaking a different language. It’s scary, but thrilling -- and will forever leave you will a great story to tell, and the pride of knowing that you figured it out. You are OK -- and may even laugh about it one day (because being left on a bus was not funny at the time). The lovely picture above is when it took five hours to find our hotel...
It reminds us how beautiful the world is.
If you are anything like me, the monotony of every day life often dulls the the beauty in the world around us. When we are immersed in a new city, the subtle curvature in the architecture, and the detailed brickwork of the roads are things of beauty. As tourists, we view our surroundings through a more observative lens -- a lens we unfortunately lack in our hometowns. We don’t stop and smell the roses because we’ve walked past those same “roses” every day for years.
Most importantly, you learn to appreciate and experience a culture different than your own.
I am from a small suburb on the outskirts of Chicago. The people who surrounded me were from very similar socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds (it is a rich, white suburb). During the few weeks I get to travel during the year, I am reminded how many different lifestyles there are to live. Not everyone has the latest iPhone, shops at Nordstrom, and drinks Starbucks habitually. People are different, lifestyles are different, customs are different. They are all equally important and I am thankful that I learned how to respect that at a young age. We are each smaller than we think, and no single person’s way of living is the “right” way.
I am not ignorant to how expensive travelling is, and what a luxury it is to have done so much of it. I am blessed, and incredibly grateful. If you ever have the chance to save up pennies and drive to Canada: do it. If it can’t be a different country, try and spend time a few states away from where you have always called home. Because separating yourself from what is easy and comfortable is crucial. It makes the culture shock of college easier. It makes meeting different types of people throughout life simpler. After traveling, you will appreciate the artistry in the architecture, scenery, and people around you.
So travel, and travel, and travel some more. See many new places and meet new people. Make mistakes and forget your flight information in Germany.
