Maybe you studied abroad for a semester, a summer, or just went on an extensive trip to Europe, South America, or even Australia. Either way there is one thing all of us travelers have in common, we came back different. It may be something only you notice or maybe your friends and family can see it too, but regardless, traveling across the world at a young age does something to you. It changes you in ways you only begin to truly acknowledge after coming back home from your once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
- You realize you've become exponentially messier. I mean, hey, you've been used to jumping from hostel to hostel and living out of a suitcase. There’s no point to organize everything if you’re always on the go.
- You are extremely independent. You traveled on a plane from LAX to Paris by yourself, navigated your way through unfamiliar streets with people who don't speak your language, and your daily routine consisted of grabbing a cappuccino and getting lost every day by yourself on the way to class. Now you’re home and you don’t mind doing things on your own. Your friends probably think you’re weird because you find it okay to go grab lunch alone and maybe even go to the bathroom at a party by yourself (shout out to all my sorority girls), but own it. Independence is one of the best qualities a person can possess.
- Your confidence has increased. Once you can randomly walk up to anyone at a bar in a foreign country, no social situation can terrify you.
- You’re fearless. This doesn't mean all your fears have just gone away, but when you travel you find out the best adventures happen past the limits of your comfort zone. Whether it’s skydiving over the Swiss Alps or trying Tripe (look it up) in Italy, you are now always down for taking risks.
- You find the beauty in everything. Although you aren't staring at the rolling hills of Tuscany or the radiant beaches of Barcelona anymore, you have come to notice how much the world has to offer. No matter where you are, there is someplace amazing to see and something new to explore.
- Your goals have changed. When I say this I don’t mean essentially your career path or your entire future, but you do know travel has to be in it. And you know you will work your butt off until the day you die so you can see everything in the world at least once.
- You feel like you’ve learned more than you ever have in any of your classes. Whether the facts are important or completely random, you have knowledge on just about anything from the places you traveled to. How many steps does the Florence Duomo have? 463. Did you know Parisians initially hated the look of the Eiffel tower? They had to put a radio signal on it just so it had a purpose. Did you know the city of Barcelona didn't have the picturesque two miles of beachfront before 1992? It was created for the Olympic Games and the city had to import sand from Egypt. Like I said, literally ask me anything.
- You really know what little you actually need. A day without your phone? No problem. No microwave, washer, dryer, peanut butter--piece of cake. (Wait, actually, I might need the peanut butter.)
- You trust people more. Obviously your safety guard is impeccable, I mean you spent five months always aware that you could be pick-pocketed at any time, but watching out for yourself isn't really a problem. However, you realize that there are good people in the world. Some people do want to help you get directions or actually just spend the night talking to you and getting to know you. Now that you are home, you realize how different you are from your friend group. When someone approaches you and your friends, everyone else just labels them as creepy and tries to make a quick getaway. But on the other hand, you've learned getting to know someone new is one of the best things in life; therefore, automatically giving them a shot is part of your new mentality.
- Lastly, there are some food and drinks that just won’t cut it. Don’t you dare try to bring me Barefoot Wine and hek no, Franzia is not even an option. Chianti or nothing friends, get used to it.
Although, at times you feel like people will never understand the experiences you had, the places you saw, and the people you met, there is one aspect that is certain, it’s all still living through you. And as the memories begin to slightly fade, and you find yourself constantly scrolling through pictures to remind yourself of everything you've had the opportunity to do, you begin to understand you took home a lot more than the piles of postcards and cheap souvenirs, and that’s the true gift that traveling brings. It’s in your mindset and your new outlook on the world. So who’s ready for their next adventure?
