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11 Things You're Missing Out On If You're A Die-Hard Patriot Who Has Never Left The Country

Yeah, the highway signs look different when you're in a different state, but after that, what's new?

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11 Things You're Missing Out On If You're A Die-Hard Patriot Who Has Never Left The Country

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As a Georgia native, let's just say that visiting the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola get a bit boring after the first few times. If you're that person who ends up lounging around the house each vacation because you don't think there's anything new to discover, here are 11 things you're missing out on that the world outside of your home country has to offer.


Picking up bits of a new language.

If you're in America, you've definitely heard so many different languages in conversations you're secretly eavesdropping on, but have you ever been somewhere where the majority of people around you are speaking a language other than English? At first, it's intimidating, but you quickly get in the habit of picking up on as many words as you can from that language to use in future conversations.

The chance to explore completely unfamiliar areas.

Unsplash / Andrew DesLauriers

As long as you know you're safe, you should explore everywhere you go. Traveling is all about taking a brand new location and turning it into a place filled with memories and lessons. If you feel up for taking a different route than usual to get back to your hotel, go for it!

It'll help you appreciate your home.

A lot of traveling also results in introspective thinking, especially about how privileged we are for living in a first-world country. Immersing yourself in a new country means seeing the bad as well as the good, so it'll teach you to be thankful for how much you have access to at home. Lying on a couch at home all day isn't exactly the kind of comfort most people can say they have.

Meeting new people, even if only for a few moments.

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Whether it be the store owner next door who you see every time you buy something or some other tourist who you keep seeing wherever you go, it's nice to make new friends — even if it's just temporary. I've come to find that people are inherently nice, and saying "good morning" to someone will probably make their day.

Going on a long flight. 

For some reason, it's just more fun to be on a plane for more than two or three hours. Just be sure to get up and walk around a bit when you're in-flight to prevent blood clots!

Trying street food. 

Unsplash / Agathe Marty

Unsplash / Agathe Marty

Street food is always something you have to try when you're in a different country. In India, people tend to say that we have to be careful eating street food because of water quality in the food, but I haven't had any negative experiences. If there aren't any apparent issues with the quality of the food, try it! These are the places where you'll find the most authentic renditions of the classics.

Maneuvering through crowded areas.

Walking in a large group of people is always uncomfortable, especially if you're moving against the gradient. But that's one of the typical parts of traveling to densely populated regions, and it's a good skill to learn. It'll come in handy if you're looking to move to a big city!

Getting accustomed to different music styles.

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Every country has some music genre central to the region's traditions, so be open to that! If you're a fan of the same Top 40 songs that always show up on the radio, take a step in a new direction. Your ears will seriously thank you.

SEE ALSO: Music Is A Form Of Therapy I Won't Be Able To Find Anywhere Else In The World

The opportunity to venture outside of your comfort zone.

You'll never fully enjoy a trip around the world if you don't try new things that are different from the activities you usually participate in. Besides, what's the point of traveling so far from home if you don't take risks? The whole point is to explore aspects of everyday life that you normally wouldn't find yourself partaking in — like visiting monuments, trying new foods, and moving around the area as much as you can.

Seeing landmarks that are actually breathtaking.

Shreya Ravichandran

You need a change from the usual spots in your hometown or city. No need to keep fooling yourself into thinking that the same few destinations are actually special after all this time, you've got to physically see what you're missing out on.

 It'll improve your street smarts. 

You might be really good at taking tests or working behind a desk the entire day, but how well can you interact with other people in the world around you? Do you know the smartest ways to utilize transportation, shop at local stores, and talk to strangers (in case you might need directions)? Traveling is probably the best way to get some practice while having fun.

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Adulting

6 Unrealistic Expectations Society Has For Young Adults

Don't let the thesaurus-inspired vocabularies in our résumés fool you. We're actually just big kids.

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boy in adult clothes

Well over four feet tall and 100 pounds in weight, many of us "young adults" of the world still consider ourselves children. Big, working, college-attending, beer-drinking children. We may live on our own, know how to cook noodles, and occasionally use a planner, but don't be fooled; the youthful tendencies that reside within us still make their way into our daily lives. From choosing to stay up until 3:00 a.m. playing video games on a school night to going out in 30 degree weather without a coat, we still make decisions that our parents and grandparents would shake their heads at in disappointment. So why are we expected to know exactly how to be a wise, professional, sensible adult? It's not that we're irresponsible (for the most part, anyway). It's that we are young, inexperienced, and still have the sought-after, enthusiastic mentality that we can do and be whatever we want, which has not yet been tarnished by the reality of the world. These are just a few of the unrealistic expectations that society has for young adults.

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pizza
Fandango

There are a lot of foods in this world, but there is only one dish that stands above the rest: Pizza. If you're close to me or at least know who I am, then you know that I'm totally obsessed with pizza. It's one of my favorite things to eat and I will NEVER turn down a slice, even if it doesn't have my favorite toppings. There isn't a day that goes by where I'm not thinking about pizza. I even sleep with a pizza pillow every night! There are many reasons why pizza stands above all other foods, and here are just a couple reasons why.

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sex and the city
Warner Bros. Television

1. You don't have to feel guilty about flirting with customers for tips (or just for shits and giggles).

2. You can be obnoxiously flirtatious with anyone you want. You are free to be that girl that flirts with everybody and makes 'em all smile (it's especially fun when the guy is as cute as Collin Jost). No shame.

3. Making random men nervous with your superior beauty and intense eye contact just for the hell of it is really amusing and empowering.

4. No one gives two poops if ya legs are hairy (your man shouldn't either but *Kermit the Frog meme* That's none of my business)

5. The toilet seat will remain down.

6. There's more money to spend on yourself.

7. There's always this secret butterfly in your tummy that marvels at the possibility that when you go out this weekend you're gonna meet someone super handsome/wonderful/prince-like and have this moment of dazzling dalliance.

8. Nothing is that serious...you can take it all with a grain of salt...you don't owe anybody anything.

9. You can dance with anyone and everyone...or no one (Hello frat boi w/ glasses, I see you).

10. You don't have to fluff anyone's ego but your own.

11. Free drinks and dinners from single guys (It's not taking advantage if they're offering; a girl's gotta eat).

12. You have more time to learn how to love and improve yourself rather than constantly pouring your energy into another person.

13. You don't have to sacrifice your cheesy Jen Aniston rom-coms and Gilmore Girls for his Fast and Furious/other dumb action movie featuring blonde that is only in the movie to supply a relationship to the male lead and to make him look more masculine/empowered in juxtaposition (In other words, you don't have to deal with a guy being a crabby Patty while you watch your cute movies).

14. You can daydream about what your future husband may be doing right now (and not get stressed/guilty out because you're not picturing your current boyfriend that's crazy about you as your future husband).

15. There is more time to be spent with your girlfriends.

Girls Night In
Milk + Blush

We've all been there - you've been saying since Tuesday after French that this weekend is the weekend. You're finally going to break out those new heels and actually put on eyeliner on and make this Friday night be one for the memory books! That is, of course, until Girls Night Out turned into...Girls Night In.

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Entertainment

What Is Your Zodiac GIF?

Characteristics of the astrological signs, explained through GIFS.

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zodiac
Wordpress

Whether you believe astrology is a legitimate "science" or not, we have all found ourselves looking at our horoscopes from time to time. The 12 astrological signs all fall under one of four elements: air, water, earth, or fire. Air signs are rational, social, and love to communicate with others. Water signs are are emotional, intuitive, and mysterious. Fire signs tend to be passionate, creative, and adventurous. Earth signs are conservative, realistic, and loyal.

Each sign is determined by the relative positions of celestial bodies to ourselves at our moment of birth, which is said to influence our personalities. Find your zodiac GIF below, based on the traits and characteristics provided by each sign.

***Disclaimer: GIFS are meant to be lighthearted and are based on descriptions of signs from http://www.astrology-zodiac-signs.com/.

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