Traveling is a privilege. I have been more than fortunate to have traveled to about 25 countries in my less than twenty years of life. Being able to go and explore new places and cultures is such a wonderful thing that I wish everyone had the ability to do. Since I have been traveling all my life, I have found that it has taught me so much and helped me grow to be the person I am today.
Here are some things traveling has taught me:
1. Go with the flow.
You can plan every trip exactly down to the hour however plans rarely go precisely how you were expecting. Traveling has taught me to just go with it when things do not go the way I was thought.
2. Be open to new experiences.
There are so many things I have done while traveling that I would have never expected myself to do. Traveling has taught me to say yes to adventures even when I may be apprehensive. I would have never been able to say “yeah I’ve rode an ostrich” if I wasn’t open to try new things when I am abroad.
3. Ask questions.
I have been to so many interesting places and I have learned so much just by asking the locals questions about their environment and cultures. Locals don’t mind answering my questions, they are happy someone is taking an interest in the place they call home.
4. Try all the food.
When I was younger and I would travel I would order the blandest Americanized food I could find on the menu. After a while though, I saw my parents order interesting and exotic foods that looked amazing. From then on I vowed to try the most obscure things on the menu. It has greatly expanded my pallet and I’m never looking back.
5. Stop and smell the roses.
Yes, I like to document every part of my trip. Mostly for social media, but still. I have learned to put the camera down and just take in my surroundings. Pictures do not always do a view justice so it’s my job to just take a minute and appreciate where I am. Take it all in because odds are you’ll never be in that exact spot ever again.
6. It is okay to ask for directions.
I would probably still be lost in some of the places I have visited if I hadn’t asked someone for directions. You may feel dumb when you ask how to get somewhere and its literally right in front of you but who cares you’ll never see that stranger again anyway.
7. Don’t be afraid to be a typical tourist.
So what if I want my picture leaning up against the Eiffel tower? I don’t care if I look like a ridiculous tourist, I am in fact a tourist so why try so hard to fit in. You go places to see the sights so don’t care if people call them tourist traps and tell you to avoid them.
8. Be respectful of other cultures.
My family and I always start off a holiday asking locals how to go about certain things like how to tip or call a cab or how to dress. It’s important to remember that you are the visitor to it’s your job to educate yourself and abide by the social customs.
9. Talk to strangers.
I have met so many cool and interesting people when I travel. From an early age traveling taught me to get out of my comfort zone and just talk to everyone. You probably won’t see them again so what do you have to lose?
10. Appreciate what you have and where you have come from.
There are some places you travel when you realize how fortunate you are. Some people are not as sheltered as you and it’s important to see how blessed you really are.
Traveling doesn’t mean going to other countries, it means going on a journey perhaps to somewhere you have never been before. Traveling gives you the opportunity to expand your horizons, so go out and enjoy what the world has to offer.
