Traveling is an experience that can be some of the greatest opportunities you can get in life. Traveling teaches you lessons, makes you more cultured, and helps you learn about yourself. These are all important pieces of life and understanding yourself can be the key to some great successes.
I have had the opportunity to travel with a class at my university, as well as for mission trips, and service trips. My traveling experiences have ranged from digging twelve foot deep holes to build outhouses in poverty stricken towns of the Dominican Republic to learning as much as possible in a week all throughout Rome, Italy. Travel, whether it’s in the United States or international, can be some of the greatest times of your life and here are my top five reasons to travel.
1. The people you meet
When you travel you get to meet all kinds of people. Whether it’s who you’re staying with or someone at the grocery store. Friendships may be tested but some are strengthened to the point where they know you better than yourself.
2. The sights
Yes, this one is obvious but you can only see so many pictures of the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben. This also goes for Redwood trees in California and Oregon, or the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, or where the Twin Towers once stood in New York City. The sights are so much more powerful when up close and very personal.
3. To get away from home, school, or work
Sometimes you need to decompress and what better way than to leave the country or even just your town. Have good traveling buddies and hit the road or board the plane. Travel is a nice escape for a little while so use it whenever you can even if it’s just for the day or only twenty minutes away.
4. What you learn about yourself
The lessons you learn and those hidden traits you never knew you had all come out when you travel. It makes for a great yet eye-opening experience. How you live is an important part of who you are and that’s all you’re do while traveling.
5. Culture
You will never understand poverty, or disease, or war torn nations until you actually experience it. You will also never know real Italian cuisine or understand how the Dutch embrace innovation until you live it out. You can only research and have so much knowledge but that can never compare to what you will experience in the world. This also goes for within your own country. It’s important to see what you can of your nation to understand where you come from.
