If you've had the privilege to travel, whether a few states away from home, across the country, or across the world, you know how humbling, exhilarating, and eye-opening it can be. It doesn't matter if you're gone for a long weekend, a semester, or a year, the value of seeing new places, things, and cultures is limitless. I've been fortunate enough to travel both throughout the United States as well as to a handful of cities in other countries, and I've learned more about myself, human nature, and just how incredible life is, in doing so.
You get a glimpse at other cultures.
It's hard to submerge yourself in the culture of another region or country if you're only visiting for a short time, but simply witnessing the day-to-day lives of people from different areas is enlightening. Business culture in China, for example, is different from how things are handled in the U.S. People in the South are much more likely to say hello to a stranger on the sidewalk than people from the North. You're made aware of some different ways of life, which opens your mind to seeing your own everyday situations from a different perspective.
You experience different landscapes, terrains, and climates.
The lakes and mountains of New Hampshire will never cease to take my breath away. The rivers, creeks, and back roads of Southern Maryland will always hold a special place in my heart. But the chance to look over Hong Kong Island and its incredible skyline from 1,800 feet above ground is an experience I'll never forget. There's just something about the overwhelming contrast between the vastly different settings of cities around the world.
You're put out of your comfort zone.
Maybe you're utterly terrified of public transportation, and the thought of navigating the DC Metro or the London Underground petrifies you. Maybe you're just not sure what one does with a free day in Nashville, Tennessee (the answer is eat, by the way). Wherever you are and for however long you're there, you'll undoubtedly be put out of your comfort zone at some point. Travel helps us face our fears, challenge our anxieties, and grow as people.
You meet some incredible people.
Okay, so the taxi driver talked your ear off at 5 a.m. when you just wanted to get to the airport and be done with it. But chatting with him about the current political state of Ireland, his favorite spots in Dublin, and a brief historical lesson on the church near your hotel is the kind of experience that teaches you way more than you'd expect. Not only have you learned that Joseph the cabbie likes to talk, but you've learned things about this new, foreign place that you wouldn't have otherwise learned. Thanks for the chat, Joe. You can keep the change.
You realize just how incredible America is.
Witnessing places like King Street in Charleston or the White House in D.C. can remind you just how beautiful and unique this country is. There's no shortage of sights to see, people to meet, food to eat, things to do, and knowledge to gain. But going abroad, experiencing those new things, talking with those new people, and then returning home can serve as the perfect reminder of how proud you are to be from the U.S. of A. Like the cab driver said, "America has done great things for the world, which people often forget. In the United States, any person who is decent and willing to work hard is given so much opportunity—to grow, to succeed, to have a good life."
