“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch
Traveling to a foreign country is completely out of our comfort zones. The general ways of living, food, language, and transportation are all different from what we are used to. Though this just means that we must convert any feelings of discomfort into new experiences, and let ourselves dip into the pool of those who are “cultured” and aware of ways of life unlike our own.
“It feels good to be lost in the right direction.” – unknown
A change of scenery can be so helpful, whether you are overwhelmed, bored, or just simply curious. Leaving the country you are so accustomed to in order to find new places that you only see in pictures from your Pinterest account is an amazing feeling. In fact, become one of those people that posts pictures of themselves on a mountain in Europe on Pinterest. You are amazing.
“Memories are the architecture of our identity.” – Anonymous
This trip you are going to take, or the several trips, will translate into memories that you will continue to talk about for the rest of your life. You may even bring them up on a job interview and end up landing yourself a pretty awesome career, all because of the knowledge you have of one village in France. You never know. Plus, these memories make wonderful conversation pieces at parties and/or on dates.
“Not everyone speaks the way you speak, knows the things you know, believes the things you believe, nor acts the way you would act. Remember this and you will go a long way in getting along with people.” – Arthur Forman
Realizing that there are people out there who are your age but living in a completely different country is something that we should all contemplate one day. You could meet your best friend, a new acquaintance, or even a romantic interest while visiting a foreign country. These friendships may be short-lived or last forever, either way, you will cherish the time you had with these people, and it will enrich your life knowing that they are out there living in a completely different time zone, trying to achieve good health and happiness, just as you are.
“It’s been an ugly day,” she said. "Tell me something beautiful?" And he said her name. - Unknown
Finding a romance abroad is something that I think a lot of people dream about. Whether said romance is short-lived or turns into a lifelong event, it is magical to dream of finding someone overseas to cherish and fall in love with. It is also just as dreamy to fall in love first, and bring said person on an adventure abroad with you.
“I wonder how many people I’ve looked at all my life and never seen.” – John Steinbeck
Traveling to a developing country can truly give you an idea of what over half of the population lives like each day. The dirt floors, the overcrowding, or the simple stick being used as a baseball bat with smiling and exciting faces are all things that will leave your eyes open and your heart full. A lot of people in this world are happy with less than the basic necessities, and yet, we need those new UGG boots. Learn about people who don’t know about UGG Boots.
“What you seek is seeking you.” – Rumi
As you wake up one morning, in a tiny hostel or in a foreign family’s home, you may realize that you really like the sound of the train, or that you would rather look up at the stars for hours than be on your phone before bed, or even that you are someone who no longer needs certain intangible items or relationships in order to feel validated. Whatever it is, you may discover several things about yourself when you are taken out of familiar territory. Traveling will give you the tools to be more comfortable with yourself, essentially creating a more well-rounded version of you.
Photos by Hailley Crete.
