Staying in one country, even one that you love so much, only gives you one point of view of the world. Especially if you're living in the country that you were born and raised in.

Everyone should go out of their own country at least once in their life. I'm not talking about a family vacation to the Bahamas or a cruise with friends to the Mediterranean. Those trips will only show you the touristy locations and not an authentic view of a new destination.

I truly believe everyone at least once in their life should book a flight, visit a new country and stay for at least a week. There are so many benefits of traveling to a country outside of your own.

Experiencing a different culture that you are not accustomed to may be a learning curve, but it's very exciting and intriguing. You are placed in a situation you would never be in at home and get to take on a new role and view.

An unalike culture from your own opens your eyes to other people's experiences in life and how they address daily life. You will learn something new and may even adopt a trait from that lifestyle.

For example, it may be as simple as removing your shoes before entering a house or as complex as eating your meal in a certain, specific fashion. It's an unfamiliar rational that you can only achieve being placed in a unique culture that you have no personal understanding of.

Food: it's a universal love. All cultures love to eat. And yes, you can experience new foods from other cultures at home, even authentically from a local restaurant.

However, it's completely different than the original dish from its home country. The involvement of the meal is more than the food itself. This goes back to culture.

Meals bring people together. Everyone has to eat, and mealtime provides connections to be made. I studied abroad in Italy a year ago and my host family did not speak English while I did not speak Italian. It was awkward, but dinner was my favorite time of the day. There was lots of pointing, hand gestures and smiling, but it was enjoyable. It felt like we were connecting. It was the one time we all were sharing the same experience and moment in our daily lives.

Additionally, I am totally a picky eater. A bad one to the point where I hate and refuse to eat most fruits and vegetables. Traveling to a different country than my own, I had to try new foods to survive.

Sometimes I had to eat foods I knew I would very much dislike to be polite to my company. And if you know me, I'm very stubborn as well. Nevertheless, it taught me a lesson.

I was forced to taste food items I've never even touched just because they sounded gross to me. Even if I still found it nasty after trying it, I bonded with those around me due to my reaction(s). For once, I ate healthier and felt the best I have in a long time, physically. I was completely outside of my comfort zone and it impacted me positively.

There's so much more to gain from traveling outside your current country. Culture and food are only two important aspects from all countries, including your own, that affects everyone all over the globe.

Traveling can be challenging and difficult since there are a lot of outside factors that play into it, but it is completely worth it. Everyone should take the chance to travel and explore a foreign country and culture if the opportunity is given.