Growing up in America, we were introduced to a single way of Western living and therefore we were born into certain expectations. To travel means to see a different side of life, get out of your comfort zones, and experience a whole new world. There is so much more to life than we can ever know or ever truly grasp. American life is often very sheltered and regulated, which is ultimately detrimental to understanding the hardships or differences that other countries cultures behold. It is quite intriguing how we view situations way differently than other countries do, such as corporal punishment or the best way of life. Americans are so focused on instant gratification, whereas other cultures are rooted in believing in working for gratification, such as reincarnation: If you do good in this life, you’ll have a great next life. It is crucial to live in the moment more vividly than we do. We need to unplug from our cell phones and laptops and truly experience the moment and our surroundings. Traveling can help you develop a deeper sense of being, as you are more aware of the realness and the importance of things in life. Americans don’t realize how much waste is consumed in our daily lives. In other cultures, they must take care of what they have because they just use what they have and don’t expect excess amounts of unnecessary things. Get out in the world and experience what there is to offer. Know a deeper sense of yourself and the world as a whole to fully understand the truth of life; what is really important and what isn’t. To quote Confucius, “Wherever you go, go with all your heart”. Open your heart to new experiences and opportunities and see things you couldn’t have even dreamed of. Learn lessons that are life-changing.