The experience of traveling is transcendent, and one does not simply learn a tremendous amount about the places they explore, but themselves as well. Here are five benefits of traveling:

1. You will realize who your true friends are.

Being a distance away from home puts you in a position to value your relationships more. Some friends may not be as present or supportive as they were when you were home. Other friends and relationships may flourish. With the distance comes challenges. The relationships you have at home won’t be so simple. You can not simply go see that person when you want, much less talk to them when you feel like doing so. Yet those friends that you can communicate with as if no distance was between will prove to be the most meaningful.

2. You will also make new friends.

Traveling abroad demands you to be a bit more social than you’d might be like to. Yet the friends that you will make are ones that you will remember for a lifetime. When abroad you are in many ways more vulnerable than you are at home. You are in a potentially unfamiliar place and may not be aware of the social customs, practices, religions, or languages. You may also not have the knowledge or access to complete certain tasks. By experiencing various situations together or otherwise, it will help fortify many new relationships.

3. Money is important but not everything.

When traveling abroad things can be very expensive. It also, however, can be quite cheap. Cheap flights, hostels and little dive bars all exist, and are a great way to get around. There will also be times when you pay for something that you may not want to. It could be that local dish that turns out to be really bad, or an opportunity to cancel a trip and fly home. Whatever it may be, it becomes important to realize that money is important ,however, there are many opportunities, relationships and experiences that do not have a price tag.

4. Seeing places for more than their iconic spots.

When we travel we often gravitate towards all the tourist attractions. While these are important ,often times when traveling abroad you get to see a place for more than that. It may be experiencing a concert, interacting with the locals, or experiencing an environment unfamiliar to tourists. By experiencing this new dimension of a place, you will come to form your own connection to it.

5. You learn a good deal more about yourself.

You learn so much about yourself when traveling abroad. You are experiencing new and exciting situations and relationships that not many people get to experience. By having these experiences, you may come to learn your own strengths, weaknesses, abilities, and talents. You will learn to perceive the world and other people differently, as well as the places you visit. By traveling abroad you are able to have a dynamic experience in which you learn a tremendous amount. Most importantly, however, you learn a lot about yourself in various situations. You will also learn about your opinions, comfort zone, and perception of certain relationships or places. Traveling abroad gives you the opportunity to learn and reflect about yourself.