If the opportunity arises, you should travel. It is one of the best feelings to get out of the little place you call home and see what else is out there. Not only is it important to see different parts of your own country, but to experience getting on that plane and traveling to a country that you have never been to before. I have been fortunate enough to travel with both my family and my school, and getting to have new experiences and seeing everything you only read about before first hand, can be more valuable than any classroom experience. Here are five reasons why traveling is important.
1. Learn About Different Cultures
In social studies, students have learned all about the different countries and cultures around the world. Students are quizzed on the different Greek Gods and each phenomenon that the God or Goddess was supposed to be in charge of. Students learned about why the pyramids were built and about the differences in tribes in Africa. However, once the quiz or test is over, you forget the information since it no longer applies to you. However, if you travel and see how people live in person, those memories will stay with you forever. A year and a half later and I can still look at a picture from my school trip to France and tell you what the building was used for and how that statue was important to that country. You also get to learn little fun but still important facts that aren't in the book when experiencing the culture first hand.
2. Great Conversation Starter
Just recently I met someone who went to California at a similar time that I did and did similar activities that I did. This immediately gave us a common ground for a good conversation that we were both interested in. This kind of conversation can also go the other way and those engaged in the conversation can discuss where they want to go and why. This type of conversation is always interesting as you can hearing amazing stories about the different places have been too, and what they got to experience while away. This can even spark an interest to see that new place you heard about, leading you to go there and have your own amazing adventures.
3. Learn New Language
Now I'm not saying become fluent, but learning a few words and phrases can go a long way. While I was in Greece, my school group with over thirty people went to a little sweets shop. It was a very overwhelming situation. However, all the students tried to order what they wanted in Greek as best as they could and remembered to at least say their pleases and thank yous to the women. Instead of getting frustrated with the large group, she told the tour guide how happy she was that we all went out of our way to speak to her in her language. Learning just a little bit can go a long way, and can be fun. It can also be just a fun trick that you can count to ten in 3 different languages!
4. See All the Sights
Whether you saw the Hollywood sign on a tv show when you were younger or heard about the pyramids of Egypt, there is always going to be something you want to see. It is a whole different experience to see it in person.
5. Make New Friends
I had a teacher that traveled with my school student group that saw someone on the plane going to Greece that she knew from when she met her in a different country while traveling. These kind of international friendships are so interesting and are now made much easier with the use of technology and social media. It's also nice to see how they are doing whether they are at home, in a different place than you or they are traveling again.
Overall, traveling is an education in itself, as you begin to learn things that you could never in a classroom because you are out there experiencing it. As St. Augustine once said, "The world is a book and those that don't travel read only one page."
