Fall Break is approaching fast and another break means another opportunity to fit in another travel opportunity or a chance to do new things with my family. I love to travel. It's no secret that the excitement of getting away for a while is sometimes exactly what you need. The problem is that my trip to Europe has kickstarted an obsession that I no longer can control. I love to plan vacations now. I love to search for restaurants in destinations, the "top things to do" in any city, and I make lists of places I hope to see one day. Yes, I have been bitten by the travel bug.

My trip to Europe this past summer gave me the opportunity to submerge myself into a new culture. I love how applicable everything I learned abroad was. In my business classes, global business and cultural differences are discussed. I can contribute to conversations that talk about different styles from one country to another. I have an appreciation for the world, for different cultures, and different lifestyles. I feel like I have finally popped the "American" bubble, and I am more knowledgeable about the world around me, and more eager to hear about what is happening outside of the United States.

I was once told that once you study abroad, no matter how long or short the time, that it becomes an obsession. Well, I am here to say that they are right. Seeing the world, seeing God's creations, and being more educated is everything I have dreamed of. There is so much more of the world to see. It makes you learn not to take for granted the processes or routines in America that we have and many countries could greatly benefit off of, but don't seem to have. It makes you realize how cool the outside world is, and how much of it is left to be discovered.

Traveling to me is not only a way to get away from the busy schedule and daily life but also an opportunity to absorb what is around me.

Although it feels like a vacation, you realize how much you learn when you're away. How cool is it to try new foods, or to see new sights (that you would never see on a daily commute to work)? It amazes me how much we as Americans idolize certain places or landscapes or buildings, and these people see it almost every day? It amazes me how simplistic certain lifestyles are, and how even though I am thankful to live in a place with such prosperity, freedom, and technology and industrialization, but how much can be lost if you don't stop to look around sometimes. Being in a new culture allows you to see America from an outsider perspective, which is very enriching to realize.

Yes, maybe my obsession has gotten the best of me. Is it a shame to want to see all of what the world is about? Is it bad to be curious? Instead of shaming my love for traveling, I embrace it. Some personalities absolutely hate to travel, and that is completely fine with me. However, I have been intrigued by so many places abroad since I was a teenager and I see numerous benefits to someone who has been able to travel. You learn so much about both yourself and the world. Even if you can't quite get yourself to go overseas, think about states in America you haven't been able to hit yet, and go do them before it's too late. Take advantage of any opportunity and soak it all in.