The benefits of traveling abroad are talked about to death, and they're usually along the same lines: Exposure to new cultures, languages, people, perspectives, and more. And these are all great, don't get me wrong, but there are other upsides to travel besides these major ones. Read on for 5 unique reasons to find yourself at the LAX international terminal, especially if you aren't planning to study abroad in college.
1. It builds confidence.
You can build literally whatever trip you want. You can pick where you go, what you do there, how much you spend, how many tourist spots to hit (or not), and really whatever else you want. There are group trips with planned schedules, which is absolutely great too (check out EF if this is your style). Either way, it's up to you what plan you'll follow. Even if it's a group outing -- that's what you chose. And this amount of control (which can sometimes feel is missing in college), plus the execution, builds confidence in yourself.
2. You have to disconnect.
Okay, fine, so you could get an international phone plan. But doesn't it sound freeing to just not? And instead to have a really easy excuse for why you won't really be available via phone or text for a solid chunk of time? You can always check email and will be able to respond to anything urgent, but traveling abroad can push you to focus on being 100% present without technology constantly calling your name. And that can help you be more present once you're back to "real life."
3. You’ll improve your food knowledge.
Anyone else seem to spend hours on Pinterest looking for ideas for what to cook? Bueller...? Well, I do. It can be so annoying to keep seeing the same recipe in 10 so-very-slightly different iterations, only to end up making pasta because it's cheap and easy. However, traveling to other places exposes you to new ingredients and new dishes that you probably wouldn't come across otherwise. Even if it's available in Los Angeles, with its massive array of ethnic food, you probably don't know to look for it. So get out and travel, and find that "it" dish or ingredient that you'll be excited to seek out when you're back home (and maybe try to cook yourself).
4. It provides exposure to incredible creatures.
Southern California and the United States in general are full of interesting animals and creatures. We're in a geographically diverse county, and it's a wonderful thing. Still, there is so much more to discover and see around the world. You could see a wildebeest in Africa, or a Translucent Jewel Caterpillar in Central America, or something totally different in another part of the world. It can be just like Planet Earth, except not through a TV screen.
5. You get fresh eyes on your life.
The best way to understand and solve a puzzle is to zoom out to see the whole picture, and the same is true about your life. Traveling to a place that's entirely different than your regular life forces you to look at things from a completely new place — literally and figuratively. Traveling to a place where the way of living is totally different than yours is a great way to clear your head and get perspective on your life.
Ready to book a trip? Great. Just make sure to plan exactly what you want -- don't let other people's opinions sway your choices.
