Traveling does not only mean geo-tagging pictures in front of historic buildings or lying in a luxurious bed in a hotel room. In order to experience a new city, country, or continent, it is necessary to become partially--if not completely--immersed in the local culture.
Some have an innate thirst for traveling and will grab onto any prospect of exploring new cultures; others only tag along on adventures when the opportunity presents itself. Whichever the case, learning about and appreciating different ways of living is essential to understanding the world around us.
Traveling nourishes my soul, and I know it does the same for many others.
If given the opportunity, go. Go join an organized trip or take a journey alone. Go sightsee, spend hours hopping from place to place, and only rest once everything is crossed off the list. Most importantly, engage. Engage with the people, the food, and the uncertainty of a new destination.
Simply reading about another culture in a book or a magazine does not allow an individual to comprehend its values; seriously digging into other cultures involves meeting and speaking with natives, engaging with the language, and attending events that are important to the country’s inhabitants. Although spending leisure time on a beautiful beach in Europe is relaxing, a true traveler knows that one can only truly be satisfied by absorbing the people and places around them.
Even if visiting for only a few days, making an effort to eat at the hole-in-the-wall restaurants and explore unconventional areas will not only enhance your travel experience, but will also help strip you of the "tourist" label.
It is impossible to be fully aware of international current events without learning about the people involved. Though it is not plausible to visit each small part of the world, understanding a variety of cultures is beneficial to many aspects of life.
On a more personal level, traveling can open the door to discovering unknown pieces of yourself. Tasting unfamiliar foods, taking in the beauty of intriguing architecture, and experiencing the ambiance of new and exciting cities can have a lasting affect on an individual.
If money prevents you from hopping on a plane to travel to the places you dream about visiting, taking a road trip to somewhere new within your country is often just as fulfilling as traveling abroad. I recently participated in a trip to southern Florida, on which I learned more about people living in my own country and myself than I ever thought possible.
At times, the importance of traveling is lost somewhere in between the necessary Facebook pictures and the obligation to stay in a 5-star hotel. Simultaneously exploring oneself and a new culture is a feeling that everyone should enjoy, and there is never a better time than right now to start.
