In the age of social media, traveling is slowly getting an arguably bad rap. Nowadays, people seem to be caught up in an ostentatious bind, continually wanting to show off where they have traveled to. This gives the impression that the focus has shifted from the experience to the destination. We no longer hear plenty of riveting tales about a tourist with the locals. But we are constantly bombarded by images and videos of our friends at high-end hotels in exotic destinations, which makes me wonder, inadvertently, of the point of having a continental meal in a foreign country.
Nevertheless, plenty of people still travel for genuine reasons—some for the mere love of exploration, others the thrill of something new. The reasons undoubtedly vary from one individual to the other. Among the best periods to go traveling, or try it out if you never have, is during your college years. Never will you ever have as much time and energy for exploration as you will within those four or five years in uni. It is not only beneficial to you as a person but also your academic, which always makes it a win-win if you decide to travel.
The biggest hurdle at this point in your life is usually the financial part. Traveling the world requires a fair share of fiscal effort. In most cases, you will be moving to a new place. Air travel aside, you will still need monetary safety, at a minimum. There are several ways you can improve your financial security before traveling:
- Reflect on the legitimate reason(s) you want to travel.
- Pick a few destinations that you naturally lean towards, then research thoroughly about the destinations until you can settle on one.
- Once you make a choice, find out as much as you can about the place. This includes possible spots you will visit, the standard of living, and access to amenities and infrastructure. It can also include the possibility of getting a job. Talk to people who have been there before if you can.
- From your research, formulate a tentative budget that covers your entire stay. The budget should help you in saving up for the trip, whereby you can get a part-time job to supplement your income. A reliable writing service should ensure you never have to fret about your academic responsibilities, such as an essay review.
What Do You Stand to Gain?
There are more than enough reasons why this may be one of the best decisions you will make in your early adulthood. You are plausibly well aware of this. As a matter of fact, you have probably had this conversation with your friends before. In this article, the focus will mainly gear towards the direct significance for you as a student.
Immersion in a New Culture
One of the brightest perks of traveling is the opportunity to experience a different way of life. Moving to a new destination takes you to a new culture. If you make the deliberate effort to interact with the locals, you open yourself to a new perspective in life. This makes you a more well-rounded individual who has varied ways of looking at the world.
On top of that, you are also likely to learn a new language. This also presents a new way of thinking. You do not need to speak the language fluently, for what it is worth. If you can say “hello,” “please,” “thank you,” “sorry,” and count to ten, you are already better than most tourists. Furthermore, learning a new language may present future career opportunities.
Life-Long Friendships
There is nothing more enriching than forming long-lasting friendships as you explore the world. As mentioned above, all it takes in intentional reaching out to the locals to learn as much as you can from them. Generally, most human beings are warm and friendly to others. You are, then, likely to meet incredible people within your travel. While you are not expected to get along with everyone, you may find people with who you speak a similar language in terms of who you are as people.
The beauty of it all is that you never know what most of these interactions will amount to. Nevertheless, they will undoubtedly restore your faith in humanity and kindness. This, it goes without saying, is an important idea to hold as you go to the outside world.
Travel while you can. Explore and find out what lies in store for you!
