As it turns into autumn, Her Campus Durham is looking back over how we all spent our last four months with a ‘What I Did Over Summer’ themed week. To kick start this week, I am giving you 10 reasons why travelling should definitely be one of the ways that you spend your long summer break.
1. To escape the daily grind
There are two words in German that explain this desire to travel; Wanderlust and Fernweh. The former is an impulse to travel and explore, while the latter is a desire to visit far-off places. If these words resonate with you and you feel like you need a break from university, work, your family or just the British weather then you should plan yourself a trip abroad.
2. To learn a new language
Whether you’re an absolute beginner or wish to refresh your long-forgotten language knowledge from school, you will make much quicker progress by travelling to the country in question as opposed to sitting in a classroom and burying your nose in your books.
3. To experience a new culture
As with language, true cultural immersion works best in the country itself, given that it allows you to experience foreign customs and traditions first hand – be they religious, musical or culinary.
4. To savour a new cuisine
Food is an integral part of culture and everyday life wherever you go. Authentically cooked meals from the country you are visiting will taste so much better than the versions you are able to find in the UK. Often, you can try completely new things by choosing exotic dishes that don’t appear on British menus at all.
5. To meet new people
Only by interacting with natives can you truly experience life in another country. Doing this helps you to integrate, transcend the ‘tourists vs locals’ division and learn more about the local community.
6. To learn how to be spontaneous
Travelling involves random encounters with new people, working out different public transport systems and finding new places to explore. In order to do all of this and more, spontaneity must be key. If you’re a person that loves plans and structure, travelling can help you break this mould.
7. To learn how to budget
Travelling can be pricey, especially when you are continuously moving from place to place. Managing your funds in such a way to precipitate this makes you more financially responsible and encourages you to grow out of the carefree attitude to spending that is so common among students today.
8. To understand and respect the world around you
Whether it be within your home country or across different continents, travelling opens your mind and encourages you to respect ways of life that are different from your own. Often, the more well travelled a person is, the more accepting they are.
9. To appreciate the beauty of the world
Morning birdsong, blossoming trees, fiery sunsets, glistening city lights… travelling can help you learn that our world is beautiful and so is our opportunity to live in it.
10. To grow and develop as a person
People may joke about others travelling in order to ‘find themselves’, but it truly is an enriching experience which goes far beyond accumulating souvenirs or Instagram likes. Every day when you are travelling you are faced with new challenges and encounters – whether good or bad – which help you gain knowledge, strength and wisdom and thus develop as a person.
Image Credits:
https://pixabay.com/photo-1130743/
https://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2016/04/04/6359533531573364511623775479_Wanderlust.jpg
https://dorkastudies.tumblr.com/post/164558162451/24082017-revising-some-french-vocabulary
https://www.tumblr.com/search/paella
http://www.oldtownyoga.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/community-group.jpg
https://dancingloud.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/cartwheel.jpg
https://www.adaringadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/open-minded-776×415.jpeg