Ah, travel… one of life’s purest forms of enjoyment. Distant places, beautiful scenery, great food — what’s not to like?! As we begin to pack our bags for spring break, the nostalgia of previous trips is real. It always helps balance out the daily grind of reading, exams, and projects; but here are 4 other ways international travel can improve your life.
1. It enhances your communication skills
When someone travels, they have only themselves to rely on. In my personal experience, I was suddenly responsible for knowing the layout of the city, safe transportation methods, and where to go/what to do. When you (inevitably) get lost, communicating with locals can be an eye-opening experience. Which leads me to my next point…
2. You’ll make friends from around the world
It’s true! When I first traveled, I was terrified and anti-social. Communal quarters in a hostel can be daunting, but I quickly realized that being alone in a foreign country was a sink-or-swim situation. I wanted to go sightseeing with people during the day or go out at night, but I had to make friends pronto. It improved my small talk game and I ended up making friends from different places. Now I have people to meet up with when I travel again or visit their home countries!
3. It improves your sense of direction
Before I traveled solo my sense of direction was terrible. I had only myself to rely on, so I quickly learned to read a map, got familiar with different city layouts, and figured out where I was at all times. Just getting from the airport to your accommodations is a lot more difficult than it sounds the first time around — trust me. Not only does travel improve your sense of direction, but it also taught me the value of real-world planning in a way that school hasn’t.
4. You become open-minded
When I first traveled abroad I had no idea what to expect. I knew that I was fascinated with international cultures and wanted to learn as much from the locals as possible. I soon found that in experiencing different cultures, I was able to reflect on my own more objectively and embrace new perspectives.
Travel continues to be an educational and transformational experience each time I go! Not only is it relaxing, it enriches life way beyond expectations.
Cover image source: BucketListly