I had never been on a plane when I decided to go with the Amarillo College travel group to Munich, Prague and Berlin. Only in my dreams had I ever thought I would experience the pleasure of traveling out of the country.
Angie Ross, a nursing instructor, and Andrea Guerrero, a mass communication major, check out sweets at a food stand in a train station in Munich, Germany.
When I got on that plane for that first time, however, I got to scratch it off my bucket list.
I believe everyone should experience traveling out of their country, no matter where they’re from.
One thing is for sure: when I went to Germany and the Czech Republic, I had no knowledge of their history or their culture.
“The reasons why Americans don’t travel overseas can be mostly explained by one thing: cultural ignorance.” says Nomadic Matt in Why Americans STILL Don’t Travel Overseas.
Students should start traveling now, get educated about the history of other countries and learn different languages.
In the article, “17 Reasons Why Around the World Travel is Good For You,” the writer states, “Seeing the world provides a source of education absolutely impossible to get in school, teaching you things like economy, politics, history, geography and sociology.”
Traveling won’t just help you get educated about other countries’ history and culture, but it also will help you learn more about yourself and what you like.
According to Health Fitness Revolution, “Traveling allows the mind to expand and literally see the world in new and different ways.”
I believe traveling to different countries also makes you a stronger person. You learn to be a little more independent and capable of handling things.
“Stepping beyond our comfort zone is how we become strong, confident, independent, capable, and rich in spirit.” says Jordan Bates in An Impassioned Plea: Why Traveling Abroad Will Be the Best Decision of Your Life.
Getting to go abroad for school has been the best thing that has happened to me so far in my young life. I got to eat things that I had never ever seen before, and I got to chat with amazing people who had only interesting things to say.
All I’m trying to say is that traveling abroad is completely worth going through customs, rude airport people and the expense; because at the end of it all, there is only beautiful scenery filled with history waiting for you. So cross “getting to travel the world” off your bucket list.
It’s truly a dream come true; take it from me.
Global competency scholars and instructors ride an elevator in Prague, Czech Republic. Clockwise from left: Judy Carter, honors coordinator; Amanda Castro-Crist; Laura Cabrales; Mike Haynes, a mass communication instructor; Angie Ross, a nursing instructor; Paola Estrada; Andrea Guerrero; Bailie Myers; and Raylyn Bowers, center.
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