ways that travel makes you a better person, part 2
Parts of this article are from oyster.com. See part one of this post here.
It teaches you what kind of person you are.
If you ever want to learn what type of person you are, just take a trip. From the planning stages to unpacking once you're back home, travel teaches you a lot about who you are. It is often surprising. Perhaps you view yourself as a diehard planner, but realized your favorite parts of the trip were the ones when spontaneity struck. Terry is a big time planner where as I am more laid back and like to just let things happen. We didn't discover this really till we started traveling. Travel is a great way to not only discover the world, but to discover what you do and do not like. It also is a way to see how you react to certain situations, and how you actually like to spend your free time. And as they say, to know thyself is to love thyself.
It challenges you and helps build confidence.
Travel is a great confidence builder. Travelers often choose vacations to try new things and face fears. This could be a new type of food, an activity like snorkeling, or just meeting new people. These things can be challenging, even to the most seasoned traveler and outgoing person. Experiencing these things and conquering them helps to build confidence. What better way to push yourself to do something that you never thought you could do than when you are not in your usual element?Pushing yourself to the top of that mountain, engaging in a conversation with a language barrier, or even just being able to navigate a foreign city can be rewarding, and gives people a barometer on what they can (and sometimes can't) handle, which is a truly empowering feeling.
It makes you aware of your surroundings.
Much like travel makes you self-aware, it can also make you hyper-aware of your surroundings. We mean this in that you should be on alert for your personal safety and belongings while traveling. But what I am really referring to is that you are more aware of your surroundings because they are fresh. When everything around you is something new, you try to take it all in, soaking in all the details so you don't miss a thing.This was so true for our kids when we visited the El Yunque rain forest in Puerto Rico. They loved hearing the waterfalls and seeing all the trees. Also, when Terry and I visited Europe during our anniversary cruise, we were hyper-aware of everything that we saw. From the graffiti on the walls to the food in the markets, to even the stray animals on the street, we saw everything!At home, there are probably things that you overlook every day because you are used to them. Often when we return from traveling, we notice that our brain is still absorbing everything with big eyes, and it's not uncommon for us to notice small details -- even full buildings -- that we never seemed to see before. This can also go beyond just physical things, as you may even scout new activities to try when you're back home. Remember that your hometown is someone else's vacation destination.
It piques curiosity.
Shaking up your surroundings plops you in a whole new world full of wonder and curiosity. Once you start learning more about a culture's traditions, foods, beliefs, and social systems, it can get addictive. This is what spawned my love of Mayan culture. And, my being a chef is what spawned my curiosity in international cuisine. Travel opens your mind to new possibilities and opportunities. In turn, make many folks more curious about what else is out there. From small things like what regional specialities are on the local McDonald's menu (something that we like to go and see, even if we don't buy anything!) to larger aspects of culture like how social rules are constructed with certain populations.
It makes you self-aware.
We aren't talking about the anxiety-driven self-awareness here -- though there can be some of this in new places, too. We mean being aware of your behavior and how it is perceived and received by the culture you are visiting. While at home, we are surrounded by many like-cultured and like-minded people. We don't usually have to think about how we are being perceived. But being in a foreign culture can quickly open your eyes to subtle and not-so-subtle differences in how we act in public. Even if it's just in a different region of our own country, like going from Atlanta to New York. This can make us look at ourselves with fresh eyes, and in turn, also make us more sensitive to visitors into our own culture.
