Why Studying Abroad and Traveling Can Change it All

As an International student who has had the opportunity of studying abroad in various places and who has gotten to experience a least a tiny portion of the world outside “the comfort zone,” I have come to believe that traveling the world, getting to meet new people, submerging yourself in new cultures, and opening up to new possibilities are among the most satisfying and fulfilling things on earth. Traveling grows parallel to learning; learning about oneself, about other people, other cultures, about life, love, and maybe even about the future.

Florence, Italy

I studied abroad in Canada for a month when I was 14. When I was 18 I moved from Panama to the US for college. And later on, at age 20, I studied abroad in Florence for two months. All three of these experiences were completely different from each other, but they were all as fulfilling and enjoyable. These experiences gave me the opportunity to compare my culture (Panamanian) with three other different ones, and led me to understand that there is a world out there waiting for people to discover it and to experience it.

While I was abroad, I came across many different people with very different views about the world, and the fact that culture, language, and maybe even geographical location can affect a person’s values and beliefs caught my eye. The thing was, that even though I encountered a variety of people, the majority of them (not all), although interesting and amazing people on their own, were bounded by a single set of beliefs; different, but single. It is a disappointment that with so much to see and so much to embrace, many people choose to stick with the “same old news,” and they don’t expand their horizons regarding culture, languages, religions, sins, love, friends, family, and traditions. It seemed to me that many of the people I encountered didn’t quite get the purpose of going abroad: to embrace the “new thing;” and I mean, not only embracing the culture of the country that they were in, but also that of the people who they met along the way.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t see this as a bad thing, to each their own, but sometimes I just wish I could find more people around the world who were open to receive new views and thoughts without trying to change them or without imposing their opinions on them, people who would dare to experience a new culture just for the sake of learning about it not because it is mainstream or cool. Overall, less opinionated people with a greater learning will.

Now, where am I going with all this you may ask? Well, people say education is the key, and I think a great part of a good educational experience does not deal with teaching people about laws and rights, science and nutrition, geography and politics, business and engineering, but to teach them people skills. To teach them about accepting and appreciating other people and their beliefs, about life and love, and joy and trust. And I believe traveling the world is the way to learn that. It doesn’t matter if you travel three hours south from your hometown, or 20 minutes north from it, or if you go across the national border or even dare to cross the pond. Traveling widens the boundaries of the mind.

I grew up learning there is a pretty big world out there and that people more often than not will disagree with your views and thoughts, but although my parents taught me about the importance of opening up and being receptive of that world, words are not the same as experiences. It was not until I went abroad that I was able to truly understand the purpose of it all.

Studying abroad gave me the opportunity of meeting all types of people: sketchy people, people who did drugs, people who are not faithful and unworthy of my trust, people who are envious, people who are selfish, people who work hard, people who love too much, people who give more than they take, people who are happy to be alive, people who are worth the time… I saw dangerous places, beautiful ones, even creepy ones. I traveled cities. I tried new foods. I learned new languages. I spoke with strangers. I experienced things that went beyond me. I opened my mind to cultures, traditions and adrenaline rushes. I learned that it is important to understand that everyone is different, that the world is infinite, and that the future is uncertain. And today, I wish with all my heart that more people could study abroad so they can see more, learn more, and understand more; so they can OPEN UP. We need more empathetic people in this world and as cliche as it sounds, traveling is the only thing that money can buy that will teach you that. Why? Because you are paying for the EXPERIENCE… to grow, to learn, and to discover.

Island of Brac, Croatia