Traveling will open you up to new cultures and experiences
By: Steven Goodman – Asst. Opinions Editor
One of the most talked about experiences needed to complete the “college experience” is studying abroad. While studying abroad, I’m sure, is a great experience, not everyone has the time in their schedule.
Especially if you’re an engineering major who is told you will not get a job unless you do multiple semesters of a co-op.
I don’t feel that studying abroad is necessary, but traveling definitely should be.
To me, traveling is one of the most important and fulfilling experiences a person can have. The best thing about the nature of traveling is that, while it’s great to visit other countries, you don’t have to leave the U.S. to have a great time.
I was fortunate enough to have parents who loved to travel and took me (sometimes dragged me) on countless trips throughout my life. I’ve seen a lot of the U.S.: I just hit my 41st state last month and I know there are plenty of great and amazing sights in our own country.
To me, the best way to explore a new place, especially if there is a mountain trail, is to hike.
It’s amazing how much more can be seen just by moving your feet.
The great thing about travel, though, is that each person can find that special something that makes the trip incredible for him or her.
Whether it’s shopping in New York City, camping in Alaska or walking down the Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, traveling is a wholly unique experience because it opens you up to worlds and ways of life you haven’t seen before.
While the U.S. has a quite varied culture from coast to coast (and even border to border) being able to sail across the ocean to a different country is an amazing experience.
Between the U.S. and Europe, the culture isn’t extremely different; the world is seemingly shrinking after all.
People are pretty similar all around the world; it’s our language barriers that separate us. Hearing nothing but a different language, trying different foods and seeing buildings that have stood for hundreds of years before the U.S. even existed is incredible and it’s something that’s unique to other cultures
Traveling in the U.S. is a great experience. You don’t have to leave the country to see some awesome things because the amount of different cultures and landscapes is so varied, but stepping into another country does offer a unique trip.
While studying abroad is a great way to accomplish this in college, you don’t have to study abroad to learn something in another country.
You just have to be willing to explore new places.