The Trip that became the Taken Movie

What do you think of when you see this quote? 

"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career ... I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you."

I think of Liam Neeson kicking butt in the Taken movies!

Taken 2 is set in Turkey and when I traveled to Turkey in the summer of 2014 with a group from my college, we were always making references to this movie. Well one night, our references almost became reality.

Several of the girls and I were headed back to our hotel late one night, so we took a cab ride back. This taxi ride is still one of my craziest stories, and each of the girls who were with me can attest to that. I can tell the story, but not quite as well as Lauren Christian, one of the group leaders. Her storytelling will make you feel like you were in the cab with us - it's definitely worth the watch!

Travel Advice for Those Stuck in the Car

I was praying to God that I wouldn't drive us off the road each time there was another curve in the mountain pass. One of my best friends, Taylor, and I were on a short trip headed to a wedding in Yosemite Park. I was driving - it was my first rental car ever.

I was nervous driving a rental car, but also because it was nighttime by the time we had arrived to Yosemite park because of traffic. We needed to get to a hotel in the park, so I was driving on a curvy, up-in-the-mountains road. It was pitch-black. At one point there was 5 miles of non-stop turns; it was like the shape of a snake. I could only go about 10mph an hour to make each turn.

All dressed up for a wedding!

Neither of use were speaking or really even breathing. We made it obviously, but that night was terrifying. When it comes to transportation, domestic or international, there are always going to be odd, weird or nerve-wracking experiences that make for good stories - as long as everyone is safe in the end. Along with these stories though there are always some travel tips that prove useful in the future.

Taylor and I learned how important it is to stay calm no matter what, even when you're stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. In fact, we made the best of it by retelling stories, listening to good music, and Taylor even read some of my homework to me for a class - we both learned a lot about war strategy. :) We made the best of the situation even though it wasn't ideal.

Also, take your time. So many times we all want to get to our destination as quick as possible, but sometimes the journey itself is just as memorable and important as the end point. Don't get so excited and focused on what's going to happen that you aren't aware of where you are now. This will help you keep your cool when you're in traffic or on a mountain pass. All I wanted was to get to the wedding, but I had to be calm and take my time so we didn't go off the mountain. It took a long time to get to our hotel, but we stayed safe and we had a fun time. In the end, that's all that matters.

I went to the wrong airport

"Uh, ma'am I can't print off your plane ticket." The ticket attendant for American Airlines was trying to help check me into my flight, but well....I was at the wrong airport. 

I'm from Colorado (whoop whoop!) and most Coloradans fly out of the Denver airport, even though there is a airport in Colorado Spring (where I'm from). I'm used to only having one airport, so moving to NYC for college where there are 3 nearby airports has been a change.

I was headed to California to visit family, and I had just assumed I was flying out of La Guardia Airport instead of the John F. Kennedy airport. Part of this mistake came from the fact that I had only flown in and out of La Guardia when coming and going from Colorado. So, I didn't even think to check my plane ticket (worse decision ever!)

Well, I ran to a cab with my two bags and told the driver to get me to La Guardia as fast as he could. I managed to get there in about 35 min rather than the usual 45 mins. It still wasn't enough time, because the other part of this story is that I had left my apartment later than I should have. That afternoon my roommate asked if I needed to leave, but I assured her that I had traveled enough in my life and I knew when to leave (ahhhh....how my pride was my downfall!).

When I got to the La Guardia airport I had about 30 min to get to my plane. I tried to hustle through the check-in process, but I wasn't assertive from the start. I got in line rather than go directly to the ticket attendant.

By the time I was checking in, I was told I would need to go to their customer service desk. I went to their desk begging for their help at this point, but they sent me to the back of the line. So by the time I did make it to the front, they said they couldn't check in any more bags, and since I had two bags I couldn't store them overhead.

So I was placed on the standby list for the next flight out to California, which was only a couple hours later. I thankfully got on to that flight, and my family and friends have never let this story go. Whenever I travel, I am still teasingly told to check which airport I'm flying out of.

I definitely was humbled by this experience and relearned vital airport tips:

1. Get to the airport with plenty of time to spare (about 2 hours) cause you never know what will happen (i.e. long security lines).

2. Pack light (if I had only brought 1 bag, they would've let me on).

3. Check your flight details way 24 hours ahead of time.

4. Be assertive because no one will know you're late or having trouble unless you say something from the start.

Vacations with Unusual Food

Our waiter simply would not take no for an answer. Mom and I were on our vacation in France and we were dining out at this upscale restaurant in our hotel. That dinner is still one of my top three meals, and I still dream about the delicious rose champagne we drank.

This dinner had several courses and our appetizer was this raw salmon tart. My mom doesn't like seafood at all, but during our vacation she had eaten this popular raw salmon appetizer dish several times. That night she wasn't in the mood for it, but our waiter didn't like that. He simply picked up the tart and plopped it onto my mom's plate unceremoniously making it very clear that she needed to eat it. So she did.

Another time in France at a different restaurant my Mom ordered a salad, and it was huge! Well she didn't finish it (plus it wasn't her favorite), and when our waiter came to get our dishes he questioned her about whether she liked the salad and why she didn't finish it. Both of us were taken aback, and she just replied she was full. These instances happened several times on our vacation, and our waiters seemed to take this very personally.

I noticed this same thing when I was on vacation in Cambodia with my friends. Whenever we were eating with our hosts, they always kept an eye on us to make sure we had enough food and if we were eating. One of my friends was always being pushed to get seconds because they thought she didn't eat enough when in fact she just eats really quickly. I was glad to be a slow eater for once!

Through my travels I've learned how important it is to try new foods even when they are kinda gross. How can we expect to grow as individuals if we're not willing to step out of our comfort zone and try these new foods? How can you know you don't like a food if you haven't even tried it?

Sure I haven't tried every new delicacy that comes near me on my vacations, such as the duck embryos in Cambodia or the fried tarantulas. Maybe I should have tried them. I know I would've learned a lot about myself if I had, or if anything else I would have a new story to share. It is a scary thing trying foods we aren't comfortable with or that seem gross, but that's when we need to take the leap of faith and try it. By doing so, you're choosing to be apart of that culture rather than a foreigner who just observes the culture but does not truly experience it.

What's the weirdest or craziest food that you tried once?

Travel Advice: Bathrooms 101

On my trips I've noticed that bathrooms are very different wherever you go. Some toilets have a button to pull to flush, while other times you have to pour a bucket of water into the toilet bowl.

As fun as this could be to list out all the differences, no one really cares. However, we do care about the restroom because it is an essential for all of us, yet we all have preconceived notions of what the bathroom is supposed to be like on our trips because of our own experiences from our own bathrooms. So when we're not prepared for other styles, well this can surprise us.

Public bathrooms abroad tend to be holes in the ground or a clean, well-kept bathroom that costs money. It usually only costs 1-2 dollars in their currency, so make sure you have change on you at all times. It's usually worth it, although this is not a guarantee to cleanliness.

Public bathrooms are not very common as they are in the U.S. where you can generally find one near you at all times (except in NYC!). Sooooo whenever you're getting a meal, use the bathroom because no restaurant will let you use one unless your a customer, and it'll be fairly clean. This was a trick that my Mom and I learned on our trip in France.

Always, always, and always bring kleenex and hand sanitizer with you. There may not be toilet paper or soap.

Don't be alarmed if there are other guests in your stall, and I mean bugs or some lizards. In Cambodia, there were geckos (not Geico) that usually hung out in the bathroom stalls because it was a cool, damp place. If you don't bug them, they won't bug you. **I actually did call the lizards, "Geico" until my friends reminded me while laughing that it was "geckos."**


My last final tip is for the ladies, and that would be knowing how to squat. If you've gone rough camping (not glamour camping with plumbing) then you know what I'm talking about. Many public bathrooms don't have a toilet bowl above ground, but rather it's on the floor. So there is nothing for you to sit on, and you'll have to squat. The best clothes for these occasions is dresses and skirts.

Do you have any other tips or stories to share about bathrooms from your own trips abroad?

H20 Travel Tips

For something so essential, you'd think water would be cheap or clean. Not always - here are some travel tips you need to know about water abroad.

Don't go for the water right away!

Travel Tip 1: Don't assume it's free. Most restaurants in the U.S. will give you free tap water, but in Europe you'll usually get charged, but this water is "cleaner" water than tap. So you can double check with your water/waitress and see if they have tap water for free. Otherwise, you'll be paying for your water.

Travel Tip 2: Still or Bubbly. In Europe these are the two choices between water. "Still" or "flat" water is just plain water (its not tap though), while "bubbly" is carbonated water. Both of these waters will be served in a glass bottle - this water is safe to drink.

Travel Tip 3: Don't always drink the tap water. Even though tap water may be free at your location, it doesn't mean you should. U.S. tap water is not the same thing as Europe or Asian tap water. You can get sick from it cause your body may not be used to it or there may be some bacteria in it. I generally play it safe and buy a sealed water bottle, or I pay for the water in Europe because it won't be tap. **I drank tap water in Spain and I was fine**

Travel Tip 4: Don't forget about the ice. If you are not wanting to drink the tap water in a country, then don't use the ice.

Travel Tip 5: Be careful about what fruit you eat. Do not eat any fruit skins (i.e. peach, apple) if you don't want to drink any tap water in the country. Most of these fruits will be washed in their regular water, so just don't eat the fruit skin (or outer layer).

Overall, use discretion and it doesn't hurt to look up the drinking water for the country you're traveling too. I generally always have sealed water bottles with me (I continually buy them) just in case. Hopefully some of these travel tips will help you know what to do when a glass of water gets set before you.

The Trip that Took Me Outside My Comfort Zone

"This is how it ends!" This was the thought that ran through my head on my trip in Cambodia. My friends and I were on a rocking, wooden boat completely out of our comfort zones. 

I'm not proud to admit that on my trip to Cambodia I struggled. I had traveled internationally before so I thought I would know how to handle the new language, food, and culture just fine, but Cambodia was a whole different experience for me.

I'm not a picky eater but I hate eating meat off the bone. I can do it, but I'd prefer not too, and well......all of the meat we ate in Cambodia had bones in it. Also, it was HOT! Not just hot and dry....hot and sticky because of the humidity. Air conditioning is something they have but not everywhere (usually just in homes and cars). The language also threw me off because English is definitely in the minority, which doesn't make me uncomfortable, but there was always a lot going on and things being said around us that I felt lost. All three of these factors made the first week of the trip a bit of a challenge, but once I embraced these changes I really began to enjoy myself.

One of the stories on our trip that really put my friends and I outside our comfort zone that we will vividly remember forever is when we almost died (not really but we thought we would!). We were at the beach for several days, and one of Voleak's uncles wanted to take us snorkeling. That day it was raining, but in the afternoon the storm was moving away. However, I could still see lightning nearby so I wasn't too enthused to be on the water in a boat. Also, the boat looked like a canoe - bigger but still a canoe. Whenever one of us moved, the boat would tip and rock, although the owner assured us it wouldn't tip over. To even get to the boat, we had to swim out into the ocean, so none of us could bring phones or cameras. It was just us, her uncle and the boat owner.

One of the islands from shore.

We headed to this island that could be seen from shore but not something for you to swim too. Her uncle then took us snorkeling and showed us how to catch sea urchins with a net. What really made this experience our top moment on our trip was when we were in the boat. It was getting rocked by waves at the island. At one point, there was a large swell and the boat tipped so much that I actually prepared myself to jump and start swimming if it flipped. Well, it didn't, but when my friends and I were chuckling over that, I told them that I had thought, "And this his how it ends." We laughed long and hard over that and it is now one of our inside jokes.

A similar boat to what we had.

Overall, this experience was unique and amazing. It took all of us outside our comfort zone as Americans because we were on this wooden boat after a recent storm going to an island and learning how sea urchins are caught. In the U.S. there would have been so many "regulations and rules" on this type of event. It challenged us to do something completely different and out of the norm. I'm not saying to be reckless, but don't let fear or discomfort stop you from doing new things. International traveling is difficult at times, and I had my own shares of struggles in Cambodia, but I now know that I can do it and I would go back in a heartbeat. I grew so much more in those two weeks than if I had just stayed in the U.S. I learned what it feels like to be out of my comfort zone, and I learned how to embrace the new challenges. My comfort zone has expanded and grown, so I won't find these challenges to be as daunting as I did the first time. My trip to Cambodia made me a stronger, better person.

                                             

A Vacation with Tour Groups or with Friends

You can be on vacation in the same country, but you'll have completely different experiences with tour groups versus just traveling with friends.

Tour Groups: 
When you hear this word, you immediately think of large buses where once the doors open, the tourists pour out. In NYC, you have to watch out for these buses or you'll get run over.

However, tour groups aren't always like this. You can find tour groups of any size or theme to fit what you want. When Mom and I were on vacation in Ireland, we were in a tour group of about 30 people. We chose this option because we wanted to explore the island, but Mom didn't want to drive on the left-hand side of the road (I was grateful for that decision!). We could've gotten around by buses, but we also didn't know much about Ireland, whereas when we went to France we already had ideas of what we wanted to see. We also wanted a smaller tour group to make some meaningful relationships.

Pro's:

• You'll never get lost
• You'll see the popular touristy sites
• You get to cut ahead of lines at museums or sites
• You don't have to do any planning = no stress
• You'll make some fun friendships with the people in your group 
• You're not alone - you will be surrounded by others who know your culture or language (this can be comforting)

Con's:

• You are not in charge of your time - you don't get to choose if you want to stay longer at a site
• You only see glimpses of the country - you don't get to dive deep in a certain town or activity 
• The people on the group can be annoying
• You usually only go to touristy sites - you don't get to see those special or unique sites that you could see by yourself

Traveling with Friends or Family: 

I've traveled with friends where one of them was an expert of the country, and this was awesome because they took us to the local spots that we wouldn't have found by ourselves. This is my personal preference while traveling. However, I've also done vacations where none of us knew anything about the country. This can lead to some really funny stories. 

Pro's: 

• You'll see or experience things you wouldn't see with tour groups
• You'll see and experience more of the real culture - you'll eat at real, local spots 
• You're in charge of what you want to see/do (this can be very liberating and also stressful)

Con's: 

• This can be stressful and may lead to more tension with your travel buddies 
• You will get lost (I find this to be fun but some people wouldn't agree with this)
• You might not get all the history or knowledge of a site that a tour group leader would provide

***You can get the best of both worlds by traveling with family and friends, and doing day trips with tour groups to certain sites/locations. Mom and I did a one day tour group to Giverny. Our guide showed us the important sites and told us the history, and at the end of the day we were on our own again. 

My Favorite Suitcase for Traveling

I've had this bag since my first international trip (summer of 2013), and it's one of the best bags I have ever owned. My mom was so kind enough to buy me this suitcase, and she got it from the Rick Steves' Travel Site. If you don't know Rick Steves, he is a travel guro. He has tons of travel books that are super helpful, as well as tons of resources on his website for planning a trip. Well, he also sells suitcases, and they're amazing.

Rick Steves' Rolling Carry-On Suitcase

Dimensions: 21" x 13.5" x 9" (including wheels)
Weight: 6.65 lbs
Capacity: 2430 cubic inches (2970 expanded)
Materials: Polyester fabric with molded shell frame

Cost: $160

Positives: 

• Lightweight bag (only 6 lbs by itself) that allows for easy lifting and maneuvering  
• Small enough bag so it fits in overhead bins, even the smaller ones on Europeans flights
• Expansion capability where you gain 2 additional inches of cargo depth - my favorite feature that I use all the time, although the bag will have to be checked
• Durable wheels that have handled all different kinds of pavement (including NYC's harsh sidewalks)
• Soooo many pockets - two deep pockets on the outside and a mesh pocket on the inside
• It's a different looking bag, depending on the color you choose, so it's easy to spot
• The bag has a shell that gives it shape, but at the same time it's very flexible so I can always stuff a ton into it
• Amazing quality and I haven't had any rips or zipper problems

Negatives: 

• The expansion capability makes the bag fatter, so it generally tips over if you aren't holding on to it
• Sometimes it can be too small (this generally means I'm overpacking then)
• A bit expensive

If I had to rate the bag from a 1 to a 5, I would easily give it a 5. Although the bag is generally mean for carry-on, I have rarely used it for that. A smaller bag is what you're going to want while traveling internationally because it'll be lighter and easier for you to carry it around a ton if need be. The expansion capability will also make it easy if you buy a lot of souvenirs and need a little extra room in your bag (this is what I always do). It is a bit pricey but it's totally worth it. 

For more info: https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/rolling-carry-on

Travel Advice for the Tired, Frustrated Travel Companion

When traveling with friends or family, you will get on each others nerves, so here is some
travel advice on how to manage emotions when they're running high. 

This is travel advice that my mom and I learned the hard way, but it's one of my favorite memories with her. We were in Paris, and after several days of running around we were pretty tired. That morning we were heading to the Musee d'Orsay (a museum I strongly recommend), and we were for some reason (I can't remember now) arguing. When we got to the museum, we both wanted space away from each other, so we split up. We both didn't think the museum was that large compared to the Louvre, but there are multiple levels and we soon lost each other. I searched high and low for her in the museum, but I couldn't find her. We also had tickets for an activity that afternoon, and neither of us wanted to miss that. So I had to decide whether to stay at the museum and keep looking for her, or head back to the hotel where the tour starts, and hope that she heads there too.

I decided to head back to the hotel, but then I had to figure out how to get back. Thankfully, I had paid attention on our way to the museum, so I easily found where we had made turns, but we had also taken the Paris metro system, and I didn't have a clue as to which line I needed to take to get to my final destination. This was before moving to NYC where I would become a pro at reading metro maps. So I stood around and waited until I saw a person that I deemed trustworthy, and I asked him for directions. He led me to the train I needed to take. I finally got back to the hotel room, and lo and behold my mom was waiting for me. She was so worried about me, and she was hoping that I would head back to the hotel as well. We laughed over the morning events and we were back in each other's good graces again. However, we always planned where we would rendezvous if that happened again, which is another good tidbit of travel advice. 

The moral of the story is you will get mad or frustrated with your travel companions; it's only natural when you're around each other 24/7. However, be patient with each other and give your friend or family member the benefit of the doubt. Don't be quick to get frustrated or get upset over everything. And when you do get mad, then talk about what's going on with your travel buddy. However, do it in a place where you won't stomp off and then get lost. That's travel advice my mom and I learned and don't wish to repeat.

Capturing the Moment by Yourself

"Strap that camera to your arm, otherwise someone will grab it and it'll be gone."

This was my piece of advice from my Cambodian friend while I was visiting her country. We were riding a tuk-tuk, also known as a rickshaw, and I wanted to take some pictures along the ride. However, I was told that I would need to have the camera strap wrapped around my arm because it could fall (it is not an enclosed ride) or someone could grab it as they drove by our taxi. There are no enforced traffic laws in Cambodia, so there are no lanes that people stay in, so someone could easily have grabbed if if I wasn't paying attention. So just be aware of where your camera and phone is, and you'll be good!

A quick clip of some Cambodian traffic

However, I'd also like to say that it's not necessary to always take photos or videos. We all want to get pictures/videos of our travels to show to our friends and family, but don't forget to experience where you are. This sometimes means you need to put down the camera. I still remember when I was on a trip with my mom in middle school and all I wanted to see was some dolphins. When I did see some, I was so caught up in trying to catch them on film that I didn't really get to see or watch them, and they were only there for half a minute. So basically I didn't really "see" the dolphins.

Some of my best memories while I've travelled have been when I didn't have my camera with me. We all want to capture this moment or this thing that amazes our eyes, but what we should be asking ourselves is, "What about this moment or site do I love?" Sometimes there is something about it that film can't always capture. I'm not saying never take photos or videos because they are a lot of fun to look back on, but don't forget to really be there in that moment and take in with your own eyes what you're seeing. By doing so, you'll appreciate it even more and it'll be left up to your memory to remember.

Hide the Benjamin

Hopefully you got it in the title, but if you didn't, then I'll just let you know that you'll be carrying a lot of cash with you when you're traveling internationally. So don't lose it!

1. Do not carry all of your money on you: Carry some of the cash in your purse/wallet and put the rest in a hotel safe. I generally like to split it up into three piles. I have two wallets in my purse with one of them being my emergency one just in case the other gets lost. I then put the rest in the hotel safe. Some people use a money belt, which is something that is attached around your neck or waist and underneath your clothes. I personally don't like using them because I think they looks obvious and they're uncomfortable, but I know some people who really like it.

2. Do not take out a huge wad of cash while you're paying for something: You become a target when you're showing a lot of cash and being totally obvious about it. When you pay for something, only pull out one bill.

3. Have small bills: It's fine for you to carry large bills around, but some places I've been to don't like breaking the big bills. If you're having a hard time with that, I would recommend trying your luck in a touristy location.

4. Don't forget to use the coins: This goes especially in Europe because there are no paper euros below $5. They have 1 and 2 dollar coins that they love to use, and your bag might be heavier with all the coins you're carrying around but forget to use. Don't forget to pay with coins first because if you want to exchange your money back into your currency, coins are generally not accepted.

Passports 101

"On the black market, your passports can be sold for around $10,000"

This is what I was told when preparing for my school trip to Turkey. Our team was going through these dramatized simulations at a retreat to learn how to be safe and know what to do in certain situations. One of the lessons they kept drilling into us was to be super aware of where our passports were at all times. To learn this lesson, we had to "check in" to this "customs agent" (a.k.a our trip leader) to get into the "country" (a.k.a our cabin for the weekend). When each person was approved they could then go to the security section (a.k.a some students ruffling through bags). However, if the student did not ask for their passport back, then the custom agent would keep it. So many of the students were distracted that they didn't even notice they had left without their passport. Thankfully I wasn't one of them.                        

                               

After this simulation we all got together to discuss logistics and what problems people needed to prepare themselves for the next time. Now, this simulation with the passports was very exaggerated, and will most likely never happen. However, it is important to be this aware of your passport at all times. Here are some tips:

1. Photocopy your passport: Do this before the trip and have these copies (best if they're color copies) with you in the country. That way if your passports gets stolen or lost, you will have the copy to prove who you are. It'd be even better if you left one of the colored copies with your family members or friends back home, so if all else fails, they can send the copied document.

2. Carry or hide your passport: If you carry it on you, then keep it close at hand in a money belt or a zipped up pocked in your purse. You can also hide your passport in the hotel safe or your bags if you have locks for them.

Do Not Lose These Items

Let's face it, you're going to misplace something or its going to get snitched, and that's just the reality of travel. But when it comes to international traveling, do not let these items out of your sight!

1. Passport: This is your most important document! I generally carry it in a pocket in my purse that has a zipper so no one can reach in and easily grab it, but I'll also leave it in the hotel safe that's in my room. I know some people who carry it in a money belt, so whatever works for you, but be very aware of where you put it. To read more about Passports 101 click here.

2. Money: Don't keep your money all together in a nice envelope because if that gets stolen, then there goes all your money. In fact my mom told me this happened to one of the persons in her tour group, and it was on the first day of the trip! Split up your cash into different piles. Carry one of the piles with you in your purse, and hide the other piles in various locations like your hotel safe, your money belt, or deep in your suitcase (that hopefully is locked when you're out of the room). To read more about traveling with money click here.

3. Camera: If this gets stolen/lost, it's not the end of the world (unless your camera is also your phone), but this is another common item that gets stolen/lost. Just never leave your camera/phone out in the open. Whenever I'm not using one of these items, they are put away in my purse. Sometime we don't need our camera, and to read more click here. 

I have never lost or had stolen any of these items, but it's because I am hyperaware of where I place these items (more so than when I'm back at home). And if you do the same thing, then you should not have a problem.

Lost with Nowhere to Go

We were lost in Paris with no clue where our hotel was or even what its name was. 

My mom and I had arrived in Paris that morning, and we were so excited to be in France that we immediately took off from our hotel minutes after checking into our room. We wanted to see the Eiffel Tower. It was so amazing to see the site in person after years of looking at it in pictures. However, we were so caught up by our excitement that we hadn't paid attention to our surroundings.

When we were ready to head back to the hotel, it was then we realized that we didn't know the name of our hotel, its address, or what area of the city it was located. Within a couple of minutes we soon realized the gravity of the situation because we didn't have access to our phones and we knew no one in the city. After much hard pondering, I realized we had our hotel key cards which might have the information we needed, and I was correct. We then called a cab, handed the driver this card, and for the rest of the trip we always knew where our hotel was located.

This was taken before we realized we were lost

So the moral of the story is to always carry a piece of paper (or your hotel key card) with the name of your hotel and the address written down on it. It's fine if you can remember the information and say it back verbally, but having it written down will be really useful if you don't speak the native language. I have taken several years of French, but my accent and pronunciation is very poor to a native French speaker, and I could accidentally say the wrong address. Having this information will let you explore freely, but you'll never get lost.

5 Reasons Why Traveling Is Important

1.You will broaden your horizon. You will experience so many different cultures, languages, food and people when you travel. International traveling will open your eyes to things you have never seen or thought possible. You’ll be forced to interact with different customs or outlooks on life. It will challenge your perspective on life, which is good because it makes you answer the “why” you believe something.

2. You gain a new appreciation for your home. Traveling abroad is exhausting and you will miss your home at various points, especially if that country doesn’t have certain commodities you’re used to, such as air conditioning (that was what I missed the most while in Cambodia).

3. You accumulate so many fun memories. Some of the memories I least expected to remember are my most vivid ones. Or there are other memories that I laugh over, but in that actual moment I was lost or really frustrated. It’s always fun recounting these memories with those who were there, and seeing if what you remember is what they also felt. And you usually get a lot of inside jokes from all your various adventures.

4. You get to know your travel buddies really well. Whether you travel with family members, friends, or strangers, you will bond with them over your experiences. Sometimes you will discover that in close proximities in stressful situations, you both may not travel well together. That is ok, but don’t let that ruin your relationship. You will learn a lot about your travel companions that you may not have learned back home. *Solo traveling is also great and you can share experiences with the locals or other travelers you meet.

5. You learn who you are. Are you a planner or laid back? You’ll find out when something unexpected happens. How you react will really show how you think and your type of character. You will face different challenges you won’t typically face at home. You might hate seafood and you might have to come to terms with that in a country that only eats fish. You grow as a person when you travel. You will see your strengths and weaknesses a lot more clearly.