“When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” ― Clifton Fadiman
Why go abroad next year?
1. Exposure to new languages
Hearing and speaking different languages affects how your brain works and how you perceive the world. It can cause a paradigm shift for your brain as you are exposed to a new set of metaphors, frames and concepts. As you learn new ways of expressing ideas, experiences and concepts you also become more open to new ideas, experiences and concepts. Living life in another language gives you a new lens through which you can view the world around you – a lens that will stay with you even after you return home.
2. You’ll establish friendships with people from different countries and cultural backgrounds
The best way to understand another culture and point of view is to befriend someone with a different cultural background. When you establish common ground with people from a different upbringing, you become aware of the many ways we are connected and alike as human beings. You realize that geographical and cultural boundaries do not have to separate us like they seem to do. Once you leave your comfort zone through an internship abroad, you can develop deep human relationships with people from around the world and through these friendships see beyond the constraints of our different cultures.
3. Your idea of “normal” will be challenged
Living abroad will expose you to a brand new normal. Each culture has its own ideas of priorities, what to eat, how to spend time and money, what constitutes a good friend, a good mother, a good worker… Seeing what is “normal” in a foreign culture makes you realize that there isn’t simply one right way to do things. Understanding the rules of a foreign culture will also help you understand your own culture in brand new light.
4. You get to experience the sensation of being the outsider
Everyone should feel like a foreigner at least once in their life. It can be an overwhelming sensation, being surrounded by a culture that you don’t really understand, in a place where you don’t really belong. When you get outside your comfort zone and throw yourself into a new cultural context, you get a better understanding of how other people feel when they’re new to your city or country. You become a more hospitable person because you’ve also had to rely on the kindness of strangers.
5. You’ll see the advantages of a different way of life
After venturing abroad, you realize that every culture can teach us something important about life. You may not feel 100% at home in a new country, but there are always lessons to be learned. One culture might place a strong emphasis on business, while another has a lively night life. Some cultures have exquisite and legendary gastronomy while others love to celebrate.
6. English speakers will realize the impact of their language and culture
An important lesson for native English speakers to learn is just how privileged they are to speak the international language. The scope of Anglo influence stretches wide and far and because of this, is not always welcome. Many cultures are struggling to retain their native languages because of the prominence of English while scrambling to teach their children English. Recognizing the gift of speaking and understanding English will help you count your blessings and hopefully encourage you to learn another tongue.
7. Improved awareness of globalization
Today’s economy is a global one. Globalization has changed business permanently as we trade outside our borders more and more frequently. We also constantly exchange our culture and entertainment, thanks to the World Wide Web, mass entertainment and immigration. During your international adventure, you’ll notice this more than ever.
Why go abroad? To launch your career and have the adventure of a lifetime. Apply now.
Photos
1. by Elizabeth Trovall
2. by Elizabeth Trovall
3. by Elizabeth Trovall
FAQs
It can cause a paradigm shift for your brain as you are exposed to a new set of metaphors, frames and concepts. As you learn new ways of expressing ideas, experiences and concepts you also become more open to new ideas, experiences and concepts.
How has living abroad changed me? ›
Living abroad, like traveling, makes you realise that 'normal' only means socially or culturally accepted. When you plunge into a different culture and a different society, your notion of normality soon falls apart. You learn there are other ways of doing things and you're fine with it.
How does travel change your perspective on life? ›
It gives you a new perspective
It provides a new way to perceive life, who you are, and how you spend your time. When you travel, you meet new people, cultures, experience new things, embark on all sorts of adventures (good and bad), and perhaps even redefine your meaning of life.
How does traveling influence you? ›
It increases self-awareness. Being more open to others also makes us more open to ourselves. A recent study showed that living abroad — and reflecting on your own values as you encounter unfamiliar situations and people each and every day — makes you more self-aware and less stressed.
How does moving to another country affect a person? ›
Moving to another country may trigger the following feelings or emotional stages: excitement, frustration, adjustment and confidence. Let's explore some of the emotional highs and lows in your first year of being abroad to help you learn how to cope with moving to a new country.
How does studying abroad change a person? ›
You'll Experience a Different Culture
You will learn so much about that country's traditions, from its food and art to its music and politics. There is no better education of a country and its culture than by living in it and being a part of it.
What are the benefits of having gone abroad? ›
Studying abroad allows you to explore new cultures, languages, and academic opportunities. It can be an extremely incredibly rewarding and transformative experience that offers numerous personal and professional benefits. If you have the opportunity to study abroad, it is well worth considering.
Why does worldview change? ›
There are many reasons for the change; you are being exposed to other cultures and ways of doing things and you are constantly meeting new people with their own experiences and ideas. Where and how we live will definitely shift our perspectives and worldview in some way and will thereby impact the decisions we make.
How do we get our worldview? ›
Some world views are formed based on what the individual's parents believe. Others are formed based on experiences and perception of the world, as well as the environment the individual is exposed to.
How do we view the world around us? ›
Perception is the way we interpret the world around us. It is how we make sense of the information that our senses provide us with. Our perceptions are shaped by a variety of factors, including our biases, experiences, cultural backgrounds, emotions, and the depths of our consciousness.
Benefits of Travel
Traveling can improve your mental health by: Helping you feel calm. Taking time from work to see new places releases the stress you've been holding onto. Relieving the tension and stress of your work life lets your mind relax and heal.
Why travel is important in life? ›
Traveling is important in life because it allows us to explore new places and cultures, learn new things, and make connections with people from all over the world. It can also be a source of inspiration and motivation, helping us to grow and develop our skills and knowledge.
How can travelling change your life essay? ›
Importance of Travelling Essay
The world is full of people who love interacting. You get to make friends when you travel to new places and spend quality time with them. Moreover, it also helps you enhance your social skills. After that, travelling is great for learning new skills.
How does traveling challenge our beliefs and values in life? ›
When we travel, we are exposed to new cultures, customs, and traditions. This exposure can help us broaden our perspectives and expand our understanding of the world around us. It can also lead us to question our own beliefs and values, and challenge us to be more open-minded.
How does worldview affect the way people view life? ›
Worldviews encompass beliefs that shape one's outlook on life and are, therefore, instrumental in providing meaning to one's reality and one's understanding as to how one fits in it.
