The Greatest Lesson I Learned from Traveling Abroad
Once, I decided to travel overnight from Germany to the Netherlands and I had to make a connecting train in the middle of the night.
During the first leg of my trip, I noticed the train had stopped at a station and I naively believed this was the station where I had to make my connection. As soon as I got off, the train left the station and I realized I made a big mistake (hey--it was the middle of the night and I was tired!). I was in a small town train station and, because it was the middle of the night, all the shops were closed, there weren’t any people around, and I had no cell-phone or wifi-service.
After what seemed like an eternity, a woman entered the station. I must have looked worried or confused because she immediately came up to me and asked if I needed help. She then proceeded to tell me how to get back on track to reach the Netherlands. I couldn’t have been more grateful and appreciative for her help.
That story demonstrates one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned while traveling - most people are always willing to help you, and they want you to succeed.
Over the years, I’ve visited 27 countries (and counting!) from Belgium all the way to Singapore, and that lesson has prevailed in many forms. Whether it was asking directions to go to the night market in Cambodia, or networking with business leaders in Singapore.
That lesson also applies to our careers as well. I’ve found that if you genuinely ask people for career advice or help trying to figure out something in your job, most people will try and assist you if they can.
What’s been the greatest lessons you’ve learned from your time abroad? Let me know in the comments!
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Palestrante na área de tecnologia
5 年The main lesson learned in my travels: Review your concepts! We aren't the owners of truth and there are always interesting people willing to share valuable experiences.
Support Engineer
8 年Thank you for the article. The greatest lesson I have learned: there is nothing to be afraid. I will not be late, nobody wants to attack me, people will understand, what I am going to say, I will understand, what they are going to say me. World is usually much safer than you think.
Owner at Flying Suitcase LLC--a Virtuoso Travel Advisor
8 年I agree and I have traveled all over the world. There is someone near that can help you. I feel comfortable anywhere I go. When you need help with travel planning, ask me. I have been a travel consular for over 40 years. Flying Suitcase LLC- an affiliate of Montecito Village Travel and Your Travel Center/Frosch.
Sr. Service Designer & UX Researcher
8 年The best and greatest thing I've learned is ultimately risk management and taking things one step at a time. I've travelled to 20 countries so far and have realized that I've had the most fun when I did some basic research on the places I've been to; spend time understanding the history, talking to locals and finding out how they lived their lives. My general plans for the day don't necessary go minute by minute and I have learned not to intend on just accomplishing some "tourist check list " but rather spending more time doing things that genuinely make me happy. If talking to a local seemed fascinating then I would spend that extra hour or two or even a day getting to know them. There's no harm with having a schedule, but know when to cherish the most important parts of the trip for the lessons you learn might be what could change you for the rest of your life.
Videographer, Sporting Event Camera Operator.
8 年You connected with that woman on a human level, there you were being transparent and relatable. I would have helped you too.