Internationally Created Perspective

Though international travel is known for its benefits, there is still not enough emphasis on the wealth that is gained by visiting, or living in, other cultures. Placing yourself in a new environment gets you out of your comfort zone and forces one to see the world through a different lens. Not everyone in the world sees things the same. Visiting France may make you think about how strange it is to have a Walmart greeter.

Critically thinking about everything around you is not easily done. Noticing why your home culture acts in a certain way, has a typical belief, or even understands a typical cultural value is a hard thing to recognize. Looking at the world in a different way gives the opportunity for you to look at your own habits and values in a more critical way. It breaks down and helps to analyze the values that you have been indoctrinated with by your fellow country-men/women around you.

Visiting a new culture puts your own personal beliefs into perspective. Is that something that you really believe in? Or is it that you simply grew up in an environment that took that value as a given.

There are numerous other benefits that come out of visiting new countries. It can be as simple as seeing famous landmarks, or as eye opening as breaking down stereotypes. They all help you to think critically about the world around you. Seeing new places and great works of art/architecture/urban planning also put into perspective what you have at home. Here in Michigan, the overwhelming abundance of beautiful lakes is something unique in the world. So having the perspective of that in a global sense makes one appreciate what they have a bit more.

The last benefit to highlight is learning what you don’t have any clue about. The “I don’t know what I don’t know.” Moving yourself out of the normal circle of influence introduces you to things you may have never even thought of. During a recent trip to Chile it became apparent that not every culture in the world believes there are seven continents. Though this is minor, it represents a question that would never come up in a daily conversation in the home country.

It should be encouraged that everyone travel internationally at least once in their lifetime. Keep an open mind, look closely, and reap the benefits of understanding another culture.