Factors to consider.
While deciding to join a World of Good Travel trip, there are many questions to ask yourself.
- Personal Reasons for Going - What are you looking to get from the trip? How do these reasons line up with the objectives and planned activities of the trip?
- Comfort Level - Are you comfortable with being out of your element? Not understanding the local culture or customs? Dealing with language barriers? Seeing children and adults living in poverty? Handling delays or changes in plans?
- Accommodations - Are you comfortable with dormitory style sleeping arrangements? Shared bathrooms? Fewer amenities?
- Transportation - Are you comfortable with public transportation? Walking and traveling with a backpack? Various modes of transportation including motor bikes, bicycles, tuk tuks, trucks, trains?
- Food - Are you open to trying new foods? Eating at food stalls? Do you have a restrictive diet that may be difficult to satisfy during travel?
- Finances - Are you able to save for this trip? Is this trip a priority in your finances?
Reasons to go.
While there will always be some reasons not to travel, there are a multitude of reasons why you should!
- Living in the Now - Do the things you say you want to do. There's no better time than right now. Sieze every opportunity to live the life you want to live...you'll never regret it.
- Meeting New People - Traveling with your friends and making new ones are the best part of traveling. Meeting local people as well as fellow travelers from around the world are what make any trip memorable. Understand that while we are all different and unique, we are also all connected in some way.
- Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable - Travel will put you in new and unfamiliar situations, taking you out of your comfort zone. It will challenge you to do things you never thought possible. Have the courage to jump, to get uncomfortable, and to open yourself to a literal world of possibilities.
- Opening Your Mind - Exploring history, hearing a foreign language, tasting new foods, and seeing the way other cultures live can open your mind to new ideas and a global perspective. Travel helps to develop an understanding and acceptance of different cultures by reducing our fears of people and situations that are different from what we are used to.
- Bringing History to Life - Even for those who find history to be boring, there is something about seeing, smelling, touching, and really experiencing historical sites that brings history to life. It becomes an enriching experience that we'll remember for the rest of our lives rather than being names and dates read in a book that may only be remembered until a final exam.
- Improving Self-Confidence and Independence - International travel requires being able to handle periodic travel mishaps, problem solve, negotiate purchases, navigate new cities, and overcome language barriers all which serve to increase self-confidence and independence.
- Gaining a Competitive Advantage - More colleges are making cultural awareness as part of the curriculum and international travel and volunteer experiences can help your college application stand out. In today's global economy, employers see international travel as a valuable learning experience that develops useful skills such as flexibility, examining problems from more than one perspective, cultural awareness, and communication skills.