Let’s see if I remember correctly some of those philosophy lessons from college: All vacations are travel but not all travel is a vacation. Yes, in this contrary culture I’m sure the first thing someone will say is, “but my family LOVES a good STAY-cation.” If that’s your first thought, then you are why we can’t have nice things, and maybe you should read my previous blog on changing your mindset.

Western culture, and Americans specifically, seem to think that all travel is a vacation and therefore must be earned. Just like the act of taking 5 minutes to have a cup of coffee in peaceful solitude when your day is hectic and full of demands on your time is somehow seen as “self care,” I offer that this is not a realistic mindset. Firstly, time away from work does not have to be “earned” though our society would have you believe otherwise. I sincerely hope that you love your job, but you deserve happiness and fulfillment in your everyday life, regardless of what you do for a living. This is me giving you permission right here, right now.

TRAVEL should be a respected requirement in school as much as math, language and geography. Travel teaches self-reliance, self-awareness, cooperation, and adaptation while testing patience, tempers and level-headedness in the face of adversity. Travel is an amazing tool that I believe leads to the best understanding of the world we live in, as much as a trip to the bay teaches about oceanography or seeing a live play immerses you in classic literature.

My sophomore year of high school, I had an Emerging Nations teacher that I loathed. I have been a strident student of history since the 4th grade and even picked Gettysburg College because I was certain that history was my future (please stifle your laughter). Emerging Nations was our history/civics requirement that year, and the teacher did everything in his power to avoid teaching. We watched VHS movies and ran simulations- it was torture for the way I learned, but there is ONE THING this teacher said that has stuck with me. “You should go on your honeymoon before you get married, not after.” His point was that how someone adapts and reacts while traveling gives you genuine insights to their personality that otherwise might take years to reveal themselves. I don’t say this about much from that class, but in this analogy, I 100% agree!

Americans are not used to being denied. When something goes awry, we demand to see your manager, but in certain situations, these social constructs are irrelevant. International travel is an excellent example. Travel teaches a required appreciation for the rules through customs and border regulations, respect for authority in these interactions, and cultural awareness as each country’s entry requirements and allowances are different. Travel teaches math through currency conversion, communication as travelers may have navigate airports and city streets in a non-native language, and an adjustable valuation of assets based on situations. Never mind the constant conversion from metric, since all but two other countries in the world use it (did you expect to be in the same company as Liberia and Myanmar?).

My challenge to America- celebrate a PASSPORT. Instead of the driver’s license, which is an accomplishment in its own right, find a way to promote international travel. That passport is the KEY to a world that my 80’s self only read about in the Encyclopedia Brittanica or a Choose Your Own Adventure Novel.

Just like your online presence is a Greatest Hits of your life, don’t think that these pictures show only travel joys. By all means- my car was broken into in Santa Fe, rode in a Dominican ambulance the next day with my travel companion, missed four flights and spent 15 hours in the Honolulu airport and ordered a stomach-churning raw pork dish in Germany that I couldn’t choke down because I didn’t speak the language. Literally missed the boat in Isla Mujeres, was stranded in a snowstorm in Brussels, and stopped 6 times for my friend to vomit on the side of the road in Mexico due to E.coli. Even a bad day of travel makes a great story.

You cannot afford to not travel. If you are seeing the world, instead of indulging in a vacation, you’re spending more time learning about local foods and customs than having hot stone massages. What you don’t see of course, is that I still remember that $9 thrift store peacoat and I can feel its ripped lining. I saw a sea turtle while snorkeling in Hawaii but I wasn’t allowed on the back of the boat because everyone was vomiting. I’m typing all of this and SMILING. Look at my life!? How blessed am I? I wouldn’t have these ridiculous experiences if I weren’t so set on getting out of my comfort zone.

In Shannon’s optimistic, ideal world, students would be given an allotment of excused absences for the purposes of travel and cultural enrichment. Let’s be honest, as humans we’re the most resilient and open to change in our younger years so why should we wait until retirement to see the world? Wouldn’t my everyday benefit from knowing how they cool their homes in Portugal or roll pasta in Italy? Tasting food without preservatives or seeing public transit systems that are connected, safe and affordable might just help me in my daily life. It will also help me realize that there are better ways to do things if we’re open minded.

I’ll climb off my soapbox now, but the Bottom Line is: travel is essential. Please do not discount it as a luxury. I hope that you continue to promote it amongst our youth and actively work to normalize it.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about this chapter of my life as I share some insights. Please follow me on Facebook and YouTube for daily video Shenanigans.