WOW. It was impressive to see how many places I have visited in four years- Below are the places that I have been around the world as well as in the United States from 2011 to 2015. I didn't expect it at all but the theme of traveling occurred naturally and started in my freshman year and became one of the most important parts of my life.
A few things I learned:
HAVE COURAGE!
Growing up as a shy and not very outgoing kid, I never thought I would be able to travel completely on my own and become a backpacker- sounds very dangerous, right? Well, all the dangers are from one's mind, which is the reason people stay within their comfort zone. I am glad that I decided to come to the States and have courage to go to my first abroad trip to San Jose, Costa Rica in December 2011. Since then, I constantly and intentionally challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and have courage to do anything I want to accomplish.
KEEP SMILING!
Smile is the best and universal language. I do firmly believe that the person who smiles a lot will have the best luck. Having an open and positive attitude and always possessing a sense of appreciation are the keys to keep smiling.
BEING CURIOUS!
Asking WHY. What you seen as norms maybe very strange to other cultures. What you see as strange may very acceptable in another culture. In order to not stereotype or impose any opinion, I keep asking people "why". I won't try to define anything- just to see, ask, and appreciate.
TALKING AND OBSERVING!
Immersing yourself into the culture, language, society, and all different aspects are the most efficient ways to get to know the place. One way I found really helpful is to talk to local residents and observe their behavior and act in different situations. At first, it was hard for me to talk to the strangers without specific reasons (such as asking for directions), but when I found out that local people are also curious of who I am and where am I from- why can't I take initiative to start a conversation- I have nothing to lose if I get a "no".
MAKE THE MOST OUT OF IT!
If I have enough time, I always like to do volunteer work in the local community. It is a way of appreciation and allows me to get a deeper understanding of society- what are the problems and what do they need? Besides that, I like to go to local libraries, grocery markets, flee markets, and the local stores. Basically I am trying to act as French if I am in France; a Belgian if I am in Belgium, and a Japanese if I am in Japan.
NEXT STEPS:
My next steps are to step into the countries of Africa, South America, and India! I have dreamed of going to these exotic countries but never have a chance to.
These maps will be updated from time to time!
A few things I learned:
HAVE COURAGE!
Growing up as a shy and not very outgoing kid, I never thought I would be able to travel completely on my own and become a backpacker- sounds very dangerous, right? Well, all the dangers are from one's mind, which is the reason people stay within their comfort zone. I am glad that I decided to come to the States and have courage to go to my first abroad trip to San Jose, Costa Rica in December 2011. Since then, I constantly and intentionally challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and have courage to do anything I want to accomplish.
KEEP SMILING!
Smile is the best and universal language. I do firmly believe that the person who smiles a lot will have the best luck. Having an open and positive attitude and always possessing a sense of appreciation are the keys to keep smiling.
BEING CURIOUS!
Asking WHY. What you seen as norms maybe very strange to other cultures. What you see as strange may very acceptable in another culture. In order to not stereotype or impose any opinion, I keep asking people "why". I won't try to define anything- just to see, ask, and appreciate.
TALKING AND OBSERVING!
Immersing yourself into the culture, language, society, and all different aspects are the most efficient ways to get to know the place. One way I found really helpful is to talk to local residents and observe their behavior and act in different situations. At first, it was hard for me to talk to the strangers without specific reasons (such as asking for directions), but when I found out that local people are also curious of who I am and where am I from- why can't I take initiative to start a conversation- I have nothing to lose if I get a "no".
MAKE THE MOST OUT OF IT!
If I have enough time, I always like to do volunteer work in the local community. It is a way of appreciation and allows me to get a deeper understanding of society- what are the problems and what do they need? Besides that, I like to go to local libraries, grocery markets, flee markets, and the local stores. Basically I am trying to act as French if I am in France; a Belgian if I am in Belgium, and a Japanese if I am in Japan.
NEXT STEPS:
My next steps are to step into the countries of Africa, South America, and India! I have dreamed of going to these exotic countries but never have a chance to.
These maps will be updated from time to time!