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[Student Traveler]

Why do you travel? For me, it's a matter of learning and experiencing things.

It's been said that people tend to die within the same 25-mile radius they grew up in. I don't know yet if this will apply to me, or if I want it to. What I do know is that besides what find out in school and from various media outlets, I'm basically ignorant. I could study a culture or history of a country my whole life and still not know a whole lot about it. I wouldn't know what it's like to live there: to hike the beaten paths, catch the metros or interact with the people. This is why I travel.

Learning makes life a richer experience, however short or long it might last. Being knowledgeable about other worlds - even my own - instills a sense of satisfaction that can't be obtained from simply spectating through the Internet or by reading about them in books. Getting out and traveling is the only way to do this.

Where ever I wind up when I'm older, I hope that I will have learned a lot through that point. And even though I could take classes until I'm dead, sometimes you just have to be there to know. Any one else? Why do you all travel?

[ScottWoz]

Hey there Student Traveler,

Seems to me you've got it pretty accurate, and I really hope you make it happen.

Ok, here's my two cents...

You're absolutely right. 'Being there' will give you the experience, the insight, and stimulation of the senses that you'll never get in the classroom. You'll feel the awe, the wonder, you'll get first hand experience of the sights, the smells, the tastes and you'll feel the whole atmosphere envelope around you. At times you'll feel overwhelmed and at times you'll be appalled. You'll look deep into the eyes of others and see their joy, or their suffering. You will grow, in unthinkable ways.

But all this isn't to say that there is no substitute for travelling. Many people don't travel. Many simply can't, for whatever reason, but they still get a hell of a lot from learning about other cultures and countries and sharing in the joys and wonder that it all brings. And we must never forget those who get to learn life's most valuable lessons and become wise and wonderful giving people - without ever leaving their own backyard. Then compare this to the people who've travelled the world over and still just don't 'get it'.

The 'lesson' is life, and our only hope is that we can learn as much about it as we can so that we can contribute and improve other people's...

[Jessica_CDN]

Hmm...if I die in a 25 mile radius of where I grew up....well, I don't think that's geographically possible!

I grew up travelling - we moved every three years - was born in Germany, moved all around Canada, and then down to the states for a bit - back to Germany in there of course...it was a great experience! I don't think there's been a year in my life when I haven't left Canada. Truly a great life!

I learn SOOO much while travelling. I always look at myself and think that I could use more "life lessons". Got loads of education in me, but am still learning life's lessons - and what better way to do it than in different cultures???

I love meeting new people - it's life-affirming to find out time and again that we're all fundamentally the same....the same things motivate and scare us - we have the same feelings, and often the same dreams. Kinda makes you wonder why we can't all just get along???

[uncle_davros]

Because there is more to life than what is in your own backyard

And

The grass is always greener on the otherside

[whereshegoes]

I am a traveler who goes just to see. I like to explore the unknown.

And they best reason when one asks me why I do anything in life...Why not?

[anywherebuthere]

I travel because I need proof that other countries exist. by travelling I validate their existence.

Until I see or touch something I never know 100% if it is real or not.


When I was younger I would never leave an important/famous building without using the facilities. It is like signing the guest book.

[occidenoir]

The 'lesson' is life, and our only hope is that we can learn as much about it as we can so that we can contribute and improve other people's...

I think that nails it for me. You can learn far more - about yourself, about others, about the nature of the human condition - from traveling than any other classroom I can think of.

Of course, I think the challenge for the modern traveler is not only to remain open-minded and humble enough to learn from the experience, but to find the experience itself. But for its benefits, capitalism has really mucked up how we travel. I firmly believe that jets and airlines have sucked the soul out of traveling, but the problems don't stop once we get there. Once we've arrived, we have to get past all the tourist traps and glossed-over bits to find the real essence of a place. It's always been that way (Even Herodotus & Pliny had their problems with bad tour guides, I think), but I think it's an even bigger challenge for the modern traveler.

Not that traveling really sucks beans. Traveling is still great, and nothing could stop me from planning my next trip. Except maybe ludicrous gas prices.

Of course, travelers have been having that conversation for a really long time, but it's always good to remind oneself of the joys of traveling. At the very least, it inspires some planning for the next adventure.

[introducinlyric]

I travel because I need proof that other countries exist. by travelling I validate their existence.

i love this by anywherebuthere its so true, love it!

to answer the question. i travel simply for the ebb and flow of it : motion, be it simple meandering or planned

[introducinlyric]

to escape

[charlamae]

I originally started travelling because I come from a very boring city, where everyone knows everyone. I didn't want to end up staying there my whole life, so I started to find reasons to escape.

Now I travel because it allows me to find such joy in everyday things. I am much more accepting of people and their differences now than I ever was. I am able to laugh anything off because my travelling makes me see that in the big scheme of things, the miniscule things that could go wrong in my life pale in comparison to what some people face every day (and seemingly always with a big smile on their face). The whole thing just gives me this very zen-like feeling. Difficult to explain ...

And I love meeting people! My husband and I just did the biggest trip we've ever done and sometimes we would be alone for days, and I would start to be very sullen (I am normally quite bubbly and happy). I explained that I needed my "battery charged", and the only way for me to "charge my battery" was to have thoughtful, mind-broadening experiences with other people. He was so cute on our trip, asking every day if my "battery had been charged enough". So sweet!

I'm probably not explaining this very well, but i hope someone understands what I was trying to say!

[kitkatgo]

Well, at a fundamental level, I travel because I am given the opportunity to do so (my dh travels for business). But on a much deeper level, I travel because it is such a broadening experience and because I love adventure.

While you can learn facts and figures from books, there's nothing like tasting the food, or hearing the language spoken or seeing the sights yourself! When you are THERE every sense is awakened to that culture and you can't help but be enriched by it.

~Kit

[ScottWoz]

..because every waking day is a revelation. Every day is different. Every day is a new adventure. Every day is a gift. Change keeps us alive, so why settle for less? Life passes us by in an instant, if only more people would realise it. When my time is up I want the grim reaper to fall asleep while my life flashes in front of my eyes. That's exactly why I do what I do..

[whereshegoes]

Hey Sam! Good to see you here again and in a good tone of voice

So, did you read the last newletter? I wrote specifically about this topic so it may be of interest for you. July Newsletter

I travel to learn. That's the best answer I can give. And I thought what Scott said was very pretty. I can write like that when I am traveling too. I find it harder when I am not traveling. So another reason is that traveling makes me a better person.

[introducinlyric]

isn't there a topic exactly like this one called "why do you travel"

[wakingdream]

To unwrap the layers of life. Staying on the surface cultivates nothing but discontentment. We all seek our true meaning whether we know it or not and looking for it is part of life's sojourn. Our destiny is not to stay in one place, rather, to discover what's out there and learn from it.

[bsuarez]

I've always been travelling in my life to go back to see family and in fact I was born in a different country when my parents were doing a short stint working abroad. I had to fly at six months just to get back home.

I used to travel "to see new things" but I've since realized that those original trips to Europe were done because I wanted to get away from home and be my own person. I thought I was travelling to find myself, but I know that I never needed to leave home to do such a thing. I was escaping through travel and would wait the entire year just to have the feeling of being someone different.

I am more comfortable with my own skin and I've become more passionate about things. I continue to travel, but I am doing so to experience different cultures. I've learned a lot about politics and modes of communication through my latest travelling experiences and I've met a lot of amazing people - travellers and locals. I can also be spontaneous when I travel and I love the thrill of making wrong turns and getting lost.

And now I travel for photography now that I have a decent camera.

[exploreamerica]

There is a huge difference between traveling in your own country vs an entirely different continent. I am sure I share most everyone's sentiments that in traveling aborad you experience a culture, opinions and traditions that are different than your own. if you enjoy traveling then you welcome these things and in turn learn more abbout yourself and grow. I love that and am constantly excited to make another overseas trip to a new country to learn more about others and in turn more about myself. Furthermore I am an avid history buff and I LOVE to SEE thousands of years of history.


Now, I feel sad for people who think traveling means leaving their own coountry. I think that includes almost everyone. Ask someone where they want to go and they will tell you a place in another country. It can be just as meaningful and rewarding to see your own country (in entirely different ways than your overseas experience). Being from the U.S. I see this all the time. I just returned from a 13,000 mile road trip here and would talk to the locals who never visited or sometimes even heard of the things in their own backyard. Being a fan of history I try to visit every one of the 400 national parks/sites/battlefields/etc, and those are the sites that many people have never even seen. They tell the story of our own country (even if it is just a hiccuup of time compared to Europe, Asia and Africa). How does someone say they have seen the U.S. just because they saw Callifornia and New York? And for beauty I think the U.S. is one of the best. Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Olympic National Park, the Channel Islands!!!


So, why do I travel? To learn about cultures in other countries as well as mine. To see nature's beauty in other countires and my own. To view and learn aboout history of the world and my country.

[helloall]

I travel because it gives me a welcome break from day to day routine life. Also, it helps to see and mearn more about interesting sites.

[spspecial]

Completely agree with Scott..
Travelling among people with different cultures ,customs and rituals gives life a new meaning.. To communicate with people who can't understand your language ... its all a thrilling feeling!
To go out and meet new people is always a challenge. To sum up, traveling gives me a chance to discover myself

[semi-backpacker]

I travel because every new place I visit and every new person I meet enriches me in a way that staying at home just can't. Every time I travel, I feel I am living life to the fullest and doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing at this time in my life.

http://www.travelpod.com/members/semi-backpacker

Even though I am relatively new at blogging, I have been traveling all my life.