Traveling seems like leisure that many of us Americans had not enjoyed for quite some time. By traveling, I don't mean simply going to grandma's house on the other side of the country for a couple weeks of great comp[any and good old-fashioned homecoming. Instead, I'm talking about traveling somewhere new, preferably across international borders, to visit other countries. Sure, that may not yet be ideal for most people right now, considering the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is a goal for many…or at least it should be. But why should it? There are plenty of benefits that come along with international travel.

The first benefit is that international travel allows you to experience different cultures up close and personal. The opportunity to gain completely different perspectives on people from other cultures benefits not only yourself but also benefits them. It helps you because it allows you to expand your understanding of people you may not know outside of what is told to you by the media or others. It benefits those people from other cultures because they are likely to be not only more humanized in your eyes but also more relatable. At the end of the day, we all have very similar problems and concerns. To take it a step further, we all have very similar desires. These aren't only the desires to do well in life, provide for our families, and help improve our communities, but also desires for a deeper understanding of self. What is your purpose for being here? Is there an afterlife? If so, what will be your place in it? These are universal questions that connect all of us. At some level, you may already be aware of this connection, but taking advantage of the opportunity to travel and come in contact with people of different cultures helps to reaffirm that sentiment.

Another benefit to international travel is that it allows you to expand your worldview. When you realize that there is a world outside your small corner of the planet, you are more likely to be receptive to varying viewpoints, tastes, and opinions. This is not to say that you will actually adopt any of these things, but rather, you may not be as closed-minded towards them if they appear reasonable yet happen to challenge your worldview substantially. Something common among all cultures is that the prevailing train of thought within each culture typically colors the worldview of the majority of their respective populations. Although there are benefits to this paradigm, such as promoting solidarity among the populace, the most significant disadvantage is that it conditions people to close their minds to the possibility of accepting other ways of life outside of what they consider" normal." What most people seem to misunderstand is that" normal" is really subjective. The" normal" of one culture may be utterly bizarre to another. By traveling and experiencing foreign cultures, you can appreciate the logic behind another culture's social norms. You still may not agree, but if you can at least understand the various points of view of multiple cultures outside of your own, it will do an enormous amount of good in helping you become a more well-rounded person.

A third benefit, and definitely the most eyebrow-raising reason given here, is that as an American mainly, traveling abroad allows you to see just how badly your government is screwing you over. Of course, this depends on where you travel to, but it's safe to say that most of the top 50 travel destinations outside of the United States are in industrialized nations that have distinct advantages over the U.S. One of the apparent advantages is healthcare. I will not get into an in-depth discussion on healthcare here. However, I will say that the United States is the only industrialized nation that refuses to even explore instituting a healthcare system that eliminates the need for medical bankruptcy on a massive level, much less actually implementing such a system. Another advantage that those countries have over the U.S. is free tuition for public colleges for all citizens. The importance of making access to higher education as easy as possible is beneficial not only for the individual but also the country because a well-educated and well-informed populace becomes a significant asset for that country in the long run. Most industrialized countries seem to get this. Being exposed up close to the pros (and cons) of such nations that provide free public college will give you an education on this topic sorely lacking from our institutions here in the U.S. (i.e., mainstream media and the government). The point that I want to stress is that traveling to these countries will provide you with multiple benefits:

1. You will have the opportunity to get a more accurate education on many of these policies that could materially improve the lives of all Americans.

2. Exposure to these other viewpoints will definitely help you see through the misinformation provided within the U.S. on these various policies so that you can make a more informed decision on how you really feel about them.

3. Potentially, generating enough anger and disgust motivates you to get involved in legal efforts to push your government to implement some of these policies.

The final reason for international travel that I will present may not be the most compelling, but it is appealing. THE FREQUENT FLYER MILES PROGRAMS!! I know it is a superficial reason, but you will not regret taking advantage of the frequent flyer programs of reputable airlines. From free trips to Broadway musical tickets to food and beverage perks, there are plenty of rewards you can receive, dedicating your international traveling to a good program. It doesn't just end at prizes. There are also perks such as priority boarding, preferred seating, airport lounge access, etc. Be sure to do your research to find the right program for you. Once you do that, grab a friend, your significant other, or your family, book a flight to one of the many excellent international destinations, and start accumulating those miles…after it's officially deemed safe to do so, of course.