Life is about the adventure

So go on a lot of them

This week I hosted two Korean friends of mine that I met in Korea. They came to visit me and to see the incredible cities in the D.C. area. We toured Baltimore, Frederick, and Washington D.C.. It was phenomenal.

Are destinations farther away from home always better than those nearby?

When I first began traveling, this seemed to be the case. My first big trip on my own was to Puerto Rico — a beautiful island filled with a rain forest and lots of church’s chicken restaurants. The local was exotic. One day we visited a native friend’s aunt and her neighbors at their weekly Monday party by the river. We had wonderful pork soup in a wooden bowl and spent hours walking through the river and the jungle. I have rivers near my home, but we never had parties on them. I had never thought of the idea. The rivers are the same, but the people are different.

Bring the people and the culture to home

This solves the problem. Host exchange students. Invite your friends from different countries, states, and even nearby cities. The act of infusing new views and energy stays in the home long after the people have left. You will see your cities through new eyes — fresh eyes. And as a bonus, you can visit your friend’s home in the future.