5 lessons I learned visiting a third of the countries on Earth.

“Not all those who wander are lost.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

Hurdling through the air in a pressurized aluminum tube has been a part of my life since I was literally days old. My dad is a pilot, I come from a large family with multiple backgrounds all over the world, and I grew up in the Middle East. All contributing factors to what people refer to as “Wanderlust”. However, this isn’t about me or my love for flying.

I’m a firm believer that travel is the cure to ignorance. The people who have experienced what the world has to offer are more often than not, significantly more tolerant and respectful people. This doesn’t mean that if you haven’t traveled the world you’re not a good person, that’s not what I’m saying at all. The fact you’re reading this right now is evidence that you appreciate other people’s perspectives. But I do believe a healthy dose of travel can take the most narrowminded individual and transform their perspective and moral values.

I’m a strong believer that our perspectives never stop developing. Every minute of every day from the moment we’re born shapes our perspective. Traveling is a way to accelerate this process, to add valuable experience and opportunity to our worldview. Something that I don’t think anything else has the power to do as powerfully.

Here are five lessons that I was humbled by, fascinated by, and driven by, that I believe everybody can benefit from learning.

Lesson 1: Everybody feels the same way.

Something I think people forget (largely on social media) is that people have feelings, hopes, dreams, and aspirations. That Uber driver that picked you up last week probably isn’t driving for Uber because that’s his or her life goal. They’re doing it because it’s a stepping stone towards their broader goals, even if that means just sustaining life by putting food on the table while they work on themselves in other ways. This is evident in every single country I’ve ever been to. From poverty-stricken villages in Sri Lanka to the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong, people get up every day with hopes, dreams, feelings, and battles that we know absolutely nothing about. It’s something we often don’t take the time to think about, but the billions of people we share this tiny blue space rock with are experiencing the same struggles that we do. No matter the country, continent, or city, we all feel the same.

Lesson 2: The ability to listen is one of our greatest gifts.

Visiting countries with vastly different cultures, traditions, religions, is fantastic, but if you’re not engaging and interacting with the people from these countries, you might as well be on google images. Sitting back and asking questions to locals and frequent travelers is one of the greatest ways to fully experience a country. Whether it’s great restaurant recommendations, what people do for fun or even local politics, taking the time to really listen and engage can open up an entirely new world of perspective for you. Some of my greatest travel memories are stories from people I’d never met before, and will most likely never meet again. In a world where we’re so connected online, face to face interaction is at an all-time low. So If you’re ever in a bar in Zimbabwe (or anywhere else), strike up a conversation, learn about their lives, understand the differences, and continue to develop your perspective. They will appreciate your genuine curiosity of their culture and be willing to teach you things that you’d never have the opportunity to learn anywhere else.

Lesson 3: The world is a really small place.

This is super cliché, I know, and I’m sorry. It is, however, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I don’t mean this in the sense that you’ll run into somebody you know in some foreign country every time you travel. Our world is so connected, and not by the internet, but by means of transportation. It’s never been easier to get from point A to point B no matter the distance. In the past 12 months alone, I’ve done the equivalent of almost 10 trips around the circumference of the earth, that’s not a brag, that’s genuine amazement at how efficient travel has become. Never put off a trip because its “too far away”. You can get pretty much anywhere in the world in less than a day, and while jetlag is challenging, there are dozens of strategies for maximizing your trips through sleep schedules. That trip to Australia you’ve been putting off for five years because it’s really far away? Just do it. Trust me. It’s beautiful.

Lesson 4: The Language Barrier is dying

It’s never been easier to learn a new language. With the computers, we carry in our pockets 24/7 (smartphones) and five minutes per day, you can learn a considerable amount of basics in less than a few weeks. Taking the extra step to try and learn even just the bare minimum of a foreign language not only makes you smarter, more interesting, and more employable, but people genuinely appreciate your effort. Just as you’ve probably been frustrated speaking to somebody who doesn’t speak English in your home country, they feel the same way. Put in those few minutes every day leading up to your trip and you’ll feel smarter, more prepared, and significantly more confident. You might even make some new friends you never imagined you’d have.

Lesson 5: Just do it.

Not talking about Nike here, but when an opportunity arises, go for it. I know dozens of people who have said something along the lines of “My friends wanted me to go with them to China for spring break, but I don’t really like airports”. Trust me, we all hate airports, and on top of that, some of my closest friends who have been to 100+ countries are terrified of flying. When there’s an opportunity, go for it. The experiences will outweigh the negatives of getting there. Find what inspires you to travel, whether it’s Instagram pictures, research, meeting new people, or just for fun. Once you know why you want to travel, don’t let anything (that’s in your control obviously) get in the way of it, especially self-doubt. You’ll thank yourself afterwards.

These are just a few of the many things I’ve had the privilege of learning through travel, I’d love to hear what you’ve learned or if you disagree with me. Our experiences are all so different and taking an open-minded approach to any opportunity is guaranteed to make it a smoother process. So next time someone plans a crazy adventure with you and you’re a little apprehensive, swallow the doubt, find your reason for traveling, and go for it.

You won’t regret it.

Follow me on Medium and on Twitter @kristianhansen_ for more content!

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