“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine.
It seems that people are becoming more and more reluctant to travel. They're more content to stay in their own little community where they feel safe and see the world as shown on TV and the Internet. But I feel that there is so much more to the world than the little peek you get through these different types of media. It’s somewhat foolish to spend your life in one place; the world is huge, it’s a waste if you don’t try and see it.
My passport is my prized possession. I’ve been to Australia, Germany and Austria and I would not trade the experiences I've had in these places for anything in the world. My travels have opened my eyes up to just how big the world really is. You get to experience how other people live; to see what they go through everyday. “Americans are isolated and we have a tendency to keep ourselves isolated. It’s not right. The way our economies are tied together, everything that happens in Japan can have a ripple effect to our economy. You understand how they think, how they survive,” theatre director Jeff Byrd said.
Post Sept. 11, people are more and more afraid to leave the country. More often than not, many Americans have a "This is America! We speak American!" mindset, especially in this part of the country. But really, what is "American"? This country was founded on many different cultures. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against our beautiful country, I just think that it’s sad how little we as a nation know about other countries. “You need to get out of the country to see what the world’s like. You need to get out of West Virginia to see what the world’s like,” Jeff Byrd said.
A friend of mine once said, “You’re worth as many people as languages you know.” I somewhat have taken that to heart. Learning a language will only help you as a person. I took Spanish in high school, but didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. Now that I have seen a little more of the world, I have decided to crack down on my study habits and I'm taking my German class a lot more seriously. It helps you not only be able to understand the language, but also get a perspective of their lives.
Travel can be scary, especially when it’s your first time, but with the extra security measures the airports are taking to avoid any more Sept. 11 type tragedies, the scariest part is getting felt up by the security guards. Just go in with a calm head and don’t get freaked out if you can’t find your gate or, heaven forbid, your flight gets delayed leaving you stranded in a foreign country trying to find a flight to your destination. I recommend either Delta or Qantas. They make sure to find you another flight. Yes, it will be later, but they do all the work. You just have to pick up your ticket and hop on the plane.
Get out there and see the world. What better time then when you're young? The best advice I can offer to any new travelers is to be prepared and have an open mind. Apply for your passport at least three months in advance. Sometimes they make mistakes and if it doesn't match your ticket exactly, sorry, but the furthest your trip is going to be is to the gate. Know what you can and cannot bring on the plane in both your checked luggage and your carry-on. Wherever you go, try new things. Be it to California or China, if you're offered new food or to go to a festival- embrace it. You never know, it could end up being your favorite thing in the world. Mr. Byrd has taken students to London in the past and is working on starting another trip next summer to Austria. Keep your eyes peeled for signs and posters that will be posted around the school if you are interested.
It seems that people are becoming more and more reluctant to travel. They're more content to stay in their own little community where they feel safe and see the world as shown on TV and the Internet. But I feel that there is so much more to the world than the little peek you get through these different types of media. It’s somewhat foolish to spend your life in one place; the world is huge, it’s a waste if you don’t try and see it.
My passport is my prized possession. I’ve been to Australia, Germany and Austria and I would not trade the experiences I've had in these places for anything in the world. My travels have opened my eyes up to just how big the world really is. You get to experience how other people live; to see what they go through everyday. “Americans are isolated and we have a tendency to keep ourselves isolated. It’s not right. The way our economies are tied together, everything that happens in Japan can have a ripple effect to our economy. You understand how they think, how they survive,” theatre director Jeff Byrd said.
Post Sept. 11, people are more and more afraid to leave the country. More often than not, many Americans have a "This is America! We speak American!" mindset, especially in this part of the country. But really, what is "American"? This country was founded on many different cultures. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against our beautiful country, I just think that it’s sad how little we as a nation know about other countries. “You need to get out of the country to see what the world’s like. You need to get out of West Virginia to see what the world’s like,” Jeff Byrd said.
A friend of mine once said, “You’re worth as many people as languages you know.” I somewhat have taken that to heart. Learning a language will only help you as a person. I took Spanish in high school, but didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. Now that I have seen a little more of the world, I have decided to crack down on my study habits and I'm taking my German class a lot more seriously. It helps you not only be able to understand the language, but also get a perspective of their lives.
Travel can be scary, especially when it’s your first time, but with the extra security measures the airports are taking to avoid any more Sept. 11 type tragedies, the scariest part is getting felt up by the security guards. Just go in with a calm head and don’t get freaked out if you can’t find your gate or, heaven forbid, your flight gets delayed leaving you stranded in a foreign country trying to find a flight to your destination. I recommend either Delta or Qantas. They make sure to find you another flight. Yes, it will be later, but they do all the work. You just have to pick up your ticket and hop on the plane.
Get out there and see the world. What better time then when you're young? The best advice I can offer to any new travelers is to be prepared and have an open mind. Apply for your passport at least three months in advance. Sometimes they make mistakes and if it doesn't match your ticket exactly, sorry, but the furthest your trip is going to be is to the gate. Know what you can and cannot bring on the plane in both your checked luggage and your carry-on. Wherever you go, try new things. Be it to California or China, if you're offered new food or to go to a festival- embrace it. You never know, it could end up being your favorite thing in the world. Mr. Byrd has taken students to London in the past and is working on starting another trip next summer to Austria. Keep your eyes peeled for signs and posters that will be posted around the school if you are interested.
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