When my kids and I play, we often pretend we're from different countries. Last week, Sophia said, "Let's pretend we're from England and we talk weird."
I explained to my 5-year-old that an English accent is not weird, just different from our own. But her myopic view on cultural distinctions got me thinking: How important is travel in the grand scheme of a child's education?
We live in a country that is the envy of many other nations. We have resources, cultural diversity and natural beauty that are enough to occupy our interests indefinitely. Yet there is so much the rest of our planet has to offer. One could spend a lifetime exploring and still not learn all there is to know; a desirable dilemma, for sure.
From foreign languages to curious taste buds, tolerance to budgeting and problem-solving to appreciation of being alone, I attribute many of my current life skills to my travels. Classrooms, despite their obvious value, simply can't provide the same practical experience.
When we witness the existence of other like-appearing humans living distinct lives, eating strange food and partaking in unique activities, we give ourselves a gift. That's because exploring the lives of others provides perspective on ourselves. We see our own genius and recognize our own fallibility, our universality and our uniqueness.
Watching another navigate the same pratfalls, albeit in an unfamiliar environment, makes us aware that the difference between races, nationalities and religions are ridiculously trivial. In a world with hundreds of unique cultures hours away (at most) from just about anywhere, personal encounters with those with differing beliefs should be as mandatory as American history class.
Don't get me wrong: I feel that the standard American school curriculum is vital in preparing young minds for college and good careers. Math, language, science, art, etc. shouldn't be ignored. I'm also not necessarily in favor of pulling children out of school for extended periods of time just for the opportunity to taste a Big Mac made in Tokyo.
There is, however, an intrinsic, unmatched joy that comes from immersing oneself in the true idiosyncrasies of an unfamiliar place. Add in money management, social skills and real-time lessons in history, geography and political science and suddenly the classroom of life makes the blackboard look like nothing more than a black board.
Do Brazilians party as much as we think they do? Does Greek food taste better when eaten overlooking a sunset on the Aegean Sea? Are Parisian churches as grand as they look in books? The only way to know for sure is to see for ourselves.
Children are naturally curious and their thirst for knowledge can yield mind-boggling results. I know from my own experiences and those of many friends and family that travel is an ideal way to expand our own personal horizons while learning things that will never appear in books. I want the same for my children.
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