I’m participating in the 2015 Indie Travel Challenge with BootsnAll.com. It’s 30 days of questions and challenges designed to get you out of your comfort zone, share travel stories, and prepare you for some long-term travel. Today is the first day of questions. You can take part in this awesome project by going to the Indie2015 page, or clicking the pretty #DoYouIndie badge on the right.
Why Do You Travel?
I travel to learn and because I find cultures fascinating.
I was lucky to move when I was young, and between 2nd & 4th grade went to a school that not only bussed people in from Boston (which I didn’t even understand why until I got older, I just thought it was so kids could meet other kids in other parts of the state), but also my friends in school were from all over the world. Really.
In my group of friends we had one who was from Korea, one whose dad was Sri Lankan, one whose parents were Syrian and Italian, one of Scottish heritage, another of Irish, one who was adopted (and whose parents adopted and fostered children, with their own biological kids, their whole lives), a few bussed in kids, and me.
So basically, in my young formative years, I was surrounded by the United Nations of friendship. I really think this is why I am so enamoured with learning about other people and cultures. (Also I obviously have amazing parents who raised me to be the type of person who befriends people based on their awesomeness, not where they come from).
And the more I learn about people and the world, the more I want to travel.
I geek out when I learn about a new place, or remote cultural sect that I’ve never heard of before. I’ll stop whatever I’m doing and spend the next 3 hours wikiing and googling everything I can about it. Maptia.com is my porn.
I love that I work in social media because my job is essentially meeting, talking with, and learning about people. When I get to meet someone in real life, I’m ecstatic for days (although I try to downplay that so I don’t come off like a creepster).
And what this all boils down to – is learning.
I travel to learn.
Because I think travel is the best way to learn. It’s hands-on learning by doing. And it’s way better than anything you’ll ever do sitting in a classroom.
About Dani Blanchette
