Though the classroom can be an excellent place to learn and grow, international travel teaches in a visceral and tangible way. Real world experiences have a lasting impact on a person’s development and how they interact with the world that differs from theoretical learning. That’s why living abroad and traveling internationally is such a powerful way to become a more insightful, open-minded and capable professional.
Here are some of our favorite benefits of traveling:
7 ways international travel will make you smarter:
1. You’ll learn how to think outside the box.
Going abroad is the best way to realize there are hundreds of ways to tackle any problem. Seeing your lifestyle and beliefs from another perspective will force you to open your mind to how different the world can be and all the different, existing beliefs and cultures. That kind of awakening forever changes a person’s understanding of the complexity of the world around us and forces us to think differently. Your worldview changes as you travel and improves your creativity, as you won't be boxed in by your own cultural limitations.
2. Your emotional intelligence will be tested and improved.
Being sensitive and socially competent is a whole different challenge when you go abroad. Social cues and behaviors vary greatly across cultures, making it impossible to read some social codes at first. That struggle to understand the subtext of social interactions at first will only heighten and improve your abilities to interact with people in the future. You’ll also pick up on universal ways to show your respect to others, making communicating with others outside your country or language easier.
3. Learning a second language does wonders for your brain.
The benefits of being bilingual are no secret. Foreign language skills can have a significant positive impact on cognitive processes as bilingual brains operate differently than monolingual ones. Your brain functionality and memory improve, and so do your verbal skills, problem-solving, and multitasking abilities. Not only does learning another language do wonders for your brain, it also helps you to communicate with others in an increasingly globalized world. This helps you to understand other cultures in a deeper and more meaningful way.
4. You gain a multicultural perspective.
Traveling to another country and experiencing a foreign culture gives you a new lens to look at the world. You become aware of all the variances among the world’s cultures and how everyone lives a very different reality. Being aware and developing a sensitivity to these differences is essential for anyone who wants to work for a multicultural team in the future. People are motivated and work in all sorts of different ways. It’s very important to be sensitive to that if you hope to have any kind of position where you work with foreigners.
5. You’ll make smart international friends who are also globetrotters like yourself.
Surrounding yourself with smart people who challenge you is an excellent way to stay on your toes and increase your intelligence. Intelligent international friends will add a whole new layer to your perspective on the world. Having friends with varied cultural backgrounds, adventures, and interests will make you realize there are so many complicated and interesting things occurring in the world that you had no idea existed. Regularly being around intelligent people from other places will help you assimilate and learn something new every day!
6. It will awaken your sense of wonder and curiosity.
One of the benefits of travel is that you’ll start asking questions about things you took for granted in life. Why do I act the way I act? What could I learn from the world around me? The world will suddenly feel so much bigger and nuanced and interesting as you step into a foreign reality. Critical thinking like this will make you smarter while you're abroad as it engages your brain in analysis and makes you better at decision-making.
7. It will challenge your critical thinking skills.
International travel is hard. It takes logistical skills, time management and, as mentioned above, critical thinking skills – especially when there are foreign languages involved. You’re going to have to make inferences, analyze and interpret while navigating a new city, culture and transportation system.