Why Should You Travel?

Traveling makes you a better person in every since of the word. Staying inside your comfort zone is no way to live and escaping your bubble every once in a while is a great way to break the habit. Traveling around the world especially is the way to really learn more about yourself and the world around you.

First of all, it's about as exciting as anything you can possibly think of. It's not something that asks a lot of you as a person, it's just about having fun and being carefree in your travels. You learn so much from the world around you, whether it's a few phrases of a new language or trying out new foods. Learning new life skills are inevitable while exploring new cities. You become more flexible with both your time and your planning. Relationships come and go but you make some deep connections with the people who cross your path. People are so different throughout the state, country, or planet. We are all put together in a little town and we forget that their are others out there who are so different from us. These individuals are a part of other cultures with other ways of life. Traveling allows you to see those differences and not just view them but embrace them.

Thought Catalog does a great job of showing my generation the importance of hitting the road. Here's a great article about finding yourself on a trip.
http://thoughtcatalog.com/matthew-kepnes/2013/09/18-life-lessons-learned-from-travel-the-world/

London and Paris 2013

I took the trip of a lifetime a year ago today with my aunt and my sister across the pond to London and Paris. I never imagined I'd ever get to travel abroad so this vacation was so surreal. Our traveling began in Paris and ended in London. Here's a few photos from my trip:

This was taken on my first day in Paris. We explored the streets of the city and it was incredible to see the different culture all around us. The average temperature was about 30 degrees on our trip, hence the heavy coat.

My sister and I on the Bridge of Love. This bridge holds hundreds of locks and keys left their by couples from all around the world. It's so romantic and overlooks the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower

This was taken from The London Eye. The Eye is a massive ferris wheel that overlooks all of London. It's the most unique tourist attraction I've ever seen. It was built years ago and was meant to stay up for one year. However, it was so popular with tourists and residents that they decided to make it a permanent fixture. 

Emily and I exploring London with Big Ben behind us. I miss it so much. 

This is one of my favorite photos from my trip! This was taken at Kensington Palace, one of the many homes of the Royal Family. The public is allowed to tour half of the mansion. 

Traveling 101: Afford It On A College Budget

Traveling is something we all yearn for. I've had the travel bug since I knew how to talk and I know it's not something that will be leaving me anytime soon. From road trips to plane rides, I ache for adventure and new places. One of these days I'll learn to love the sky I'm under but until then, I will do my best to make a personal travel budget.

Some ways I've learned how to make it work are as follows:
-Work hard, pick up as many shifts as possible at your job.
-Budget your money. Skip out on those extra meals with friends and don't buy those shoes you've been eyeing.
-Plan ahead. Make detailed schedules of your trip, whether it's across the state or traveling abroad.
-Search for cheap plane tickets, hotel discounts, etc.

I have mastered the art of traveling with school because of how many online classes I take.  Online classes allow me to work more hours and the company I am associated with allows me to take any days off that I find necessary. I know a lot of people aren't so lucky but the steps above really help.

Here's a great website I found for traveling abroad:
http://thekaydays.com/blog/travel-101-a-college-students-guide-to-traveling-the-world/