9781422278147

Chapter One The Importance of Good Etiquette in a Global World

W hat an exciting moment in history to be alive! At the touch of a button, you can access just about any information you want. You can travel across North America in less than about six hours and you can travel halfway around the world in a day. You can meet, work with, and befriend people from all different walks of life and spend time in places that will teach you as much about yourself as they will about different cultures and ethnicities. Make no mistake about it: traveling is a wonderful opportunity, and in today’s modern age it’s easier—and perhaps more important—than ever.

Why Should I Travel?

Humans are curious. It’s in our nature to learn and try new things, both to fulfill our deep-rooted desires and to gain a sense of personal and perhaps spiritual growth. Travel is a powerful way to elicit these changes in yourself. Maybe you want to travel to learn more about your heritage . Perhaps you want to meet new people or gain new experiences. Maybe you believe that you can make a positive difference in the world (hint: you can ), so you view traveling as a way to spread your ideas and offer your help to others in need. Maybe you’re not even sure why you want to travel, you simply feel it deep inside as something you must do.

People who get the opportunity to travel far and wide are very fortunate. Nowadays, it is popular for students to travel during a gap year.