Saying Goodbye.

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same" - Anonymous

Many people never travel in their lives further than the next city or state. Some do not have the urge to leave the comforts of home for the unknown. Others do not dare to subject their world-views to the confrontation of an alternate reality outside of their know sphere. Still, some simply do not burn with the desire to see other places and blame their lack of desire on the lack of time and money.
Then, there are people who make the choice to travel and see the world outside of their comfort zone. Some do it because they are told that travel is good for the mind and soul. Sometimes they travel with closed eyes and closed mind; they insist that their comfort zone is better and pity anyone not within it. To them, travel is a challenge, a dare to the world - even a bragging right.Travel may open their eyes to reality around them; however, it also may not.
The other type of a person who chooses to travel is one affected with wanderlust. This person wants to see life as it exists outside of his culture. He travels with an open mind and open eyes and is ready to see and accept other cultural traditions without derisive sneering and comparing other cultures to his own. He does not challenge or dare the world - he challenges himself to learn and understand life in our diverse and awe-inspiring planet. This person is exited about meeting new people and making friends in places other than his comfort zone because people are the key to understanding other cultures.
I never really understood the age-old wisdom that travel changes people until this summer when I spent more than two months in South America. Immersing myself in a different culture, meeting new people, and exploring heights of unknown changed my perception of myself and the world around me. This change wasn't an all-explosive revelation of some grander truth. As I left South America, I still felt much like the same person that came there. However, my experiences in South America subtly allowed me to develop a different attitude about life. In many ways, this trip was the transition into adulthood. This summer was the first time I traveled out of the country without the supervision of my parents to take care of me every step of the way. Even though I traveled with my profesors and my friends, I still had to make my own decisions and take care of myself. The biggest thing that I learned from this summer is to trust and respect myself, and I hope I can carry this lesson with me throughout my life.