I’m not able to write my normal blog this week because I’m traveling on a family vacation, which was a much-needed break from my regular routine. One of the things I enjoy most about traveling and visiting other parts of the world is observing the norms and customs of how people live and go about their daily lives. Visiting other parts of the world reminds me of just how big the world is and that people are more similar than they are different. For example, no matter how beautiful a country is or how great the food, art, and culture, people still have to get up, go to work, and take care of their family. I’ve observed that no matter where I travel, all people do these basic things.

I’ve also noticed that people are addicted to their cell phones in all parts of the world. I can’t tell you how many times I see groups of people (young and old) sitting in groups having coffee, lunch, or dinner and they’re all focused on their cell phones instead of each other. It’s doesn’t matter if they’re seated in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, or the Great Pyramids in Giza, whatever is on their phone is far more interesting than these magnificent landmarks or the people around them. I hate to rant about this but it’s a (negative) societal dynamic that I neither like nor understand.

Visiting other parts of the world has also helped me to appreciate the resilient nature of mankind. It seems that no matter where people go or what environment they live in, they’ve managed to create cities from blank landscapes, establish their own languages, produce their own food, and create thriving industries.

Traveling is one of the best ways to broadens one’s perspective to see that despite cultural differences, we’re all pretty much the same. For those interested in business, traveling also helps you to understand that the market(s) for your products or services are global in nature. With the advent of the internet, a small shop owner in Ghana can sell her products to customers in the United States. The barriers to accessing customers all over the world no longer exist. This is the new normal.

I encourage everyone to travel and see as much of the world as possible. Not only is it fun, but it will also make you a more well-rounded, cultured person with a broader perspective and appreciation for life.

Ciao – KM

Photo by Eva Darron on Unsplash