by Sandy Marquardt
My husband and I recently became empty nesters and have used this freedom to expand our travel to more international destinations. We travelled internationally in our BC years (Before Children) but as we raised our three kids we found traveling domestically easier and more budget friendly. There are as many reasons and styles of travel as there are travelers. However, for me, international travel encourages me to get out of my comfort zone, expands my understanding of people, and allows me to collect experiences.
Travel will push every person to get out of their comfort zone. I sleep in different beds with unfamiliar sounds waking me at night. I have less control over what, when, and where I eat. I am sometimes required to adjust my travel schedule due to unforeseen circumstances. All of these challenges are cranked up a notch with international travel when I am also dealing with time zone changes, currency exchange, unfamiliar foods, customs, laws, and language. For me, the challenges are exhilarating.
I have always loved learning, and international travel is a high learning experience. We enjoy taking part in local food culture, eating regional dishes at local eateries as much as possible. Calculating the cost of something keeps me engaged in the process of buying something in the market. Learning even simple phrases in a new language can be not only helpful, but feel like a small victory when the person I am speaking to understands me. Getting out of my comfort zone forces me to rise to the challenge.
A nation’s geography, history, art, and food are normally things we learn about during our travels and this helps me understand the people who live there. Understanding what they value gives me an appreciation for the people. I have found that exploring new cultures through international travel challenges my thoughts of what is normal and why. When I am surrounded by like-minded people with habits and lives the same as mine, I don’t find myself challenged to even think about things like “How clean do my clothes really need to be? Would washing them in the lake or at a public wash basin like I witnessed in Guatemala be good enough? Is my automatic washing machine really a better experience than this woman who stood side by side with others during her washing duties?” I felt a little envious, not of the physical effort she had to exert to clean the clothes, but of the camaraderie experienced in what I considered a mundane chore. Admiring the differences is rewarding.
Travel allows me to make memories with my husband. We have worked hard to find joy in every day, even the hard ones. I look for the beauty, even if the flights are cancelled or it rains for days on end. Life is short, and looking for the good in every day is easier when we are traveling since there are so many new things to find joy in. At the end of our lives, I would rather be rich with experiences and relationships than surrounded by stuff.
We enjoy international travel for many reasons and encourage others to experience it as well. I recommend starting with a country that speaks English to reduce the language barrier while still experiencing other cultures. Expanding your world is never a bad thing!
Sandy Marquardt lives in Rochester MN. She is married to Kurt, has three adult children, and is still trying to figure out what to do when she grows up. In the mean time, she enjoys travel, outdoor activities and reading .