Bamboo rafting in Thailand
One thing that my husband and I look forward to each year (actually a few times a year or as often as we can) is traveling. It really breaks up the working year, which can be quite demanding and tiring at times. Since I am a homeroom teacher for primary 6 students at an international school, there is a lot of grading, counseling, planning, prepping, let alone teaching (and teaching moral lessons each day!) to be done. I love my job, my students and the positive impact I can make on them, yet I do need a break from all the busyness.
Traveling is what Keith and I LOVE! In fact, we love it so much that our lifelong dream is to visit every country and live on every continent! Do you think we can achieve this?
Since we have been living overseas, we have traveled to about 12 countries (all in 3 1/2 years!), averaging around 4 countries each year. We have to remember to keep our balance though, so we make sure to visit back home in Chicago almost every year.
Why do we like to travel? Not only is it a break from the working world, but it's a chance to learn about other cultures, history, languages, customs, holidays, traditions, food, music, festivals, beliefs, ways of living...should I go on? I really do believe you can learn a tremendous amount from just traveling, yet you have to do it the off-the-beaten-track way. By this, I mean not stay at the most luxurious hotel and go lay out by the pool or beach each day. You have to explore nature, get to know the locals, try their food and traditions, get connected with this new foreign country, learn some of their language and accept the differences it has with your home environment, as well as learn how to love this new culture for how it is. Understand life from another's perspective and find what makes them happy. I'm sure you'll learn, like I have, that people with so much less can be just as happy, if not happier. Living the simple life, even without technology, is so refreshing. Realizing there are TONS of people out there that don't have as many opportunities as you, can really be an eye-opener and make you realize how fortunate you are and appreciative you should be. You will meet INCREDIBLE people who will touch you in ways I can't even describe. There is a lesson a day to be learned and so much beauty all over the world to enjoy. Go travel quickly, before these places change, disappear (islands), lose their culture, or become damaged, sadly.
Here's a list of places we have visited since living overseas:
-Laos
-Sri Lanka
-Japan
-South Korea (lived on Jeju Island)
- Malaysia
-Singapore
-Thailand
-Philippines
-Samoa (where we got married!)
-Cambodia
-Vietnam
-Hong Kong (where we live now)
-Hawaii (it's practically another country)
Places I have visited in the past:
-Grand Cayman
-Paris
-Dominican Republic
-Caribbean 7 U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, San Juan, St. Kitts)
FYI- I will probably add a lot of traveling information and stories on this site since traveling is one of our hobbies that relates to balancing our emotional wellness.
Where have you traveled to? Have you had inspiring experiences and memories from your adventures? What hobbies make you feel happy and keep you well-balanced?