Often, people ask, what are the reasons to Cy the world? Why do you love traveling so much? “Aren’t you afraid to live in another country? Are you not afraid to be alone? How do you live in a country whose language you do not know?” These are the questions friends, family, or random people on LinkedIn ask me. The simple answer to all those questions is that I am used to moving around. As a third-culture kid, I simultaneously am a citizen of nowhere and everywhere. I was born to Congolese parents who never lived in Congo, and I spent seven years in West Africa before moving to the United States. I have made home in China, France, Belgium, Greece, Spain, and Italy in the last seven years. 

Over the last seven years, I have traveled to places I never thought I would go to, like China. I accomplished my dream of going to Barcelona for my birthday. I studied abroad in France and Belgium, attended a professional development seminar in Greece, and many more. All of these experiences illustrated a lot of reasons to Cy the world. I learned foreign languages, made long-lasting friendships, adopted different cultures, and have been able to use my experience to boost my professional career. Another post discussed how traveling shaped my 20s. In that blog post, I discussed how, as a girl who grew up in a controlled African household where I carried the weight of my family, it made me feel like my life was not my own. Going to college and studying abroad allowed me to focus on myself and gave me life skills that have helped me grow personally and professionally. I have advocated for traveling, studying abroad, and having international experiences for the past seven years. Hence, these are the five reasons to Cy the world. 

The State of World

Before I list the five reasons to Cy the world, let’s first acknowledge the state that we are in globally. One of my favorite Congolese proverbs is “Mountains do not meet, but people do.” This proverb illustrates that in the course of your life, you will meet people you never thought you would. There is a chance to meet someone from different cultures, ethnicities, and countries. However, Mt. Kilimanjaro will never meet Mt. Everest. With the explosion of social media, the world no longer feels small. People connect, learn, and follow people from different parts of the world and make them a part of their world. People are virtually connecting and seeing the world every single day. We are building connections, friendships, and romantic relationships with people in different parts of the world. Therefore, instead of seeing the world on our screens, why not decide to Cy the world physically? 

Reasons to Cy the World: 

1. Experience a different culture! 

Imagine watching Emily in Paris or From Scratch on Netflix and wishing you could be in Paris or Florence. Of course, sometimes the movies are exaggerated(it is a Hollywood production!) However, you can experience a similar boogie experience. You can go to the Chateaux of Versailles or run down the streets of the Champs Elysees. You can see the beautiful sea in Monaco or take a picture at the casino in Monte-Carlo. You can spend a day at Mont-Saint Mitchel and watch the beaches of Normandy disappear in the late mornings and return in the early afternoon( it does happen)! You can walk on the Great Wall in China or have dinner at a revolving restaurant in the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai. There is so much to see and experience in the world. As you scroll on your screen, envying people living their lives, you must know you can have the same experiences. Life was meant to be lived, and that is why statistics show that more young people are traveling than their predecessors. People want to have experiences, have first-hand knowledge of different cultures, and be better global citizens because we now have more access to other cultures than those who came before us.  

2. Self-Development.

One of the benefits I gained from my traveling experiences is my sense of self. As mentioned above, being a firstborn and a girl in an immigrant African family comes with a lot of struggles. Although our tribe mentality allows us to have a sense of community, it is sometimes hard to forge your path without worrying about what your tribe will think of you. Traveling allowed me to explore who I am, what I like, who I want to be, and where I want my life to be. My experience in different countries helped me trace my career path. Being in a foreign land allows you to be yourself without fear of judgment. You get to be your true self and explore your limits and boundaries. Whether traveling for leisure, school, or work, life abroad forces you to leave your comfort zone. It makes you susceptive to learning new things and owning your strengths and weaknesses. 

3. Developing Self-agency!

The second benefit to traveling is learning to advocate for yourself. Sometimes, when you live in a place you are familiar with, you do not realize how the mundane things you do impact your life, For example, setting up a doctor’s appointment or completing an administrative task at city hall. However, doing that in a foreign land takes it to the next level. Sometimes, locals may not have helpful information for your integration. Therefore,  it is upon you to seek out the information you need. You learn to advocate for yourself and be your agent. While living in France, I faced a lot of challenges. From adapting to France’s educational standards and following up with administrative and legal integration processes to filing my first police report after someone broke into my Airbnb, I had to rely on myself and push through to find solutions to my challenges. Agency is a life skill that will help you in every aspect. Self-advocacy allows you to stand up for yourself in the face of adversity. It also boosts confidence in yourself.

4. You gain a sense of unmatched independence.

Considering the previous points, you can see why unmatched independence is inevitable. Nothing boosts your confidence in yourself and freedom more than surviving the complexities of living abroad. The person who left Boston International Airport seven years ago was not the girl who returned from China. Navigating through different languages, finding the shortcut to a route, or advocating for yourself during the legal integration process are all things that will give you an unmatched sense of independence. You gain more confidence in yourself. You learn and see things differently than you did before. You gain worldly perspectives.

5. It looks good on your resume.

Whether you want to be a nurse, a teacher, an engineer, an accountant, a cyber security agent, or a blogger, an abroad experience looks great on your resume. Skills you acquire during your abroad experience make you stand out. Your abroad experience shows that you can adapt to any environment. You have networking and language skills. These skills are required and highly valued in any industry. Imagine being in the medical field and having the opportunity to intern at the World Health Organization in Geneva. You may be an environmentalist interested in how countries outside of yours tackle climate change. These are just a few examples of how a global experience makes you desirable in any field. 

To conclude, there are countless reasons to Cy the world, from experiencing new cultures to developing self-agency and self-development. Because we live in a globalized world and are more connected than ever, traveling and living abroad give us a deeper understanding of the different cultures. When we embark on a travel journey and show that we are interested in learning about other people and cultures, they become interested in us and our culture. That is why we participate in mutual cultural exchange and create a world of empathy, understanding, and collaboration. Acquiring global citizenship benefits us in relationships with others and helps us grow as individuals. 

Traveling is a life-changing experience that expands your horizons, exposes you to new perspectives, and helps you grow personally and professionally. It teaches you life skills to use for your personal growth and community. As a professional, your travel experience enables you to add a new school of thought and a different methodology to thinking and completing a task. Therefore, if you are thinking about traveling, don’t hesitate! The world is calling for you; there is no better time to start exploring than now. Whether you travel for leisure, studies, or work, there are many reasons to Cy the World.

Remember to let us know where you dream of exploring, or list your questions in the comment box below. 

Until next time, have a safe travel experience! 

Xoxo, 

Cy!