She Has Been To 24 Countries!!! What Lessons Has She Learned?

Introduction by Host: Dr. Gee

What does it look like to travel around the world? How can that benefit your life? Dr. Jihye Kwon has travelled to over 20 countries around the world, and she joins us today to discuss her travels?. What has she learned so far? And what will be her advice for the thriving generation?

Guest Bio

Dr. Jihye Kwon is the Associate Director for Survey Research at the Race and Equity Center at the University of Southern California. Her academic interests include diversity, equity, and inclusiveness, international student experiences, institutional research, and research methods.

Q: What got you interested in traveling?

I would say it’s pretty common for college students in South Korea [where I am from] to travel abroad. Not everyone does that, but many people set aside time and money with that in mind. When I got to that stage in life, I had a few weeks of free time, and I wanted to spend it somewhere exciting. I ended up visiting 6 countries within those three weeks, and fell in love with exotic places.

Q: How can you afford traveling so much?

When I was traveling, I was a student, so I had a limited budget to work with. In order to do those things, I picked up extra work, mostly tutoring work. Work on campus and tutoring is a good way to get some extra income for college students. I also set aside some money specifically for traveling, and chose to stay in cheaper places and use public transportation instead of renting a car.

Q: How safe is it to travel?

Based on my experience, it is pretty safe. There are stories of people being in danger when they travel, but I have not experienced that kind of thing. I usually stayed in hostels, where two people would share a room, and even that was ok. Except the snoring, it was very loud. That doesn’t mean you should be careless with your stuff, especially your phone and your wallet.

Q: Why is traveling important?

I think that it is different for different people. Some people will not like to travel internationally, and that is not a bad thing. But you should experience it before you decide. For me, traveling more helps me be more open and generous. You also have the chance to experience all the unique food and architecture and religion in different places. Observing different cultures is very exciting for me.

The most important thing, in my opinion, is that you are more comfortable being uncomfortable. Being in a foreign country is uncomfortable, but you learn to adapt and to hold certain things loosely. You are in another culture, so learning to admit you do not know certain things and asking for help is vital. That is a good mindset to be in, and traveling gets you used to that.

Closing Thoughts

If you want to grow and to overcome fear, traveling internationally is a very good way to do that. If you want to develop yourself and take yourself to the next level, there will be stretching and discomfort. Traveling gets you used to being uncomfortable and to not fear that feeling. It is more affordable than ever to travel abroad, so what excuse do you have for not experiencing what the world has to offer?