How Travel Changes You

It’s been almost one month since I left America to come to Vietnam.

In a way, it doesn’t seem as though enough time has passed for a person to undergo any major change, but I don’t feel at all like the same person I was when I left — and I feel like I’ve lived more in the past month than in the past year.

Back home, I would typically stay inside. I’d go out to eat a few times a week, maybe go to the movies, but I never strayed outside my comfort zone. I did what was comfortable. Since coming here, I’ve had to throw caution to the wind. I’ve had to adapt to eating foods I’d never imagine I’d eat, rid myself of certain expectations, and put my faith and trust in complete strangers.

Some of you might know this, but I was a bit of a nerd back home. Not that it’s a bad thing, mind you — but I wanted a powerful gaming computer, all the new gadgets and toys, a fast car, and other random things.

Now? A warm meal, a place to lay my head, and good company to pass the time. That’s all I ask. All of those other things I thought I wanted don’t seem so necessary anymore. The simple experience of living is enough.

Today, I hung out with a new friend I’d made just last night. We spent the day eating, then went to a coffee shop and just relaxed, watching boats float down the Dong Nai River. My phone was out of battery the entire time, and I was completely disconnected from the rest of the world. I had no idea what time it was — but in a strange way, I didn’t feel the urge to check.

We talked about the things we wanted out of life, about our childhoods, and laughed over the silly things we did as kids. We watched the sun set over the river, sipped cold jasmine tea, and spent a while just sitting in silence.

It’s an experience I’d recommend to everyone.

I’ve only been here a month, and I already see the world differently. I’m far more aware of the advantages and fortune I was granted by virtue of being born an American citizen. I spend more time reading, and I’ve got a greater thirst for knowledge than I’ve ever had. I want to know more about the culture here, and about the history of countries all across the globe. I’ve become crazy about mythology. I spend more time playing music, and I eat more slowly — I savor the food, rather than scarfing it down.

One of the reasons I wanted to travel was to throw myself out of my comfort zone, to force myself to step out and do things I would never do otherwise. I wanted to discover the kind of man I was — and the kind of man I could become. The journey is far from over, but I’ve already begun to see change. I’m excited to see what the future holds.