To put things succinctly, study abroad is… pretty awesome. Right? We know how hard it is to distill several weeks, months, or a whole year’s worth of educational travel adventures into words, and harder still to have those words actually mean something. You might be wondering how to go beyond repeating, “IT WAS AWESOME!!!” and explain to your friends, family, and even potential employers the eye-opening wonders you experienced while abroad. Luckily, some spectacularly articulate and communicative people have braved the roads/seas/skies before us and have helpfully condensed their insights about travel into pithy statements that we can share with you! Isn’t that convenient?
After extensive research (read: asking our trusty friend, Google), we’ve determined that the majority of quotes about travel fall under one of five categories. So according some great minds, what is study abroad really about?
1. It’s about the journey…
“It is better to travel well than to arrive.” ― Not Buddha
2. It’s about coming back…
“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” ― Terry Pratchett
3. It’s about pushing your limits and venturing beyond your comfort zone…
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
4. It’s about learning…
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” ― Henry Miller
5. It’s about finding yourself (and others, too!)…
“Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond and we cease to be alone.” ― Wendell Berry
Which of these quotes do you identify with the most? Which ones inspire you? If you had to sum up your study abroad experience in only a couple of sentences, what would they be? What are your favorite travel-related quotes? Tell us in the comments! And remember to check out ISEP’s Pinterest board dedicated entirely to words that spark wanderlust.
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