Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have travelled
- The Prophet Mohammed -

I was thinking about this quote, and it reminded me about a posting some time ago on the LinkedIn website.  There was a hiring manager who complained about interviewing recent college graduates for a technology position.  Fresh out of college, not everyone has applicable experience.  This was my case as well.  I graduated college with a Software Engineering degree but was a Lifeguard through college.  When I interviewed, I had to find a way to make my work experience applicable to the position I was interviewing for.  So back to this hiring manager who was looking for someone right out of college having applicable experience for the position he was hiring for.

He mentioned that he was not interested in hearing about how a recent graduate traveled around Europe.  After I read the posting, I wrote a reply back and posted it, to which it received several 'likes' and positive comments.  My reply focused on the life experiences people may have when traveling around Europe.  You learn a lot when you plan a trip in addition to what you learn while you are actually traveling.

I have been in positions throughout my career where I have interviewed others and made decisions on who to hire.  We often would hire summer interns who are in college, close to graduation.  Most would not have applicable work experience but rather course related experience.  Sometimes I would ask about their interests.  I found people who had never ventured out of their home state, while others were more adventurous and had done some international traveling.  Their international travel gave me some additional insight into what the person was like.  I could ask questions about their planning, obstacles they encountered during their travels and how they navigated around them.

Personally, I would rather hire someone who has had real life experiences related to travel.  Someone who is adventurous and not afraid to try new things.  Someone who can tell me how they have interacted with others in a foreign land.  If they can tell me what they learned from their travel adventures and how it has affected them, I may choose that person over someone who has never ventured out of their own backyard.

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness
- Mark Twain -

At the end of every Travelscope show on PBS, Joseph Rosendo ends the show with this quote.  This is only part of the quote, so I have included the entire quote below.

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. - Mark Twain

You will get more out of your travels if you open your eyes and mind to new experiences.  If you visit Paris, don't just go there to see the sites, but try to immerse yourself in the culture.  Be open to meeting new people.  Learn about the people, customs, religions, food, history, etc.  You may not agree with everything or even understand everything, but it can be a wonderful learning opportunity.

I spent five weeks in India where I had the opportunity to see the major sites in Delhi as well as visit Jaipur and the Taj Mahal in Agra.  Of course, I wanted to see the sites, but I also wanted to experience India and the people as much as I could.  At first, I was apprehensive about going, but it turned out to be one of the most amazing trips I have ever taken.  I have wonderful memories of the places I was able to visit, the people I met and of course the food.  I wanted to experience as much as I could, especially the different religions by visiting different temples and mosques.  Although I didn't understand the language, I still dropped in on services at Hindu, Krishna and Sikh temples.  I also visited the Jama Masjed Muslim Mosque and climbed to the top of one of the minarets.  The Lotus Temple was very nice as everyone of any faith is welcome to come in, sit down and worship quietly in their own way.  It was very peaceful and relaxing.

People are different.  Everyone has different views, speech and looks.  Our differences are an amazing.  How boring would it be if everything was the same?  What if you went to Germany and France and found the exact same food that you eat at home every day.  I cherish the relationships I have made throughout my travels.  You may only interact with someone sitting next to you for a few minutes, while you may stay in contact with others for the rest of your life, even if you only met them for a day.

The more you open your mind and interact with others, the more enriched your travels and life will be.

Not All Who Wander Are Lost
- J.R.R. Tolkien -