Travel is something everyone should get to experience in their lifetime. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a big adventure or a small getaway—it’s essential. 

Growing up, my parents loved to call my brother and I out of school and take us out on fun excursions.  Whether that was flying somewhere or a trip to the city, I always loved it.  

Now that we are older, it is more difficult to do those casual trips because of course, missing two days of school means catching up on homework for hours.      

But now that I am older and understand different circumstances on a deeper level, I have realized how special and impactful travel can be, and the effect it had on my life growing up.  

The first time I truly felt like I had traveled somewhere completely different was when I visited Mexico City. My aunt, uncle and cousins, who live in a neighborhood called Condesa.  I was ten years old and had been out of the country before, but I didn’t really remember it.  

At that age, I didn’t know much— I was just excited to wear a sombrero and try all kinds of different tacos.  Everything felt so different from my previous travels.  It wasn’t the usual fancy hotel in Cancun that served American food, with English speaking servers.  This wasn’t the typical “vacation spot” I was used to—It was a vibrant, loud and beautiful city.

Now that I have been there numerous times, I have grown deeply grateful for my time spent in Mexico City.  The culture is unlike anywhere i’ve ever been.

I remember watching a woman making homemade tacos on the street for 12 hours, all while holding a child in her lap.  She looked perfectly happy.  I once was eating breakfast and a Mexican mariachi band suddenly appeared behind us and played for ten minutes—whether people wanted them there or not.  It was completely normal.

The way they lived, functioned, spoke to each other, all of it was new.

I’ve grown to deeply appreciate the cultural experiences I’ve had in my life.  It’s opened my eyes and given me a new perspective to how different other places can be.  It’s a different way of life that has stayed with me, reminding me to appreciate what’s around me.

Of course, visiting classic beaches in Florida or hotels in Mexico are amazing, but it is equally important to try something that might be out of your comfort zone. 

Take Mexico City as an example.  Whenever I mention that  I’m going, the reaction is almost always the same: “Wow, isn’t it super dangerous there?” I understand why people think that, but it’s an overgeneralization.  

Yes, there are certain parts of Mexico that are dangerous, but there are also areas that are perfectly safe and offer a chance to see the world from a completely different perspective. 

In the same light, while Chicago is a beautiful city that we enjoy often, one could find themself in danger if caught in the wrong neighborhood.  This is the same with all cities—depending on the area you go to, they all can be either safe or dangerous. 

This is why keeping an open mind is crucial when it comes to travel.  It isn’t only about the places you go, it’s about seeing different cultures and different ways of life.