6 reasons to travel when you’re still young
Are you in your last years of school, asking yourself what you should do next? Or have you already finished school and are still unsure whether you want to study, look for a job or simply take a break?
Well, then there’s no better time than now to start travelling and exploring the world!
Travelling isn't just about collecting passport stamps or taking Instagram-worthy pictures. When you travel what you’re really doing is making an investment in your well-being and pursuing personal growth. And that’s exactly what happens when you use an au pair stay to make your travel possible.
Get ready to discover why travelling is one of the best things you can do, especially when you’re still young. From discovering new places, cultures and meeting new people, to enhancing your mental and emotional well-being, travelling can deliver wonderful benefits.
Here are six of them for you to think about.
1. Cultural immersion
Travelling to a foreign country allows you to fully immerse yourself in a new culture. In this way, you have the opportunity to learn about customs, traditions and daily life from a firsthand perspective, gaining a deeper understanding of the world and how beautifully diverse it is.
2. Gaining global perspective
Similarly to cultural immersion, experiencing life in a different part of the world certainly broadens your perspective, helping you to gain insights into different ways of thinking, new problem-solving methods and ways of living, which have an incredible value in today's interconnected and globalised world.
3. Learning a new language
Being surrounded by native speakers is indeed one of the most effective ways (if not THE most effective) to learn a new language. Generally speaking, whenever you travel you have the chance to improve your language skills by interacting with locals on a daily basis. And as an au pair this happens even more, since you have the chance to take part in a language course and to speak the language every day within your host family.
4. Personal growth
Nothing improves your personal growth and development more than travelling and living independently in a new environment. By being on your own in a foreign country, you learn how to navigate challenges, adapt to new situations and to become more self-reliant. This experience will increase your confidence, resilience and give you new skills and abilities.
Living away from home, and in case you become an au pair also taking care of children in a foreign country, requires a high level of responsibility and helps to develop a strong sense of independence.
Being an au pair can really change your life for the better!
5. Building a network
Whether you’re only travelling for a short time or living abroad for a longer period, you will certainly able to build a diverse network of friends, colleagues and simple acquaintances. Having an international network is nowadays very important and can definitely be an added value, both personally and professionally, which opens doors to future opportunities.
Also, having a group of people who share your interests and values provides you with the valuable chance to visit even more wonderful places, experience local events and to create wonderful, lifelong memories.
6. CV enhancement
For the reasons listed above, travelling and living abroad for a longer period of time is an incredibly valuable feature to add on your CV. Nowadays, employers often favour candidates who have international experience and knowledge of multiple languages. Travelling, and being an au pair in particular, highlights qualities such as adaptability, cultural awareness and the ability to work in diverse environments and under multiple conditions, which will make you and your CV stand out.
Once you start travelling, you won’t be able to stop!
Travelling is really one of those things that creates a sort of addiction (of course, in a positive way). Once your passion for travelling takes off, it’s very hard - if not impossible - to stop it.
Particularly when you are young and have the time and possibility to pursue your dreams, you really shouldn’t have second thoughts!
Think about it: now you have time (probably you’re not working a 9-5 yet), you might have already saved some money (and you really don’t need much of it, there are many ways to travel low budget), you have no children and no other obligations to care about and still have a long, wonderful life ahead of you, full of incredible opportunities that await you.
So, what are you waiting for?
6 reasons to travel when you're young
About the author:
Silvia, 22, is originally from Italy but has been living abroad since going to the UK as an exchange student at the age of 16. After that she became an au pair in Germany for two years and now has become part of the AuPairWorld team, where she works as a Social Media Marketing Trainee. As a committed traveller, Silvia is happy to support travellers, young expats and people who would like to move abroad, with her travel-orientated Instagram account.
