363 - 369 Perspectives

            Being a University student I never thought it would be possible for me to travel until I had completed my degree and started my career. It turns out I was mistaken. Recently I learned that with some tough budgeting and perseverance, I was able to go on the trip of a lifetime. In 2010, I ventured out on a three month backpacking trip through Central America. I had little knowledge of where I was going, didn’t have a plan, and only had a limited vocabulary in the Spanish language. Although the odds were stacked against me, the adventure I set out on was the biggest learning experience of my life and I value and employ the lessons I learned during those three months everyday of my life.

            Most places in North America live with a mentality of, work hard now and play later, but why not play now and work later?  Many students hold the misconception that they will be able to travel and experience new cultures once they have established themselves in the workforce and saved some money. But, it is actually more advantageous for a young individual to travel before they begin a career. Also, once in a career, it can be very difficult to arrange enough time off to accommodate an exceptional travel experience. I’m not just talking about traveling to another province or going on a family vacation, I’m talking about going on an adventure and forcing yourself out of your comfort zone.

            There are many advantages of doing this type of travel while you are young. Not only do you gain knowledge of foreign cultures, languages, and valuable ‘street smarts’ but it also helps you decide what you want in life and looks very good on a resume. Diversifying your experiences early in life will assist you in realizing your purpose in life and make you a more interesting person. The job market is becoming continuously smaller and as the 2006 Canadian Census done by Statistics Canada shows, “The number of Canadians between 25 and 64 years of age having a university degree grew 24% since 2001…” (p.4). This study indicates the increasing difficulty for graduates to enter the workforce and in an article by Hope Yen written in 2012, she states “…53.6 percent of bachelor’s degree-holders… were jobless or underemployed…” Therefore, in order to be successful in finding a suitable career after school, you must set yourself apart from other candidates.

            Having the experience and lessons from an adventure travel journey can contribute to your value to an employer in many ways. You will learn to develop your independence and how to be responsible through organizing your trip and relying on your own intuition to overcome difficult situations. Via your multiple interactions with others during a trip of this kind, you will also gain the ability to successfully connect and cooperate with people of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. You will also become more mature, adaptable, and more confident in yourself and your decision-making ability. Another useful skill that is acquired through your travels is the talent to manage your money appropriately.

            Budgeting can be very troublesome for most students but the ability to manage money is imperative to go on any vacation and even for your everyday financials. In 2012, Nici Perreault, wrote an article outlining eight tips for students to save and budget their money. Her tips include: regularly asses needs versus wants – buy what you need before what you want; plan meals around savings – take advantage of coupons; consider consignment shopping – there are great finds for up to 70 percent off at some stores; bulk is not always cheaper – check the price per unit; consider store brands when they are on sale – some in-store brands have a comparable quality to brand name items but are usually less expensive and regularly have coupons; buy consignment books – you can also consign them again once finished with them; try not to eat out as often as possible; share a warehouse club membership – splitting a membership to Costco can help add to your savings. Adopting these tips into your everyday lifestyle will aid significantly in saving for your adventure.

            There are many ways to approach your adventure vacation, which will depend on the amount of savings you have reserved. Students actually have more opportunities available to them then do those who have completed their studies. For example: at the University of Calgary they offer multiple options through their Study Abroad programs including exchange programs, group study programs, international internships, and work, volunteer, and research abroad programs. Many of the costs associated with these programs have opportunities for funding which can be found in detail on the University of Calgary’s Centre for International Students and Study Abroad website.

Several companies cater to the student population and provide discounted travel rates and tours optimal for individual travelers or small groups. For instance Travel Cuts offers a variety of packages tailored around the school schedule. They also have partnerships with both ISIC (International Student Identity Card) and Contiki Tours in order to grant students with further discounts. These packages range in price from $295 for a three-day exploration tour of London to $5,774 for a forty-seven-day tour of Europe and Egypt. All you are responsible for after that is the plane ticket to the meeting point and back home, and most of your food and drinks (some are included). This is a great option for those who may be concerned about their safety or who want to travel in a group setting.

Others may want to be more independent and travel alone. For these individuals there are some travel options that will assist in keeping a strict budget. These include staying at hostels instead of hotels, which can be found in almost all major cities around the globe; trying to cook your own food whenever possible; taking local transit while traveling from one city to the next; and for the very adventurous, couchsurfing.org is an online community of people around the world that offer their homes for travelers to stay in.

The experience and knowledge gained through an adventure travel vacation is unrivaled. During my trip to Central America I met friends from around the globe that I have lasting relationships with. I learnt how to speak Spanish and learnt about the local culture and customs. I was able to adapt to the environment and navigate my way through foreign cities and villages. I became confident in myself and was able to break out of my shell and become a more outgoing person. I believe that these acquired skills and traits have enabled me to be more successful in both my personal and professional lives. The entire three-month experience including transportation only cost $6,000 and has proven to be the best investment I have made.

I am not a travel agent; I am not an employee of any hostel or international organization; I am just a student who believes that pushing your limits on an adventure travel journey can be the most rewarding educational experience in life and I want you to have the same opportunity as I did. So, be more that just a tourist, make the most out of your travel experience. Add breadth to your degree and study abroad or learn another language while immersed in a new culture. Develop the soft skills and qualities employers look for and have an adventure. It may just change your life.

           

For more information and reference material visit:

Centre for International Students and Study Abroad, (2012). Internationalize Your Degree – Study Abroad!. University of Calgary. Retrieved from http://www.ucalgary.ca/uci/abroad

Contiki, (2012). Experience Europe. Retrieved from: http://www.contiki.com/destinations/europe

Couchsurfing, (2012). Travel the World and Stay With Friends You Haven’t Yet Met. Retrieved from: http://www.couchsurfing.org/

HostelWorld, (2012). Hostels Worldwide. Retrieved from: http://www.hostelworld.com/hostels

Perreault, N. (Sept, 2012 17). 8 Essential Budgeting Tips for College Students. Retrieved from http://shine.yahoo.com/work-money/8-essential-budgeting-tips-college-students-155600531.html

Statistics Canada, (2008). 2006 Census of Canada: Educational Portrait of Canada. Retrieved from: http://www42.statcan.ca/smr08/pdf/smr08_107-eng.pdf

Travel Cuts, (2012). Deals. Retrieved from:  http://www.travelcuts.com/deals/#.UL5lOBzxYrg

Yen, H. (April, 2012 23). 1 in 2 New Graduates are Jobless or Underemployed. Retrieved from http://news.yahoo.com/1-2-graduates-jobless-underemployed-140300522.html