Field Notes

This issue has been one of the most enjoyable that we have produced. After all, we live it; we all love to talk about traveling, the tips and rewards that we have gained along the way, and how it can positively alter your life. Here are five reasons we love traveling.

1. To escape. Travel delivers a temporary break from the routine of our daily lives. It offers us new adventures and excitement. Venturing off to a new location, we become intrigued by all the new things that surround us. We overlook our jobs, our responsibilities, and all our other obligations. Moving to a different beat allows us to escape.

2. To learn. Whether learning a destination’s history or learning a new language, traveling allows us to discover many unique things. We become educated in the ways of life in various cultures. We learn how our lives intertwine and how we influence one another. We travel to absorb new learnings.

3. To make new friends. Traveling in groups can be the best way to go! When traveling, we meet people of different backgrounds and experiences, and every one of these encounters can play an important role in your life, whether a new friend or even more.

4. To discover. Whether an up-and-coming locale, a new favorite restaurant entrée, or a fascinating museum, we travel to see and experience new destinations and people and uncover more about ourselves during the journey. Throughout the trials we face and the experiences we gain, we discover our tolerance, strengths and limitations, and untapped potential.

5. To experience. This reason is an all-encompassing one. We travel to experience what the world has to offer. Experiencing local culture can be rejuvenating and stimulates creativity.

We can experience what it is like to communicate through body language when we do not know how to speak a specific language, try new cuisine, see natural wonders of the world, or even volunteer for a cause in need. We can also see, in most cases, that not much is different from our own lives back home filled with family, friends, and love. Experiences shape and define us and bring meaning to our lives.

We hope you enjoy the Travel Issue as much as we did writing and designing it.

- Matt Dunn