Cultures celebrate the deceased in various ways. For those of us who have grown up in the United States, we may associate Halloween with costumes, trick-or-treating, and horror movies, but many countries have their own rituals. 

It’s true that traveling challenges us with teachable moments, and it’s our duty to understand what the are trying to show us in the moment. Many people travel to see the sights, but there is so much depth to traveling that can be overlooked. Just like any new experience in life - travel has its ups and downs but that’s part of the experience as a whole. 

If you have dreamed about stepping outside of your hometown, or college town, then there’s no better time to explore your options. Can you fully appreciate your life at college without having stepped off campus to try a new experience somewhere else? Do you think that you’d regret not going abroad once you find that stable job and career after you graduate?

From my study abroad semester-long experience in Peru through EdOdyssey, some of the most memorable parts of my experience were from the excursions that were a part of the program. Initially, I thought that these excursions would be fun trips, but I did not realize the how all-encompassing, holistic nature of each location and vast difference in landscape that these respective areas have in Peru they would be.  

People interpret, evaluate, and react in different ways when their beliefs are challenged in a new country. Our individual ability to increase our cultural awareness, or cultural sensitivity, comes from a willingness to learn from others that see the world differently based on their experiences.

To all the college students around the world: we know and understand each other’s struggles by mid-semester. The library is flooded with overwhelmed peers and you can’t believe how much work you need to accomplish in such a short period of time.