Where in the world have the Bulldogs gone? Turns out, they’ve been everywhere from our northern neighbors to the Caribbean region with Canada being the most talked about destination.
Travel has a lot to offer any college student, and many colleges even offer study abroad programs for this reason. Colleges see significant value in experiencing different parts of the world.
By traveling the world, students have had opportunities to experience cultures and ways of life different from those at home and to appreciate how people from different parts of the world live.
Junior accounting major Emerson McKale reported traveling to Mexico and the Bahamas. McKale talked a little bit about what traveling to the Bahamas taught him.
“[It taught me] how different countries work,” said McKale. “The majority of the actual island wasn’t that nice, except for the actual resorts, so clearly their economy was based on tourism.”
Being able to experience life very different from his own was a vivid memory for McKale, and he talked about the importance of seeing different parts of the world.
“It gives you a different perspective,” McKale said. “You know, obviously, there’s a lot to see. No one’s ever gonna see it all or know everything, but there’s a lot to learn from different cultures, you know, just different ways of life, as well as, I think it’s just really cool.”
Other students have enjoyed vacationing farther north in Canada and, despite its close proximity to the United States, have observed differences between the two Countries.
Senior risk management insurance, business and community leadership major Ikela Halo reported Canada as her favorite place she’s visited.
“I went for my 19th birthday. I went to Windsor. It was really nice,” said Halo. “Went to Caesar’s Palace, a few restaurants over there, and two lounges.”
For Halo, it was the perfect opportunity to celebrate another year while exploring Canada’s rich cultural history and sampling various foods.
Halo’s time in Canada also taught her the value of visiting places far from home and witnessing how people live there.
“I think [it’s important] to just experience different cultures, just diversity, really,” Halo said.
Other students have reminisced about their adventures in Canada, enjoying many tourist attractions and fancy dining spots.
Junior computer information systems major Timothy Ormond also named Canada as his favorite place that he’s visited. He shared a little bit about what made his time in Canada so memorable.
“I went to a rooftop dinner spot,” Ormond said. “There was the little sky tower, but I was scared, though.”
Additionally, Ormond briefly discussed the atmosphere in Canada, noting how many people there are compared to where he lives in the United States.
“I would say Canada is very busy, like the downtown area, [so I learned] how to function with a lot of people around,” Ormond said.
Finally, Ormond explained why he believes it is important for people to travel and experience places outside their comfort zones.
“I feel like you will get to know yourself more if you go see things that you never saw before,” Ormond said. “How do you know if you like something if you never experience it?”
Students have reported that they greatly enjoy traveling and experiencing cultures different from their own when the opportunities arise.