Author: Anita L Hummel
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How to Make Friends While Traveling or Living Abroad
Traveling the world or living overseas can be thrilling, eye-opening, and endlessly rewarding. But let’s be real: it can also get lonely. Even if people constantly surround you, that doesn’t mean you’re making real connections. Whether you’re backpacking through Southeast Asia, teaching English in Europe, or starting a new job in South America, finding meaningful…
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The Best Languages to Learn for Traveling the World
If you’re planning to travel the world, one of the most valuable tools you can carry with you is a language. While apps, hand gestures, and translation tools can help in a pinch, nothing beats the human connection of speaking to someone in their native tongue. Whether you’re wandering the streets of Tokyo, negotiating prices…
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How Vietnam’s War-Torn Past Shaped Its Vibrant Present
2025 marks 50 years since the fall of Saigon. Here’s what Vietnam looks like now. Fifty years ago, on April 30, 1975, helicopters lifted off from rooftops in Saigon as the last American personnel evacuated. North Vietnamese tanks rolled into the city, ending decades of war and officially unifying the country. For many Americans, this…
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Why Is Travel Important for Personal Growth?
Food in a language you don’t speak, figuring out how to read a bus schedule, or staring out at a view so beautiful it silences your mind. Travel isn’t just about ticking places off a bucket list. It’s about discovery — not only of the world, but of yourself. I believe in this deeply. After…
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Why Do Some Countries Drive on the Left Side of the Road?
If you’ve ever landed in the UK, Japan, or Thailand and watched cars zip by on the “wrong” side of the road, you’ve likely asked yourself: Why do some countries drive on the left? It feels strange, even disorienting at first, especially if you’re used to driving on the right. But there’s a story behind…
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What Are the Key Traits of a Culturally Aware Traveler?
In a world more connected than ever, travel isn’t just about crossing borders—it’s about crossing boundaries of understanding. A culturally aware traveler doesn’t just visit a place—they experience it. They don’t just look—they see. They don’t just eat—they learn. And that mindset can make all the difference. Whether planning a gap year, a business trip,…