Traveling as a World Citizen

Educate self about the countries and cultures you will visit to enrich your traveling experiences.

Read a variety of literature about country you are visiting.  Learn about the major   religions by reading, The World’s Religions by, Huston Smith and Abraham, A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths by, Bruce Feiler.

Search the Internet for valuable information about cultural differences and customs.

Respect all people and remain open-minded about differences.

Support local economies while traveling.

Stay in locally owned motels, pensions and bed & breakfasts whenever possible.  Arrange a home stay with a host family through Servas or Hospitality.            

Purchase fresh produce and crafts from farmer, craftsperson or indigenous   community whenever possible.

Travel using local public transportation: subways, buses, streetcars, and taxis to  discover out-of-the-way places of interest and to build relationships.

Make conscious effort to speak with taxi cab drivers, indigenous groups, waitresses, service workers, school teachers, tour guides and fellow travelers

Spend some of your vacation time performing community service work.

Purchase How to Live Your Dream Volunteering Overseas, by Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega and Zahara Heckscher to assist you in choosing a volunteer organization.

While on vacation visit a local non-profit organization to hear about their work.

Discover a local group by talking to people in the community, researching on the Internet or looking in a local phonebook.

When you discover a community need and your heart tells you to give, seek out an  organization that is working towards filling the need. 

Bear Witness - return home and tell your stories to family, friends, and community groups.

Prepare a slideshow, power-point presentation, photo album, or set-up web page.

Present to groups of people whenever asked i.e.: social justice and peace organizations, church groups, or your neighborhood school. 

Not only will you become an educator, you will give others the dream to travel, which is where all travel begins. 

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Qualities of Traveling World Citizens  

 Traveling world citizens blend knowledge with action often volunteering time and services. 

 World citizens know that all humans can learn from one another regardless of race, gender, religion, class or ethnic background.

 World citizens see diversity as an incredible resource while traveling and are willing to feel discomfort in the unfamiliarity. 

 World citizens focus more on what is right in the world, and less on what is wrong. 

 Traveling world citizens are non-judgmental toward people who are different from themselves, realizing that understanding is the key to compassion.  

 World citizens make themselves knowledgeable about the world’s major religions and recognize the common fundamental truths.

 World citizens practice excellent self-care, living in the moment and enjoying life to its fullest.

 World citizens rely on alternative news sources to remain informed and current with world events.

 World citizens do whatever they can to use fewer resources at home and during travel.  Simplification is a process that world citizens fully embrace. 

 World citizens laugh easily and often at themselves, remain humble, yet powerful knowing that they can change the world through travel.