Five things I learned from traveling the world and why you should travel in your 20s.

1. Crazy shit happens

           

            Ever seen the movie Hangover, traveling is just like this when you have no expectations, and you just go with whatever happens. Opportunities arise out of the middle of nowhere, and you have to be ready to seize the moment. Experiences like this are some of the most memorable you will have in your life.

            For me I had just bought a car with my roommate in Australia for $1,800, and on our first road trip the car broke down on the highway. Talk about a bad-sinking feeling when the mechanic tells you your probably going to have to scrap it. That totally sucked, but in the end it was only a minor issue. Good thing I sold that car for $1,700 five months later.

2. You meet awesome new friends

            Living and traveling abroad has allowed me to develop friendships around the world, and I really appreciate this, as it is one of the most rewarding things in my life. Having friends in different countries is just simply awesome. You get a free place to stay next time you visit, and it is always a blast to have them come visit you, especially the Aussies.

As an entrepreneur, I am always eager to meet new people. The more people you know equates to the more chances you ultimately have at success. This also allows you to bounce ideas off people from other backgrounds and gain a different perspective on your ideas. .

3. No Job, No Problem: GO TRAVEL

            If you are one on the millions of college students that find yourself unemployed or hate your boring desk job; go travel, explore new places, and meet new people. I guarantee opportunities will arise and doors will open. Worst case, you get to experience a whole new sphere of influences and learn a new language. Maybe that new language will help you land your dream job too. 

Your 20s are a time to explore and find yourself. Traveling helps put some meaning in your life. Why not save up, go to Southeast Asia, and live on the beach for less than a dollar a day. I guarantee you will meet all sorts of fascinating people from around world. When I spent 14 days surfing on the island of Nias in Indonesia, I was the only American and, pretty sure I was the first blonde kid the locals had ever seen. You really feel like the foreigner when that happens.

4. Go on Semester at Sea

           

            I personally did not go on Semester at Sea, but if you have ever met someone that did, they do not shut up about it. SAS has a cult like following for kids that went on that party boat around the world. However for the kids who embark on the voyage, they do come back with more experiences and more connections from around the world than anyone I know. I mean who would not want to go around the world on a cruise ship with 500 other college students. Traveling the world in one semester on a boat is pretty fucking awesome.

SAS > The Yacht Week

5. You will never have the free time, and you can afford to make mistakes

           

            This is the only time in your life when you will be young enough to travel the world with no responsibility except to survive.  Given that, you can pretty much go anywhere and experience all different types of places, people, and cultures.  All of these different influences will change the person you were before you started traveling. You become more open to different ideas and ways of doing things. This is ultimately better for society as a whole.

            As far as making mistakes go, you can get away with a lot more when you are young than when you are old and have responsibilities. Make the most of your youth and go travel the world.

P.S. The number one rule to traveling is: Do not be a dumbass!!!