Travelling Has Changed Me By: Sophianne Samson

How has travelling affected you?
Copenhagen, Denmark. Berlin, Germany. St-Petersburg, Russia. Tallinn, Estonia. Helsinki, Finland. Amsterdam, Holland. Places that many wish to go. Places with a mind-boggling history. Places that teach us about our values. Places that I had the opportunity to visit. Travelling is something that identifies me. It is a part of my identity. Since I was born, it is an activity that has grown in me. It allowed me to enrich my perspective on cultures, food and traditions that seemed unnoticed to me until today.

Vodka. Russian dolls. These things may be perceived as ordinary but when you are introduced to the purpose of these cultures, your perception changes. We may think Vodka is nothing, but by keeping the culture alive, it has become a problem. It is Russia’s number one cause of death. I soon realized that everything has a value. Some are of greater value than others but they still have an importance in people’s lives. Vodka for example, is part of Russia’s history. Drinking it in their daily lives, allows the Russians to remember their ancestors and to whom they belong. Being faced with many unknown cultures got me to realize how important it is to value what you care for. My perspective on life changed. I always believed that all Europeans were happy but I was faced with nations that have suffered from wars; wars that have left scars on the nation and its future generations.

Fast food; two simple words that are known all over humanity. Danish hot dogs? Does not sound familiar at all, am I right? Well, in my book, I can smell and feel the taste empower me at the moment. Once my taste buds have explored this type of heaven, it will always stay engraved in me. Russia’s chak-chak; sweets that I envy regularly. Tasting new foods opened me to wider horizons of what the culinary world has to offer us. I am now willing to overcome my limits and take risks. It might seem simple for all of you to taste new food, but is a big part of travelling and exploring new continents. It makes you get to know their people. Having culinary taste is something that always pays off in life. I am honored to have gotten this opportunity.

Have you ever taken a naked sauna with your friends? I have not but am proud to be aware that this is a common tradition in Finland. Knowing that people have the pleasure in doing so is frightening. But I had the chance to understand what they value and why they take this act to heart. It certainly made me realize that our world is big and that there is tons left to discover. Seeing people sing in the Russian underground subway is a moment that I will cherish until I die. I was blown away by the purity in everyone’s voices and the joy they delivered. Listening to their singing made me aware that expressing your thoughts may be challenging but you need to find enough strength and courage to stand your ground and let loose at times.

Travelling is like studying. The more you study the more you learn, the more you travel the more you become knowledgeable. When you pay close attention to slight details from cultures to food to tradition, you evolve as a human being. Being able to travel is a diamond that I possess. Not many people have this opportunity but I do. The more I polish it, the more I realize the diversity of our planet; diverse with beautiful people, locations, languages and traditions. By polishing this diamond; this honor of mine, I became a human being that values things in life in a different way. I now take the time to picture my goals, my dreams, and my own being and realize that life is all about being free; free of mind. I have a soul that now appreciates all the simple things in life. I became an open-minded person with ambitions that are well-served with this passion of mine: travelling to discover what the world has to offer!