International travel and the individual.

Abstract

As human beings continue to travel abroad, the significance and importance of these travels continues to grow. Recognizing international travel as a common theme throughout human history is one way which binds people of today to those of the past. Revisiting a personal journal which documents the travels, experiences, and feelings of a young international traveler is one way which one can get an insight into what international travel does for an individual and how it relates to the overall theme of human exploration. I analyze my personal journal that I kept during my semester abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland in order to relate my experience to that of Odysseus from Homer's The Odyssey, and by extension, all people who have taken on the journey. From this, I collect valuable lessons about my position within the ancient tradition of travel, recognize my exponential growth as an independent young adult. and offer advice to future travelers.