Strong Opinion on Traveling Abroad, Research Paper Example

Our world has been changing at a tremendous pace due to globalization which has increased economic and cultural exchange among countries. Global travel has increased not only due to rising levels of international trade as well as expansion by more and more companies into international markets but also as a result of growing awareness and appreciation for international cultures. Some may say that a revolutionary technology like internet is a good substitute for international travel because all kind of information from all over the world is at our fingertips but nothing can replace the effectiveness of learning through actual experiences. Even former head of human resources at P&G, Moheet Nagrath was aware of the benefits of international exposure when he claimed, “If you train people to work in different countries and businesses, you develop a deep bench.” (Kimes, 2009). Everyone should travel extensively around the world because it doesn’t only help them acquire new knowledge but also helps them grow personally, resulting in more rewarding personal and professional lives.

One of the major consequences of globalization has been greater mobility of factors of production including both financial and human capital. As a result, the competition in the job market has increased significantly not only because job opportunities have declined in some professions due to outsourcing but also because the number of job seekers has increased due to more mobile workforce. Thus, it is increasingly important for job seekers to differentiate themselves from the competition and international travel experiences can provide competitive edge in this regard. According to Dr. Kirkpatrick of East Carolina University’s College of Nursing, more and more of tomorrow’s leaders are studying abroad to increase the probability of getting desirable jobs (College of Nursing, East Carolina University). Not surprisingly, a study revealed that senior HR managers at eight large companies emphasized the need for developing business students that are ready for global environment (Gary, 2009). This shows that job seekers need to develop international perspective to gain access to some of the best work opportunities in the age of globalization and international experiences can be a source of competitive edge in the job market. In addition, individuals with international experiences are not limited to domestic job markets but can also explore international job markets.

Many among us may be aware of the fact that technical skills are not sufficient anymore to have a successful career and many employers now expect applicants to possess soft skills such as communication and social skills. Fortunately, international travel is often quite valuable in developing soft skills such as communication and social skills, especially cross-cultural ones. We do not only learn how to communicate with those from different cultural backgrounds but also become skilled at social interaction with them due to better understanding of their cultural etiquettes and values.

One should also travel abroad because it enables one to be exposed to new ideas and perspectives (UNIGO, 2011). One of the qualities of innovative people is that they can think outside-the-box and view an issue from multiple perspectives which enables them to come up with creative solutions. Thus, international travel may help one become more creative through expanded thinking horizon.

We sometimes grow more when we are forced to go outside our comfort zones. New cultures expose us to unfamiliar territories (Go Study, 2012) and test our capabilities and limitations. Successfully dealing with the problems enhances our self-confidence and allows us to discover our potential we never knew we had. As a result, we may be even more inspired to realize our true potential and make a positive difference in the lives of those around us and the greater world.

International travel may also help us discover and conquer our biases and prejudices. During international travels, we meet people from different backgrounds (Go Study, 2012) who may have different set of values and opinions. Stereotypes are often the outcome of lack of knowledge and as we learn more about those different from us, we conquer our stereotypes and also learn to understand the perspectives of those different from us. Thus, international travel can go a long way towards promoting cross-cultural understanding and peace. The advantage of international travel over internet is that cultural information exchange on the internet is usually one-way but actually meeting people from other cultures face-to-face allows us to ask questions and get immediate responses and we also have the opportunity to confirm the accuracy of beliefs we hold about other groups.

International travels also holds advantage over the internet in understanding other cultures because it may help us learn new languages through conversations with native speakers. Languages are the window into cultures and some components of cultures cannot always be translated into other languages because either there may not be a suitable word in another language or the actual meaning may be significantly lost in translation. In addition, face-to-face conversations with locals may also help us understand the assumptions that shape the everyday conduct of locals.

Traveling abroad may also help one become a more productive citizen of the society. By traveling to other areas of the world, we may gain a better understanding of how our actions may affect the world. We may also be inspired to think of our careers as not just means to earning income but how they could be used to make a positive difference in the world (NPR, 2012). In other words, we come to realize that the world doesn’t only belong to us but to everyone and before we engage in a particular action, we should carefully consider the consequences for others.

There are some facts that can only be learnt through international travel and history is one of them. There are often different historical accounts of the same events in different countries, often shaped by national bias. International travels provide us with the opportunity to learn about different interpretations of historical events, both past and present, and also help us better recognize the bias promoted by the national and global media. Just as the judicial system cannot determine facts without listening to all sides of the story, true history cannot often be learnt without carefully analyzing all interpretations of the same issues and/or events. When we travel to other countries, we have an opportunity to listen to native versions of the issues and events, away from the biased media coverage. Experiences like these are essential to promoting cross-cultural understanding and global peace.

It is apparent that international travel is not just about seeing new places but also grow on both personal and professional levels. International travels expose us to new experiences, perspectives, and cultures and as a result, we have a better understanding of ourselves and the greater world. Our international experiences may also inspire us to become more responsible local and global citizens and make positive difference through our careers. We live in a world where globalization is a major force and international travels equip us with knowledge and skills that help us fit better into the new realities on the ground.

References

College of Nursing, East Carolina University. (n.d.). Why travel abroad? Retrieved August 19, 2013, from http://www.nursing.ecu.edu/studyabroad_why.htm

Gary, D. (2009). A framework for human resource management (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prenlice Hall.

Go Study. (2012, April 27). Should you study abroad? Weigh the pros and cons. Retrieved August 19, 2013, from http://gostudy.ca/news/should-you-study-abroad-weigh-the-pros-and-cons.html

Kimes, M. (2009, May 20). P&G’s leadership machine. Retrieved August 19, 2013, from http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/20/news/companies/kimes_lafley.fortune/

NPR. (2012, August 9). Studying Abroad: Is It Really Worth It? Retrieved August 19, 2013, from http://www.npr.org/2012/08/09/158501278/weighing-the-benefits-of-studying-abroad

UNIGO. (2011, September 28). What Should Students Know About Studying Abroad? Retrieved August 19, 2013, from http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-admissions-experts/2011/09/28/what-should-students-know-about-studying-abroad