Travel to learn something new.

 I love traveling.

I usually travel with a purpose in mind. Since 1997, I have traveled to many countries around the world. One reason is to learn the culture and history of that country, but I have studied a language many times.  

In February of 1998, I studied Spanish in Madrid for two weeks. After that, I studied in Alicante twice. Later, I traveled to Argentina and many other countries in South America. It is a low-cost way of traveling. I stay with a family, and most of the time, they are single women my age who want to rent a bedroom. The language institutes find the family for their students. I have made friends with the hosts. We speak Spanish. I eat the food they prepare. I tell them I am vegetarian and never had a problem with making simple and delicious food. 

After several years of studying Spanish and traveling in South America and Spain, I decided to do the same thing with Italian. I started learning Italian when I was 55. During different trips, I have studied in Rome, Florence, Siena, Verona, Assisi, and Napoli.   

Also, when I visit Armenia, I come up with a purpose besides visiting family and friends. In 2012, I presented a book and participated in a photo exhibition in Yerevan. I published a bilingual English and Armenian book for teachers with social and emotional learning strategies in 2012. In October of 2023, I followed some social workers who were helping the refugees from Artsakh. I wrote an article about one family and their resilience.  

Having a purpose and goal makes my trips meaningful and joyful. Learning something new about others and myself is the key to growth. Let’s celebrate our curiosity and discover the world.