Here are some cultural and diversity lessons learned as a result of our travel experiences.
"I began to realize that every person has their own life story. Life challenges each person through their own obstacles and hardships. To overcome those is the beauty of life. I learned the importance of sharing these experiences with one another so that everyone can grow and learn from them, because chances are, someone can relate to them in some way. The experiences that someone has are what makes them unique and an individual. These experiences are the things that are worth getting to know in someone because it shapes who they are."
"I believe the experience of travel within the United States has made me realize the significance of having so many distinct cultures housed in the United States, and the strength that comes from so many different cultures being united."
"I am very open to any person of any race or ethnicity, and it was the youth of my home town who were bringing change to any type of segregation still left there."
"Some of my friends are African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic, and Indian. We see ourselves as one big rainbow. We all are different colors and ultimately come from culturally different backgrounds. Even though this is the case we are able to learn and grow from each other."
"I have learned to not be closed minded. I learned that I need to be open to all things about a new culture, from the language, to the food, to the way a family in a different culture functions. I've also learned how to adjust and how to jump into an uncomfortable situation and go with it."
"I learned communication and coping skills. I also learned to appreciate and better understand a totally different culture from my own. Living in a host house opened my eyes to differences in ideals, foods, customs, lifestyle, and socioeconomic conditions. I achieved a greater appreciation of the global economy and I can now appreciate how a foreign family lives day by day."
"Talking with local people and exploring the city broadened my views of the world."
"I have gained an appreciation of understanding others' different cultural backgrounds and not taking for granted the privileges that I am afforded everyday. My level of appreciate for education has risen to levels that I didn't even realize existed in me."
"I have learned a great deal of practical skills, but I've also grown in so many ways as a person. I have taken these experiences back to my parents, grandparents, friends and students. Having contact with people of different backgrounds and beliefs allows me to better learn about myself and helps me become more understanding of the world, and exposes me to different ways of thinking."
"I've learned that no matter where you go or what kind of people you come into contact with, you can always find things in common. I've also learned that people hold many different beliefs and opinions that I didn't even know existed before I talked to them. One of the most meaningful things that I've realized is how lucky I truly am and how that is due in large part to nothing that I have done to deserve this luck but rather can be attributed to where I was born."
"I have learned to respect others' views and opinions. We are all different but very much the same."
"Experiencing the markets of Guatemala gave me a deeper respect for the hardworking native farmer just scraping by trying to feed his family, yet happy with what he has been given and trying to make sure his children were educated to have a better life of their own."