World-famous anthropologist, Margaret Mead, once wrote,

 

             "As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own."

 

           Obviously geared toward her field, this statement is, nevertheless, a recurring theme in my long list of notable travel quotations. Venture out into the world, not only to become more knowledgeable and sophisticated, but also better assess and appreciate your own region or country. The contrasts among cultures creates a stark realism which allows a more discerning look at the good and bad elements within a community.