Anyone who has spent much time travelling knows that it's magic.

 

There are wonders to be uncovered, lessons to be learned, and experiences that range from the benign to the life-altering that can't be known any other way. No words, no photos, no digitally created image can truly provide the information for the uninitiated. If I could have one thing for all of my students, it would be that they are able to know international travel.

 

Many of my students have the good fortune to have travelled to other countries with their families. Often they have learned the ways of navigation through the travel system and the beauty of learning to respect people who live differently from what is known in our culture.

 

Regardless of their breadth of experience, teenagers are moments away from being wage earners, voters and taxpayers. They are ready to head out on their own and learn first-hand how to navigate the systems of the world. They're also ready to "find themselves", to understand what matters to them and how to find their place in the puzzle. Travel is such a wonderful way for them to find these answers, and so much more.

 

The best way to start is to do a study abroad experience. Hundreds of organizations offer amazing experiences for young people while also providing a safety net for those unused to travel abroad. The most precious component of this experience is the homestay, a period when our kids are taken in by a family and learn the day-to-day inner workings of families in that culture. Other components of these programs include community service projects, attendance in a local school, field trips and many other features. My two personal favorite organizations are AFS (American Field Service/www.afs.org) and The Experiment in International Living (www.experimentinternational.org). Both of these companies are non-profits and both have been around for many decades. I've had dozens of students travel with both and never have once heard any comments other than, "OMG, that was the most amazing thing I've ever done!"

 

The cost of these trips might make your jaw drop. Know that there are MANY ways to avoid paying anything near the full price for these trips. There are scholarships available through the companies and through many other avenues. I've seen numerous students raise all or most of what they needed to pay for this unforgettable experience... it just takes determination and a bit of time.

 

Want an intense, amazing experience into both the Spanish-speaking world and the biodiverse wonderland of Costa Rica? Consider joining one of the Outward Bound Costa Rica excursions (www.OutwardBoundCostaRica.org). These hiking, kayaking, exploring trips with Spanish speaking leaders are designed to help students learn about the challenges of living off the land, of balancing sustainability and tourism, and more. This experience is great for developing self-confidence.

 

Another less expensive alternative is to enroll in a language institute, which there are many of throughout the Spanish-speaking world. I studied years ago at a delightful one in Cuernavaca, Mexico called the Center for Bilingual-Multicultural Studies. This seems to be their current website: http://universidadinternacional.cuernavaca.ch/. I also attended the Academia Hispano Americana (http://www.ahaspeakspanish.com/) in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico... both of which are still around. (Issues of security in Mexico can certainly be discussed.) But my experiences are ancient and you can find the same thing all over Latin America by searching the web.

 

These institutes provide a very similar experience as those that are offered by the study abroad programs, but at a much lower cost. They coordinate housing, offer academic and non academic activities and provide a safety net for students who attend. You simply have to get there on your own.

 

There are also many churches and other private organizations that take groups of young people to Spanish-speaking with humanitarian objectives. My students always return from these trips with a different perspective on life after having helped build houses, teach children, create gardens, etc. in communities south of the border.

 

Regardless of which method a high school student chooses to travel, the experience will set him/her apart when s/he applies to college or for any position of responsibility. Universities and community members know that young people who have learned to navigate on their own in a different culture are responsible, mature individuals.

 

After graduating from high school, I always hope that my former students will do some international travel before they start college, either a summer backpacking trip or a gap year program that allows them to have a sense of what matters most to them in life. I think that their college dollars will result in more bang for the buck if they do. Fortunately, there are lots of inexpensive ways to see the world independently these days, from lodging in (youth) hostels, air b 'n b, couch surfing, etc. to low cost admissions to museums and rail passes, etc. for those under 25.

 

Most universities also offer programs that include a portion of their studies in a country outside of the U.S.