I have always had a passion for traveling and seeing what else is out there, but it wasn’t until my study abroad experiences, that I realized how important and impactful it all can be. While traveling for fun and with your family or friends is amazing, it can also make it hard to immerse yourself in that culture. I realized I was living in a bubble after doing my first study-abroad trip to Peru. This trip opened my eyes to the fact that my life experiences are so privileged compared to the majority of the earth’s population. I have never been without food, water, or a roof over my head, and I took that for granted every single day. When you grow up in a nice neighborhood and get everything and more that you need, it’s hard to truly understand the world. After coming home from Peru, my world flipped upside-down, and I was in complete culture shock. I started to pick up on all the ungrateful things my friends would say and think about how many of us, including me, didn’t deserve the life we were given. This fueled my passion for traveling and learning about different cultures. Which led me to study abroad again going into my junior year of college. I studied abroad in Bali, Indonesia for three weeks and it was the most amazing experience I could have asked for. I went into this trip completely blind; I didn’t want any predetermined expectations or opinions about Bali or its culture. One of my favorite things about the Balinese people is their commitment to their religion. Bali relies heavily on tourism to support their economy, which for a lot of countries, dilutes their culture. But that was not the case in Bali. The Balinese people practice a very traditional form of Hinduism. This means that they believe in the spirits of good and evil. The Balinese people use their love for this religion as a tourist attraction. Everywhere you go, people are praying, putting out offerings, going to temples, and so much more. This was one of the most inspiring trips I have ever been on. Just being immersed in their culture allowed me to subconsciously learn more than I ever could through a textbook or a website. This is why traveling and understanding different cultures is so important. I will never forget the experiences, knowledge, and respect I have gained through this idea. It truly has shaped me into the person that I am today. Thank you!