3 Reasons Why You Should Visit a Developing Country
Written by Michael Weaver | Follow me on Twitter | Free updates via Email.
In June of this year I had the privilege of traveling to Central America – specifically Guatemala and Honduras. Anytime you venture out of your own backyard and into another country – you are sure to walk away with some new inspiration for your life in a number of different ways. Here are three reasons YOU should take a trip to a developing country and expand your understanding of the world:
1. To gain perspective on your life
Growing as a person can mean just about anything – just as personal development approaches differ. In the end, what it all boils down to is changing your life in some way for the better. Exposing yourself to a poor, developing country is a great way to add a chapter to your book of life experiences. It’s very easy to forget people, places, and things – but when you visit a country like Guatemala, where the core trade in Guatemala City is selling used clothes from America and the majority of the population has corrugated sheet metal as their roof – you remember.
One of my favorite quotes is by Anne Frank and it reads, “We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.”
2. To learn how to live a more sustainable life
Seeing the way people live in the small town of Antigua, Guatemala – which is a small town not far from Guatemala City – further solidified convictions that economically stable countries tend to be very wasteful when it comes to energy. While green initiatives are ever-increasing and more prevalent all around us – the poor countries are more sustainable by default. My good friend has visited many villages and families in Central and South America and has explained to me why he prefers to call these countries – the most sustainable countries in the world – not third-world countries or developing countries. This is because they have a limited supply of energy and are forced to be more resourceful when it comes to day-to-day life. You don’t need to use a half-gallon of water while brushing your teeth and washing your face – a quick six or eight ounces get the job done just fine.
I’m not saying that you are doing wrong by using air conditioning, your dryer, your dishwasher – but it’s important we understand where we can cut back and a simple change to be more sustainable isn’t going to change your lifestyle or quality of life one bit. So why not giving a few things a try.
3. They are beautiful and very affordable
Embarking on these trips is usually very affordable – as the dollar will get you rather far in most cases. Let’s face it – we all enjoy seeing breathtaking landscapes, mountains, lakes, volcanoes, architecture, history, etc. Most developing countries have plenty of these things to offer you – and from personal experience it’s well worth it. Below are a few shots from my recent trip to Guatemala and Honduras.
Lake Atitlan
Copan
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Images by Yours Truly – Summer ’09 trip to Guatemala and Honduras.
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