“Wanderlust”

By Vanille Pieper, Belgium

Definition: Wanderlust – (n.) a strong desire or urge to wander or travel and explore the world.

This German word is not only used in Germany and Austria, but is known around the world because it expresses far more than the simple idea of travelling. It not only describes the act of travelling, but also a strong desire we have when we leave home on a new adventure.

Personally, traveling makes me feel alive. By seeing the world people finally understand that we are part of something, something huge and incredible. When we return home after a long journey, we realize what is really important in life. People change their priorities and their perspectives of life. Isn`t that amazing? Travelling, exploring new places, getting to know new people from all around the world can change our personalities, our way of living, hopefully to something better. The chances that an individual become a better person through travelling are very high. In fact, when learning from other culture and interacting with different people we become more open-minded. This stimulates the understanding of other people’s feelings and behaviors. In addition, it also helps us to reflect on our choices. We become more conscious about ourselves and the responsibility we have towards others.

This anonymous quote sums up very well the main idea of travelling:

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”