I’m grateful that I’ve had the chance to visit several countries this year (with a few more to go!). Travelling really does widen your perspective, and I’ve noticed how it naturally shifts your standards of what life in a country can look like for its people.
It’s common for Filipinos who travel abroad to compare what they see back to home, and while comparison can sometimes feel unhelpful, in this case I think it can spark something good. When you’ve experienced walkable sidewalks, drainage systems that don’t flood easily, smooth traffic flow, well-maintained roads, and public transport that actually makes moving from point A to point B easier, you begin to imagine what life could be like if those same standards existed everywhere. Add to that the absence of stray animals on the streets and a general sense of cleanliness, and you feel as if the very air is lighter—like you can truly breathe.
Of course, beyond infrastructure, travelling also opens you up to different cultures, flavours, and ways of living. I’m grateful for the chance to learn through these experiences, and they’ve given me fresh eyes for appreciating both the comforts abroad and the familiar things I return to at home.
I won’t dig too deeply into this topic because I don’t want it to feel political—that’s not my goal here. I just wanted to share that I do agree with the old saying: travelling really does widen your horizons. 🌍