Ol`gita Major: International Economic Relations Status: Workygirl I am fond of chocolates, flowers, friends, loud music, watching movies, taking pictures and traveling!!!

Benefits of Traveling Alone
Olya Bezvushko

Let’s discuss main benefits of traveling abroad by yourself, without any friends or acquaintances.

First of all, there are fewer distractions when you travel alone. Staying alone on campus or in some summer camp will make you focus the energy and attention on learning process, and will intensify your travel experience. You will get more chances and incentives to meet new people, visit more excursions and as a result get more benefits from your international trip.

Secondly, you can enjoy the full immersion. Do what you like to do. You do not have to adjust to your friends’ tastes. They do not like to take part in crazy parties or extreme kinds of sport, and sometimes you refused your own pleasure to do what you like because of them? Every group decision requires a time consuming negotiation and consultation and the outcome usually does not satisfy everybody. Now you can be free to do what you like: join literary club or go skydiving.

Thirdly, you can become more open to others. Besides, the more stimulus to open up, your solo status will encourage people around you to make first contact. When you travel in a group or with a jolly crowd, strangers will stay away from you. Strangers are more likely to talk to you or to invite you somewhere, when they see you being alone. 

Moreover, benefits from going abroad alone can be calculated. It sounds strange, but I will try to explain what it means. It is easier to find a free place in the study room as well as in the restaurant, a seat in the theater and fit in any last-minute booking. You can be moved to the front of the queue when a single place will appear and a group of people cannot get such benefits. It may turn out, that solo traveling is cheaper and faster, and this is usually very important for students. 
     
Many people have experienced the friendship break up due to the tension of traveling together. So do not get upset, if it turns out that you have to go abroad for an extended period of time without your friends. Enjoy your international experience and than share your impressions with your friends and family!