International Travel Immersion: Fill & Download for Free

Travel. Immerse yourself in situations - cultures - alien to you. Discover the true diversity of being human, and its many consequences. Make personal connections within these travels whenever possible. And understand that this is a preliminary process (if not enjoyable, and you are indeed wealthy) then you are far too jaded for a 23-year-old, and I would seriously recommend actively pursuing any other course you can to understand why you are in the mental state you're in.Take a couple of courses at Oxford. Go into therapy. Acknowledge the boundaries of fears and challenge them (trying parachuting comes right to mind.)Or else surrender to a life of internal decay.May you be saved, and I by no means mean in the religious sense.

Others have already covered the truism that every person on the Autism Spectrum is different… I, for one, have always loved traveling. In fact, I've lived in three countries (UK, Canada, and USA) and have held two jobs that required near-constant domestic and international travel.It's when I'm "away" that I feel the least challenged by many of my traits. I become much more outward-facing, excited and deeply absorbed by what I'm seeing and doing. I love doing research for my trip and watching my plan come to fruition. I benefit from running up against the unexpected and having to adapt. I know a good many Spectrum folk who dislike disruption of routine, but for me it's good therapy. I actually function better at home in the periods immediately after travel.A particularly interesting aspect of international travel for me is that I find myself feeling less alien in a strange culture than I do in my own. It's expected that I would seem a bit different, so the odd corners of my Asperger's Disorder don't make me feel nearly as self-conscious. I feel free to ask questions about customs and culture... this is brilliant for me, as at home I feel awkward when I don't understand things that those around me all seem to grasp naturally. Nobody thinks twice when a literal foreigner inquires about things foreign to them. In fact, it's often appreciated.I've dragged reluctant Spectrum friends along on trips a few times, and with only one exception, they surprised themselves with how liberated they felt once adjusted to being out of their comfort zone. We tend to be an intellectually curious lot. Immersion in unfamiliar places brings rich and gratifying opportunities to learn that can far outweigh the discomforts of taking our quirks on the road.

Traveling is the best education you can give yourself. You learn and absorb everything faster by living amongst the locals, eating local food and observing local customs.When I was 19 and 21 I studied abroad in Italy and South Korea. I learned a lot about myself and my abilities. I was intrigued by everything. I met my many different people, locals and fellow students from other countries. I carried a map with me everywhere and learned my way around within a few days, for practical and safety reasons. Whenever I had free time, I’d take the train to a nearby city. I felt independent and realized how big this world is and how insignificant individuals can be.I also spent some time doing research work in Finland 2 years later and that place was like heaven to me. The serenity of Helsinki and the warmth from the people I had met made me almost want to live there forever. I seriously considered it, but it just couldn’t happen at the time.The physical experience of traveling, sightseeing and participating in local activities, is a reward in itself, but the opportunity to immerse into a different culture is what I believe to be most valuable. Learning/Knowing about a different culture allows you to examine your own culture and its differences. You begin to question things you’ve never thought of and it really changes your perspective on life.