Traveling can be one of the best forms of personal development. It can offer many opportunities to learn new information, skills and behaviors. These experiences can add depth of character and also help you excel in the workplace.

Experiencing new people and places

Truly educational travel is about meeting new people and experiencing local foods, sights, and sounds.

Traveling in Bulgaria, for example, offers plenty to absorb and explore. The country has spectacular, lush scenery spreading across a combination of hills, mountains and flat plains so when planning your next holidays why not book Bulgaria? 

The Burgas region is where the country’s largest city, Burgas, is situated. The area around Burgas city has three large lakes, where over 250 species of bird can be seen. There are also parks and protected nature reserves. The coastal areas, on the Black Sea, have wide stretches of sandy beaches. Burgas city offers plenty of art and culture. It hosts two major music festivals, a sand sculpture festival, and a yachting week.

Traditional Bulgarian food is an interesting and delicious mix of tastes and styles. Some typical dishes are of Middle Eastern origin, while others are influenced by Indian cuisine. Home grown salads are a staple in Bulgarian meals, as well as soups, pastries and stews. Lamb is a popular ingredient, as well as seafood dishes such as shrimp saganaki (a rich shrimp stew).

Many Bulgarians speak English, making it easy to connect to the local population. They are generally relaxed and welcoming to visitors.

Bulgaria is also relatively uncrowded. Travelers have abundant opportunities to be enriched by the natural beauty and diversity of this country.

Developing new skills while traveling

Many skills developed on holidays can be invaluable in work settings. These skills can include:

• Time management — you will be catching planes, trains, and buses, and fitting everything you want to do and see within the holiday time you have. These all contribute to your ability to schedule your time and meet deadlines.
• Social and communication skills — you will be meeting people from several different countries. You could also be communicating when you don’t speak their language. This can help you develop and improve your interpersonal skills.
• Teamwork – traveling with others involves working together. The ability to work as a team is an essential for the workplace. The more practice you can get at this, the better.
• Planning and organization — all holidays take planning. Confidence in planning itineraries and organizing events is a highly sought after business skill.
• Adaptability – part of the experience of traveling is adapting to your surroundings, Bulgaria is such a melting pot of cultures, you may find yourself having to react to new situations every day. Being able to do this comfortably can be a valuable asset. It can help you to deal with change. It can also help you thrive professionally in fast-moving work cultures.
• Problem-solving – unexpected problems can arise while traveling. Developing the ability to be creative and resourceful in finding solutions is invaluable. Unsurprisingly, it is a much sought after skill in the workplace.
• Languages – holidays can offer the perfect opportunity to practice a language. The ability to speak more than one language can be very attractive to employers.

Traveling can be a remarkable experience. Exposure to new experiences, people and places expands your view of the world and its diversity.

Images courtesy Creative Commons: Sergey Galyonkin and Dennis Jarvis