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We travel to learn and grow as humans. Along the way, we get on each other’s nerves, we push ourselves out of our comfort zone, we laugh a lot…and most importantly, see & appreciate cultures that aren’t our own.

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I think we travel to see the world. But sometimes I think we travel the world just to feel a part of it, even for one special memory. In the photo, you can see how everyone is holding up their phones to take a picture of this landmark. Of course it was amazing to see, and something I want to document on camera, but that isn’t what really made me think this is why we travel. What you can’t see in this photo is how on that cold foggy day, there was a sheet of ice covering the section of the wall we were at, making it almost impossible to walk up. It was impossible to take a normal step. Everyone was slipping and sliding, struggling to get to somewhere flat. Strangers were helping each other, laughing with new people, bonding over the humor of the situation. My classmates and I were having so much fun sliding down and trying to stay up. Before visiting the Great Wall, I thought of it as something we would view quietly and respectfully. But it ended up being a memory full of laughter and fun that I will never forget.  People from all over the world were slipping on the same stones and helping each other stay upright. That moment made me realize something about travel. We go expecting perfect views or famous landmarks, but what stays with us are the unexpected moments, like sliding across one of the most famous places on Earth.

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This was taken on our last night in Chongqing.

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This photo was taken at night in Chongqing, right in the middle of our trip. On the seventh day of our trip, we explored Chongqing. The city is built like a labyrinth and it felt like a puzzle trying to get around but I loved every second of it. We traveled by trains that go through residential buildings, we walked across the river that gracefully cuts the city in two. We went shopping in a mall that felt as grand as a city, I ate great food, had equally great conversations with my peers, and had an all around amazing trip. As the day left and nighttime took its place, we walked through a street market, where I spent a lot of time thinking. I thought about my life, and how I even got to the point where I was in China in the first place. I thought about my parents, my grandparents, my great-grandparents and my ancestors, and how everything culminated and got put together to ensure that I was there, in China. Every single hardship, every single mistake, all the things we didn't have and everything we have now. As we walked down the steps to leave the market, we got to look at the skyscrapers lit up over the river, and I took a moment to truly appreciate everything that came together to make sure I could be in China, and it was a touching experience for me. I believe the reason we travel is not only to experience new things and appreciate those moments, but also to help us remember how to appreciate the things we already have.

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This photo was taken in Chengdu, our second city China. 

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Why do we travel? Is it for the tourist attractions, or new foods? Yes, but most importantly, we travel to deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world we live in. You don't realize it until you're fully immersed in a culture different from yours, but we live life very detached. I was completely unaware of how drastically different America and China were. During my two weeks in China, I saw unbelievable kindness, love, and hospitality. The way I was treated with  my host family, made me feel like I really was a part of it. Not only were their acts of generosity something I wasn't used to, but also I was blown away by the sincerity. Again  and again, people showed up for me in big, and small ways, after only knowing me for two days, unlike how a lot of people in America would treat me. I'm beyond grateful for these experiences because now I have a truly different and more open view on our world. I also now have very genuine connections with people halfway around the world, a clearer understanding of what it means to be a kind human, and that is why we travel.

-Cleo

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This is a photo of our grade with our tour guide Eddie in the Forbidden City.

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This is a picture from the Forbidden City in Beijing. This was one of the first places we went to on the first day of the trip. We were still getting used to actually being in China and we were all tired from our long plane ride but we made the most of it. I believe this is a big part of traveling in the ninth grade aside from the main things like culture and experiences we were there for each other even when we are not feeling our best and making the most of it. We also bonded over the change in culture and trying to make things work even if it wasn't easy.  This was definitely a trip that I will remember forever. Even though there were a lot of ups and downs we all found a way to make it work and it was still an amazing experience and I’m really glad I got to be a part of it.

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I have just arrived in Changsha and am first meeting my host, Artemis (to the right of me), his dad (to the left of me), and my pen pal, Forest (far right) 

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Why We Travel:

The photo above is exactly why we travel. I spent around two weeks in China and had the most amazing time. But the three days I spent with my host family were by far the most special. I met and lived with my Yali host, Artemis, who introduced me to his parents, younger brother, and nanny. The time I spent in Changsha was great but I looked forward most to the nights with my host family. I got to learn what Artemis liked to do in his free time like ride a bike in the night or visit the arcade. I tried new foods that I would've never tried before including pigs blood, fish meatballs, or stinky tofu. I wouldn’t say I’d eat any of those foods again but I am glad I tried them. Artemis’ family treated me with much kindness. I was showered with food and they kept me constantly entertained. I made friends I would never forget with people who were strangers three days ago. I lived a completely different life than I do in America and I loved it. Truthfully, travelling is amazing. You get to see beautiful and unique places. But it’s the people you meet that you’ll remember the most about the trip.

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Performance at Yali High School before our departure. 

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When I think about why we travel, a multitude of different reasons come to mind. When I thought about going to China, I imagined that I would be excited to see the country and experience its culture. I did not think that this trip would end up being about the people I met and the friendships I made. When looking at this picture, I am reminded of the community that can sometimes come from traveling. Usually, when people travel it's for friends and family but for us the situation was unique. When we traveled, it was to meet a community at Yali that we had never seen before. Even though we were scheduled to visit many amazing places, I would have been happy to remain at Yali for the fifteen days of the trip. I made strong connections with two Yali students who I am still in touch with. Instead of choosing a picture from a site we went to, I chose this picture because it reminded me of my time at Yali High School. Even though we did not have a lot of time to spend with the students I appreciated the time that we were able to be together.

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The reason we travel is to experience new cultures in different countries across the world, and when visiting Yali, this was fulfilled. This photo was taken in Changsha at the Yali-Foote banquet that took place on the last night. This picture shows the bond between our two schools that are half way across the world from each other. Every year Yali and Foote meet in either China or America and participate in activities to make our connection stronger over the course of many years.When in China, each Foote student is paired with a Yali student and they build relationships over the days that are spent in Changsha. They then stay with them for a couple of nights in order to gain and learn more about Chinese culture by eating their food as well as seeing how their style of home is different from houses that are typical in America. The China program began in the early 2000s and from then on teachers and students have been traveling back and forth from both China and America. In summary, the connection between Yali High School in Changsha, China and The Foote School in New Haven, Connecticut is truly extraordinary and has been passed on from many years throughout history and many years to come in the future.

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Kayo, Andy, Carl, and me taking pictures on Carl's phone

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We travel for the new people and the friendships we can build. We travel to continue to foster relationships already founded and to explore others' unique backgrounds and cultures. The amount of things I learned and first experiences I had with friends on the trip was tremendous. Even simple one-off conversations were always something new and unique. Though, the friendships on this trip were not only new ones but also further strengthening the bonds between my classmates and me. The traveling brought us together in a way that we never would have before, after all the late nights and early mornings together, almost always in each other's presence. Though the best part about these relationships is the fact these aren’t one time things, these continue, I still get to talk to everybody in China and get to reminisce on China with everybody here. It is just such a great trip due to the fact that I will not only remember the views and the food, but also all the experiences that I got to have with my peers and friends, new and old.

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The China experience was truly an unforgettable trip. We cherished every destination, whether it was man or nature made. When comparing the different cities we visited, it almost felt like we were in different countries, there was so much variety of culture, city-life, and flora. This photo was taken on Mt. Qingcheng in Chengdu, honestly I think Chengdu was one of my favorite cities we visited in China. It’s similar to most cities we visited; It was very clean, full of nature, and filled with beautiful landscapes. Everywhere you turned to look you found yourself feeling the need to take a picture. Mt. Qingcheng is a historical Taoist site, and although it’s a long walk to the top of the mountain, the gorgeous sights make up for it. There are many ways to travel to the top of the mountain, including a bus, a gondola, wooden pathways, and steep stone steps, all located in areas that show breathtaking views of the mountain and lake. Some might think the point of travel is to see new places, but after spending two weeks in China, I can say certainly that the most enjoyable part of the trip was experiencing and truly immersing myself in the culture, people, and history of China.

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This was taken on my second night at my host family's house.

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We travel to experience other cultures in new ways. When we travel we adapt to a new way of life in different countries across the world. Learning about new and different cultures helps us to have more empathy for them, which allows us to act as humans rather than as the countries that divide us. When we were traveling through China, I learned so many things about the culture there. I learned that bargaining is done in almost every store, and that the prices are set to be negotiated. I learned that when Chinese people eat with their hands, they often put on a glove so that they don’t contaminate it. When I reached to peel my shrimp at my host family's home, they were surprised that we don’t use gloves in the United States. Overall, travel gives you many opportunities and experiences that you just don’t get where you live, whether that is haggling at street markets, or getting approached by strangers for a picture. Travel widens our view of the world, and helps us understand the cultures and systems that people are coming from when they travel to us.