Growing up holds a vast variety of opportunities such as driving or even traveling around the world. It seems as though many people would love the opportunity to travel overseas yet most never do whether it might be due to homesickness or the anxiousness flying might give a person or even things as simple as cultural and language barriers, however, this can’t be said for Jacqueline Kent-Morrison.

Kent-Morrison is a senior this year who has lately been pursing journeys that go further than Minnesota. This past summer, Kent-Morrison traveled overseas to Thailand. Kent-Morrison packed her bags and boarded a twenty-six hour flight with the goal of creating an English camp to teach Thai kids english and learn more about Thai culture and their environmental policy.

Just thinking about being twenty-six hours away from home is quite terrifying; Kent-Morrison felt the exact opposite. Kent-Morrison was more than willing to be so far from home since “you get to go outside your bubble for a little bit and see what other people do or struggle with that we may not be aware of.”

With being a ways away from home, you’re bound to face some language and culture barriers. Again, the fearless Kent-Morrison wasn’t afraid of the barriers she have may faced. Kent-Morrison explains that “I knew I was going to learn about [the language] and that there’s always a way to understand each other. Language is only a barrier if you make it be.”

Many people who have traveled overseas tend to get a bit homesick or become worried of how natives might perceive and welcome them into their culture, home, and community. Kent-Morrison shares, “… the sense of community that the Thai and other American people gave me made me feel welcomed and comfortable… The Thai people treated us like family and were always going out of their way to make sure we understood and were comfortable, so I always felt safe and welcomed.”

Though there might be a few unnerving aspects of traveling overseas, Kent-Morrison believes that everyone should at least do it once in their life since it is such an eye opening experience.