Traveler Interview: Hannah Watkins
Hannah Watkins is a senior Communication student at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. Although she is only 21, her immense love of travel has led her to 12 different countries across the globe – Scotland, Canada, Italy, France, England, and Austria – to name a few.
Traveling has been an important part of Hannah’s life since the day she was born, and she hopes to continue traveling for the rest of her life.
At Left: Hannah tests the legend that throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain in Rome with the right hand over the left shoulder brings good luck!
We wanted to learn more about Hannah’s travel experience and insights.
The Jones: What inspires you to travel?
Hannah: I think the possibility of meeting new people and trying new things are both incredibly appealing to me. Connecting with others who are completely different from me, who come from a different background, and who believe in different things are all unique experiences that are so beneficial.
Learning from others who have lived in a different way than you’ve ever experienced can teach you things no text book or professor can; learning about others and their culture are some of the most fascinating experiences I’ve ever had.
I’m also an adventurous person, so the excitement of trying something new – whether cuisine, exploring a new place, or learning about a different country – has always had a special pull on me.
Have you always enjoyed travel? What contributed to your love of travel?
I have not always enjoyed travel, which is a surprise to many who know me well, as I love it so much now. As a younger girl, I did not have much confidence in myself to try new things or meet new people. I also struggled with motion sickness, so traveling anywhere of great distance was something I dreaded. Even taking a car ride to a different part of Kansas made my physically ill.
I think I’ve overcome these barriers, in large part thanks to my parents. They both enjoy travel, so they continually encouraged me to do the same. I never had the opportunity to let my fears fester into a full-blown problem. After much persistence, and lots of practice, traveling has now become one of my favorite past-times.
What is your favorite destination? Why?
This is a question I’m asked quite often, and it’s always a question I struggle to answer. I’ve loved every single place I’ve traveled, whether it was the native people, the local food, or the inviting atmosphere. However, in my mind, I think Switzerland is a place that will forever hold a special place in my heart. It is one of the most beautiful and inviting countries I have ever been to.
I learned a lot about myself on my visit to Switzerland, and I owe that to the wonderful people I met and the fantastic experiences I had there. Switzerland is truly “picture perfect”–I felt at home in Switzerland, and I would love to go back someday.
Pictured in front of the Matterhorn is a group of students who took a trip to Europe, including Zermatt, Switzerland. Hannah is 7 over to the left, in the second row.
What destination has surprised you the most, either good or bad?
I have never been so shocked as I was when I visited the Dachau concentration camp during my time in Germany. It was a devastating shock to my system and a real eye-opener; I felt as though it was brutally awakening and truly one of the saddest things I’ve ever experienced. This was one of those situations where I had learned about the Holocaust in a classroom and in a textbook – but until I experienced it for myself, I truly had no grasp on how devastating it actually was.
Reading and learning about travel is one thing, but actually experiencing a new country is completely eye-opening.
Why do you consider travel important?
Through all my travel experiences, good and bad, the chances I’ve had to learn about myself are undoubtedly important to who I am now. Every place I’ve visited and every person I’ve met have had an impact on the way I view the world and all those around me. Travel experience isn’t something you can just go out and buy or just hear about in a classroom – you have to do it for yourself.
You have to put yourself in those situations in order to learn from them, even if it is uncomfortable and terrifying at first. I have never once regretted a trip or travel experience, which is why I think I will continue to travel for the rest of my life.
Above is Hannah and her family enjoying exploration in the Grand Cayman Islands.
From your travels, do you have a practice or insight that makes your travel experiences more enjoyable?
Be confident in yourself! Although I may have been scared to look stupid or say the wrong thing in many foreign countries, I have never let that stop me from interacting with someone. You shouldn’t let that affect you either. Go into every travel situation with the mindset that you want to get everything possible out of your trip – and the only way you can do that is by putting yourself in uncomfortable situations sometimes.
So many missed opportunities come from not allowing yourself to make a couple mistakes. It’s okay to mess up sometimes, how else are you supposed to learn? Saying the wrong thing or taking the wrong turn is not the end of the world, it just teaches you – and the more you learn from traveling, the easier it gets!
Do you have any wisdom for those apprehensive about travel? Share your own insights in the comments below!
Other traveler interviews from student travelers:
- “There are so many beautiful countries and cultures in the world, why not explore them?” A Travel Chat with a Communications Student
- “Travel is refreshing and rejuvenating for me.” A Travel Chat with a University of Arkansas Grad Student
- “It’s one thing to read about the world and another to actually experience the world for yourself.” A Travel Chat With a New Mexico State University Student
- Travel Insights from 25 Travelers