Before I go, I want to share one more thing with all of you – the greatest lesson I learned as I voyaged. This summer, I realized just how interconnected everything around us is. Whether we’re talking about interconnected means of communication, like cell phones, e-mail, and the infinite reaches of the internet, or the cycle of effects man and nature have on one another, everything is united. And everyone is united. The smallest things we do as we travel can make a huge impact on our surroundings and the people we come across. Your smile and a hello can shape someone’s day just as a rude cab driver can change the whole feel of your afternoon. So, if you’re open, the world will be open with you. And if you’re closed, you’ll miss some of the most beautiful encounters of the journey.

Take, for example, my final night in Thailand. Although I was alone in the massive city of Bangkok, I wanted to embrace the place and its people in every way before leaving. I wandered the streets, made friends with shop owners, and got a fantastic and dirt cheap Thai massage. Then I found the most nondescript restaurant on one of the main strips, preferring straightforward Thai grub to the fancied stuff found in the other restaurants. I joked with the waiters and waitresses and savored every bite of my dinner, and as I looked out onto the packed city streets, I thought: “Man, this city’s awe-inspiring. It would be cool to share this moment with someone...to be able to look back and say, ‘Hey, remember our last night in Bangkok? That was a blast!’” Somehow, within minutes of my unconscious request, a friend from high school walked in the door. Needless to say, I almost had a heart attack, and she and I had an incredible night catching up and adoring Bangkok. Had I been afraid to go out alone, less open to trying real Thai food, or in a hurry, I would have missed that grand reunion. But I was open, and I was wide-eyed, and the world showed me just how interconnected everything really is.