I’ve wanted to see the world since I was a child—not only in pictures and video form, but in person. The colours, the cultures, the languages. I’ve also believed that travel is education, a way to leave behind my postcode. But as foreign study became a reality for me, a new consideration began to grip me: how do I travel without harming the world that I’m trying to see?
It was a question that I’ve continued to circle back to. For me, sustainability isn’t a matter of perfection but of presence. So as I prepare for my international placement, I’ve made a decision: I wish to travel with intent rather than excitement.
It starts with little things. I have started to change the way I pack—switching to reusable water bottles instead of single-use plastics, cloth bags instead of plastic ones, and solid toiletries that waste less and do not need to be replaced as often. These little things amount to much when you are traveling for weeks or months.
I have also researched public transportation in the country I am traveling to. Instead of using taxis or driving rental vehicles, I will ride the bus, train, or even walk whenever possible. It costs less money, it’s better for the environment, and I get to view the area in a more local way.
When it comes to food, I make a conscious effort to visit local small places rather than the larger chain ones. I prefer eating food that’s prepared locally and purchase products through open markets—actions that support the economy and reduce the carbon footprint of the food imports. And I’ve also been thinking about how my own travel habits fit in to the grand scheme—UN Sustainable Development Goals 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and 13: Climate Action. They’re not for big institutions or governments alone. They’re for travellers, students, everyday citizens who have the ability to make conscious choices that have a ripple effect.
Even small actions such as printing fewer pages, not leaving the lights on, or taking fewer unnecessary flights count in the long term. It’s not something that you only do during Earth Week—it’s a lifestyle that follows you around.
My aspiration is simple: for my international experience to not only be about what I get out of it but also about how I give back—maybe even as simple a thing as leaving a location cleaner than I found it or inspiring someone to do a single little green thing themselves.
I believe that travel should open your eyes—and not just to beauty and to culture but to responsibility. Yes, we do share the world; and how we travel the world does matter. When I board that plane, I’ll not only have a suitcase in tow. I’ll have an attitude—and a quiet commitment to the world that even as I travel it, I’ll strive to leave it intact.
