It is common to hear citizens of my country fantasize about traveling beyond the shores to other parts of the world, especially for the sake of seeking greener pastures, some just for the fun of exploring and learning about a different culture, and others for educational purposes. I understand that no country is without its flaws, but the declining state of our economy has left most of us with no choice but to seek this route as our only means of escaping the frustration our government policies and the dwindling value of our currency have put us through especially this year.
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If only the situation of the country was favourable, no one would think of immigrating to another country, after all, there is no place like home, traveling out would be just a way of enhancing our personal growth, gaining knowledge about others rich culture and further appreciate how diverse the world is, traveling would be considered more than just a mere luxury, if you've ever considered traveling out or not, because opportunities can come when we least expect, there is a humble yet very valuable document that grants us this access, the international passport
As little or should I say humble as it looks, it is more than just a collection of pages and stamps, whether you already have plans to travel or not, it is necessary we have this document handy, because of the numerous opportunities it brings us. It is not enough to wish to travel around the world without even owning an international passport, I know it can be a bit stressful physically and financially trying to obtain one here in Nigeria, but as long as you hire the assistance of a right agent, you can get your passport done as soon as two weeks period, currently a 64 pages document that is said to last for 10 years duration, the currentt budget for a passport in Nigeria cost nothing below 80- 100 HBD, which I think it's worth the value it provides
Owning an international passport is not just for the leisure of traveling for holidays, or educational purposes alone, it is also important for every business owner who seeks growth, connection, and knowledge on how to improve their business, you need an international passport, Do you know that some of the phones we use here in Nigeria are manufactured by done Nigerians who traveled to China to get first-hand experience on how they are made, and also learn the more intricate sides of dealing with phones and gadgets business as most of their parts are usually exported, traveling affords them that experience.
Furthermore, imagine how exciting it would be to get a scholarship to study abroad, just like I read from a Hiver's post recently, about how her two sisters were given scholarships abroad, this allows them to be part of a foreign university and get the benefit of a more academic traditions compared to what we have here, and they are surely going to gain first-hand exposure to diverse perspectives and approaches to learning. With an international passport in hand, there is no longer a barrier to cross-cultural education, allowing students to reach their peak in learning and lifestyle changes by developing a global mindset.
Reminds me of the first time my friend Joy stepped foot in Dubia, without telling me, I knew that was the most exciting day of her life, you can feel the thrill in her voice, she said the traveling experience is another education on its own that everyone needs to experience at one point in their lives, she also made mention of feeling like she was in heaven hehe. We've gotten so used to the familiar confines of our own communities and cultures, that traveling allows us to engage with different belief systems, traditions, and ways of life.
No doubt that learning about other people's cultures has the power to change our preconceptions, clear up ignorance we've held on to since we were born, and also increase our understanding of people and their cultures beyond borders. Through the help of an international passport, we come to realize that our differences are not sources of division but rather a way we can come together as one.
No doubt that when people travel to a new country, they tend to face some challenges and uncertainties that demand resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace the fear of the unknown. In doing so, it helps us achieve valuable life skills, problem-solving attitudes, and communication skills, giving us the ability to thrive anywhere we find ourselves in the world.
A church member recently traveled and I was scared for her because even though she had a job waiting for her over there, she had problems with the English language, imagine someone who already had issues communicating fluently with Nigerian English traveling to the UK, to cut the long story short, it is almost a year now, and she has blended so nicely, even speaks better now, I believe she received all the motivation to get better so she can blend in and function well.
In the end, the true value of an international passport does not lie in the stamps and Visa that follow alongside, but in the transformative power it can give its owner, it gives us the power to broaden our perspective about diverse ways of life, challenge our preconceptions, gain deeper wisdom and connections with every experience gotten through travels.
So, let us all be encouraged to get ourselves one if you haven't already, I believe you are already convinced at this point about the importance of a passport, so let's embrace this powerful document not just as a means of transit but as a symbol of our collective commitment to understanding the world, For in the pages of an international passport lies your dream.
This post is inspired by the #Aprilinleo monthly topics, don't get stuck not knowing what to write about daily, checkout the announcement post for more details.