Traveling and connecting with locals (not just staying in resorts, but traveling with curiosity) is a great way to grow and break down barriers we have. I lived for a year in Germany, and for 9 years in the UK — both of which are culturally pretty much the same as the US — and it changed my life.

But my wife is from India, and while she’s of a similar socio-economic & educational class, being in a cross-cultural relationship has taken that change to a whole new level. I haven’t been to the Philippines yet, but there is something to be said for cross-cultural relationships which teach you more about yourself and the world, how we’re so similar, and yet so rich in the different ways that we celebrate our diversity.

I’m not sure you can research that… there is something to be said for wisdom that comes from experience.