Raising Global Citizens: Seeing the World Through a Different Lens
Visiting the “House of Slaves” in Senegal
One of the most powerful gifts travel can give our kids isn’t just stamps in their passports — it’s perspective.
When you travel often, you start to notice something interesting: so many people move through the world assuming their way is the right way. The way they eat, dress, speak, and live becomes the standard by which they measure everything else. But when you open yourself up to new places and cultures, you begin to realize that different doesn’t mean wrong, it simply means different.
That’s the mindset we try to model and pass on to our children. Our hope is that by seeing the world through a variety of lenses, they’ll grow into adults who approach others with empathy and humility.
Entitlement and the Limits of Exploration
I’ll be honest, entitlement in travel is one of my biggest pet peeves. It’s something you notice quickly when visiting other countries: people assuming their comfort, preferences, or cultural norms should follow them wherever they go.
We experienced this firsthand during a trip to Japan. We were visiting a shop where women could be dressed in traditional kimonos — a beautiful, centuries-old art form that’s handled with great care and precision. As we were there, a woman (from a country I’m sure you can guess) was being fitted began correcting the shop attendant, insisting the kimono she was given was the wrong size.
The woman didn’t realize or care to learn that kimono dressing isn’t about modern “fit” or tailoring, it’s a deeply cultural practice, layered with symbolism, history, and respect. Watching that moment unfold made me uncomfortable, but also deeply reflective and if I’m honest, really embarrassed to be from the same country.
Because entitlement like that limits your ability to truly explore.
You can’t see a culture if you’re constantly comparing it to your own. You can’t learn if you’re unwilling to be a guest.
When we approach travel with the idea that our way is best, we build walls instead of bridges. But when we approach it with curiosity, patience, and humility — the world opens itself up to us in ways we couldn’t have imagined.
Traditional tea ceremony in Tokyo
How We’re Teaching Our Kids to Travel with Intention
For us, traveling respectfully isn’t a single “lesson” — it’s something we practice on every trip.
Here are a few ways we help our kids stay curious, grounded, and open-minded as we explore new places together:
Learn a few words in the local language. A simple “hello” or “thank you” can go a long way in showing respect. The older generations of locals seem to really appreciate this!!
Understand local norms. For instance, in Japan we learned to keep quiet on public trains — it’s one of the ways locals show respect for shared spaces. It takes some research but it’s important to us.
Talk about differences. We have open conversations about how other countries do things differently, and why that’s not “wrong.”
Explore religions and customs. We study the traditions and beliefs that shape a culture’s daily life. Hearing calls to pray in many of the countries we have visited like, Türkiye, Gambia and Senegal was an amazing opportunity to talk about beliefs.
Avoid assumptions. We remind the kids (and ourselves!) that what’s normal for us isn’t universal. Like pointing, can be a BIG no no in some places.
Try local foods. Food is such an easy and joyful way to connect with a new culture. This is a challenge at times but our kids are great sports and have been use to this since very early on.
Make every trip educational. A museum visit or historical walking tour always deepens our understanding of where we are. This is definitely one of my FAVORITE ways to expose the kids to a new country.
More Than Travel — A Way of Living
The longer we travel, the more I realize that these lessons reach far beyond airports and border crossings. They shape how our kids treat the people they meet right at home.
Raising globally minded children isn’t about showing them the world just for fun, it’s about teaching them to recognize the beauty and humanity in every person they encounter.
And for our family, that understanding runs even deeper. Our kids have experienced life as foreigners, learning to navigate new schools, languages, and customs. That perspective is something no classroom could ever teach!!
Through it all, we’ve seen God’s goodness reflected in every culture, every connection, every small act of kindness. Our hope is that wherever life takes us next, our kids will continue to carry that same love and respect, seeing the world not through judgment, but through wonder.
