Evidently, I began requesting a trip to a different nation rather than the same national park we always visited. Conscious of the monster they had created, they laughed once more and offered a solution: They would take me to Argentina, our neighbor, which would be my first trip abroad; however, I needed to see more of my own country before I could embark on my adventure of visiting another hundred countries. I gladly agreed.

I knew right away that, as much as I wanted to be a part of the TCC, the main reason to travel should be what I will get out of it, not just to count countries. This could be meeting locals, trying the local cuisine, exploring nature, or trying something new. Although the “why you should travel” question is extremely subjective, I find it meaningless to cross off a country from a list just because you’ve been there.