Traveling abroad is actually not all that difficult or expensive. With the amount of crap that most Americans spend on consumer goods, there is no excuse for the lack of travel. It is simply a matter of priorities. In America, traveling abroad is a sort of "wouldn't that be nice" experience whereas in other countries it's a rite of passage, something a young adult MUST do in order to get a better sense of themselves, the world and how they fit into the grand scheme of things.

How many of us drop 30 bucks at PetSmart on non-essential items? How many of us buy unnecessary items for our entertainment? No, the issue is not money. It's where our priorities lie. And to many Americans, they see no reason why they should ever leave. And that's the root of many a problem.

While living in New Zealand, I met young people who faced greater financial difficulties than most Americans. Yet, somehow, they managed to save the money to go out and see the world.

People will always make excuses, but where there's a will, there's a way still applies. We just don't have the will.