Thank goodness I don’t have a car here in England. Walking on the left side of the sidewalk is hard enough, so I can’t imagine trying to drive on the left hand side of the road.

Things are different everywhere you go--especially if you travel outside of the United States. However, variations from our normal routine should not stop our curiosity and wonder about all the places we would love to go. We should take advantage of opportunities to travel, to see new places, taste new food, and meet new people. In this age of worldwide communication and commerce, we are much more likely to travel, work or live somewhere outside of South Carolina or even outside of the US.

I often thought about all the places I would like to visit when sitting in geography class. Cathy Johnson sparked my interest of new places and people in the seventh grade, and Trena Edgerton enhanced my global knowledge in the ninth grade. But, it takes more than geography to learn about the world.

History and geography will give us a foundation for understanding other people-whether they are from Texas or China. More study in politics, sociology and economics will teach us more about those places in which we are interested. As the global community becomes more connected, we must accept the challenge of learning about others. Our jobs-whether in government, private business, or the military-may require some knowledge of other peoples and other places.

In recent years, studies have told us that US students are weak in science and mathematics. These subjects are indeed important, but we should not leave out the critical historical and cultural understanding both of the United States and of the world.

I have always been interested in politics. My early interest in American government has evolved into a passion to study international affairs. Through opportunities of travel and study abroad, I have had the chance to meet many people from several continents. Indeed, I am truly fortunate and blessed to have these experiences.

Here at Warwick, I have already met people from Canada, China, England, France, Iran, Italy, Germany, Greece, Japan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Serbia, South Korea, and Spain. When I say, “I am from South Carolina in the United States” most students know exactly where South Carolina is located. Unfortunately, I am not always as good about reciprocating my knowledge about their home country.

It is true that the United States is a very large country and is separated from much of the world. This, of course, is a huge difference from the Europeans that can hop across national borders like we cross state borders. But that does not mean that our schools should ignore teaching about other places in their curricula. Academic knowledge in this area now translates into better career options, not just more time to spend with vacation guides.

There is a lifetime of information about the world--its complicated history, enriching culture, stirring political struggles and achievements. I have only begun to scrape off the top layer in my studies. Yet, experiences abroad continue to build my knowledge of international affairs, opening the door to conversations with different people everyday.

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Lucas McMillan is a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar studying international relations at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England. He represents the Rotary Club of Mullins and Rotary District 7770 of South Carolina.

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