Traveler Interview: Morgan Large
Morgan Large is an agricultural communications graduate student at the University of Arkansas. After growing up in Belmont, Ohio and graduating from The Ohio State University, Morgan packed up her bags last spring and moved west for a new adventure in Arkansas. She currently works as a graduate teaching assistant for the university while completing her degree. After graduation, Morgan hopes to find a communications job anywhere in the United States or the world with an emphasis on production agriculture.
Traveling to 11 countries with plans to add more to her list, Morgan was bit by the travel bug as soon as she graduated high school. From Europe to anywhere in the eastern United States, she has been there and tried her best to make a stop at any location. With a trip planned to this summer to visit the great American West and Scotland next summer, Morgan is always on the go wanting to see, learn about, and experience new locations.
The Jones: What inspires you to travel?
Morgan: The adventure and the opportunity to always see and experience something new inspires me to travel. Even if you have been somewhere once, there is always something new to see or do the next time you visit. That feeling of adventure and seeing what the world has to offer, keeps me going. I have to see new places and have new experiences. You only live once!
Have you always enjoyed travel? What contributed to your love of travel?
Morgan: When I was younger, we always traveled by car and at that age anywhere seems to take hours upon hours to get anywhere. I was not a big fan of traveling then, but I ultimately grew into it.
My grandmother contributed to my love of travel, and I could not thank her enough. When I was younger, she would take me on bus trips to visit the Carolinas and then on one of the biggest adventures of my life, which was traveling to Europe for three weeks after my high school graduation. It was really then when my love for travel sparked, and I do not see myself slowing down anytime soon.
You already traveled to 11 countries outside of the U.S. How has international travel influenced you?
Morgan: International travel has influenced me in the greatest way possible. It has taught me to be appreciative of both what we have here in the United States and what other countries have to offer both good and bad. Traveling to all of those countries has made me appreciate the country’s landscape, the culture, the differences, the food, and finally coming home. International travel has made me a diverse, more knowledgeable individual both in the classroom and the real world.
Lake Wakatipu, South Island, New Zealand
What is your favorite destination? Why?
Morgan: This is an easy answer, New Zealand. From the North Island to the South Island, New Zealand is my all time favorite travel destination. Its candid natural beauty, weather, wildlife, and people make for the perfect travel destination. I was able to experience sheep shearing, salmon farming, the Auckland Zoo, the pebbled beaches of the coast, whale watching, and visit famous cities like Christchurch and Rotorua. I even hope that one day I could live there for an extended period of time.
A seal on New Zealand’s South Island
What destination has surprised you the most, either good or bad?
Morgan: Mexico surprised me the most for not necessarily good or bad experience, but rather an eye opening one. I traveled to Cuernavaca in that state of Morelos in Mexico. I had never been to Mexico before so I had no preconceived notions, and Cuernavaca was not one of those beach-laden towns you think of when you hear about Mexico or crime riddled, poor one. It was a middle class town full of culture, some nightlife, excellent food, and people living their normal everyday lives. My eyes were opened to what Mexico is all about.
What was special about this experience was that I was able to live with a host mom in the town so I felt like I truly was immersed in the culture of Cuernavaca.
Morgan (left) with her Host Mom Marilu (center, right) in Cuernavaca, Mexico
Why do you consider travel important?
Morgan: Though exhausting at times, travel is refreshing and rejuvenating for me. People need to travel to value other places and locations both nationally and internationally. It is truly misfortunate to hear people say they do not want to leave the place they are currently. Travel makes us richer as individuals and impacts others around us with the cultures and experiences we share. Travel is important to remind us of where came from and where we are going.
The coastline at Nice, France
From your travels, do you have a practice or insight that makes your travel experiences more enjoyable?
Morgan: Go places that make you happy, that will inspire you, and promote growth. Everyone is different so visit and explore places you want to see and experience.
Always know that no matter how much you plan, something is bound to go wrong, but instead just go with the flow. It may lead to a great experience or interesting story in the long run.
A final insight that I have is pack for any kind of weather conditions. Even though I am quite the over packer myself, you never know what kind of weather is going to pop up so be prepared!
Read More Traveler Interviews:
- “I never knew I could enjoy life so much without electricity “;” A Travel Chat with a southeastern Missouri Attorney
- “Be flexible. Un-planned events are our favorites.” A Travel Chat with the Johnsons, former European Ex-pats
- “You can read about other parts of the world, but until you experience it, you don’t truly appreciate what is out there.” A Travel Chat with an Investment Advisor
What fuels your travel passion? Please share in comments.