We are huge fans of and advocates for slow travel.

Traveling slowly has allowed us the opportunity to live in a variety of different cultures and taught us more about the world than any guidebook could.

Living in a foreign culture, as opposed to just travelling through it, allows you to understand a country far beyond its tourist attractions.

There are so many excellent reasons to live abroad, at least once in your life.

#1 Live like a local

There is no better way to understand a foreign culture than by actually living and breathing in it. No matter how much the tout tells you they will show you the real or authentic side of a country, you will never experience it on a tour.

Living abroad forces you to travel slow, taking in the all of the sights, sounds, smells and idiosyncrasies of a place. You don’t just do the “must-do” sights. You reject the Trip Advisor recommendations in favour of the local-recommended eateries. You make friends with locals and don’t just spend all your time hanging out with other foreigners from your hostel.

Check out six more reasons to live abroad (and the full article) on AWOL.