Global Awareness for Travelers
We are an informational, non-profit travel organization encouraging culturally-curious travelers to practice global awareness for a deep and wide-reaching travel experience.
Travel with New Eyes
Our purpose is to inspire engaged travelers to heighten senses, broaden perspectives, and enhance relationships for rich and expansive travel experiences.
Global awareness is understanding our place in the wider world and our relationships by becoming more aware of world history, cultures, worldviews, global issues, and personal well-being.
What is Global Awareness?
A Village in Iran, photo Denise Ames
Our species is at a critical juncture in our long human history and travel is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our challenging world. As fortunate world travelers, it is important to be aware and well-informed, bringing our wisdom and perspectives home to share.
Why is Gloabal Awareness Important?
Berlin Wall, Germany, photo Denise Ames
Try expanding your mindset, thinking holistically, appreciating global perspectives, and holding balanced views.
This approach gives travelers an understanding of the world which can inform them to wisely formulate their own views, thoughts, and actions.
When practicing global awareness…
Roman Ruins, Tyre, Lebanon, photo Denise Ames
Gyeongbuck Palace, Seoul, South Korea, photo Denise Ames
Is Globally Aware Travel for You?
If you are a lifelong learner who is eager to seek out authentic experiences, see the world with new eyes, hear different ideas, better understand your place and purpose in the world, then try a globally aware practice of travel.
“Your journey lies before you and will be what you make it.”
— Dr. Denise R. Ames
Practicing Global Awareness
Ways of understanding global awareness are arranged into eight paths—an outward and inward focus.
Outward Paths
1.
Holistic World History:
Learning from the Past
The past has much to reveal to us. This holistic, “big picture,” approach to history organizes human development into five waves—Communal, Agricultural, Urban, Modern, and Global.
2.
Five Worldviews:
Different Ways We See the World
Will we ever get along? Issues seen through the lens of five worldviews—indigenous, traditional, progressive, globalized, and transformative—helps us understand ourselves and others.
3.
Cross-Cultural Awareness:
Learning About and From Others
Are we all weird? We explore cultural differences and human commonalities using a cross-cultural organizer and other approaches.
4.
Global Issues:
A Primer for Travelers
Travelers may encounter or want to know more about five significant global issues: environment, global economy, political structures, social issues, and belief systems.
Great Wall of China, photo Denise Ames
Inward Paths
5.
Time Honored Insights:
Integrating Wisdom of the Ages
Like the ancient philosophers of the past, integrating time-honored insights—understanding, balancing, connecting, opening up, and laughing—into our travels unlocks wisdom.
6.
Well-Being:
Travel as a Journey of Discovery
Well-being is a good or satisfactory condition of existence and exists at a personal and global level.
7.
Travel as a Mythic Journey:
Embarking Upon a Personal Quest
A mythic journey is a personal quest to deepen insights about our inward life and our greater purpose in the outer world.
8.
Lessons from Travel:
Applications for Our Daily Life
The lessons of travel may be simple or multi-faceted. Travel has the capacity to teach us many lessons if we open to its magic.
Klaipedia, Lithuania, photo Denise Ames
Travel with New Eyes:
A Global Awareness Guide for Travelers
by Dr. Denise R. Ames
This thought-provoking book makes the case for a new focus of travel—globally aware travel—by suggesting ways to become more aware of world history, cultures, worldviews, global issues, and integrate personal well-being.
Meet the Team
Dr. Denise R. Ames and Mia D. Beurskens are happy to work with you to enhance your global awareness while traveling.
Dr. Denise R. Ames
Founder
Veteran educator of world history, U.S. history, world cultures, global issues, geography, and global awareness.
Photo: Dr. Denise R. Ames at the Haigia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey
Mia D. Beurskens
Partner
Award winning graphic designer specializing in exhibit design, with an interest in global awareness and travel.
Photo: Mia D. Beurskens at Calder's Flamingo in Chicago, Illinois
Global Awareness Blog and Articles
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Dr. Ames, Author
Veteran educator Dr. Denise R. Ames is passionate about traveling and learning about different cultures and their history; she hopes to share her passion, knowledge, and lived experiences with fellow engaged travelers.
Denise in front of a mosque in Iran.
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Global Awareness Blog
Follow Dr. Denise R. Ames as she weaves stories into her thoughtful blogs about her captivating U.S. and world travels, hiking adventures, experiences in nature, and tips for practicing global awareness through travel.
Fortress, Tallinn, Estonia, photo Denise Ames -
Articles
Denise writes compelling longer-form articles about global awareness topics, places she has traveled, and time-honored insights. View her inspiring topics.
Tea in South Korea, photo Denise Ames