Global Awareness for Travelers
We are an educational, non-profit travel organization advocating for culturally-curious travelers to be able to enhance their global awareness for a wide-reaching travel experience.
Travel with New Eyes
Our purpose is to encourage engaged travelers to heighten senses, broaden perspectives, learn more, and enhance relationships for deep and culturally-rich travel experiences.
Global awareness is under-standing our place and our relationships in the wider world by becoming more aware of world history, cultures, worldviews, global issues, and personal and global 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 perfect opportunity to learn more about our uncertain and challenging world. As fortunate world travelers, it is important to be aware and well-informed global citizens and to bring our wisdom and perspectives back home to share with others.
The importance
of global awareness …
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 help us to wisely formulate our own views, thoughts, and actions.
When practicing global awareness…
"Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." - Miriam Beard"
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 see the world with new eyes, hear fresh perspectives, think about new ideas, seek out authentic experiences, and try to better understand your place and purpose in the world, then the global awareness approach to travel is for you.
“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, each contain four paths.
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—help 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. Travel can heighten our awareness about our own life and our contributions to the wider world.
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 to integrate personal and global well-being. $12.95 (204 pgs, with illustrations)
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. Avid traveler and author of 11 books.
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. Denise R. 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 and thoughts for practicing global awareness through travel.
Fortress, Tallinn, Estonia, photo Denise Ames -
Global Awareness Articles
Dr. Denise R. Ames writes compelling longer-form articles about global awareness topics, places she has traveled, and time-honored insights. View her inspiring topics.
Coming Soon!!
Tea in South Korea, photo Denise Ames -
About the Blog and Articles
My topics include world affairs/history, worldviews/culture, U.S. travel, world travel, global awareness, inward reflections, nature/hiking, personal/family, and any other
related topics that pop into my mind.Botanical Gardens, Honduras, photo D. Ames