What are the advantages of traveling to [almost] every continent in the planet?

AUSTRALASIA? Where's that? Since when was ALGERIA a continent? Geography doesn't seem to be your strong suit.

I've been on 6 of the 7 continents. I never made it to AUSTRALIA. I have visited over 30 countries (some more than once) and was stationed in 3, which included a 13 month tour in Antarctica.

I have met people in all walks of life (from a simple shop keeper in Qatar who invited me to his home) to the man in charge of the Roman Presidential guard...grenadiers is what I think they are called...and was invited to HIS home. I have also been to the homes of a Saudi Arabian Navy man, the ship's chandler in Muscat, Oman, and in Mombasa Kenya. I have traveled across the width of New Zealand and spent a few days with the family of a Maori I met in Christ Church. I made friends of several people in a small village on the west coast of Italy, and when I returned 6 years later, it was like a home coming. I have experienced the lavishness of wealthy people in different countries, as well as the humbleness of low income people around the world. I have traveled as far north as Nova Scotia, as far east as Pakistan, as far west as Thailand, and as far south as the South Pole (where I spent 3 days while stationed in Antarctica). I have gone swimming and/or diving in the Atlantic, Pacific, Caribbean, Indian Ocean (off Kenya and Mauritius), the Red Sea, the Black Sea, the Persian (aka Arabian) Gulf, the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, and the waters off Antarctica (in an experimental 'wet suit'). I climbed part way up Mt. Erebus in Antarctica as part of a small group who went up to take readings of the only active volcano in Antarctica. I petted a wild baby Waddell seal until its mother came through the ice after my partner and me. I was chased by an Emperor penguin when I tried to get alongside it to have my picture taken with it. I spent 5 days in a quonset hut stuck in a snow storm on the Ross Ice Shelf.

I still keep in touch with three people I've met in my travels (a Sicilian Baptist minister, a Turkish naval officer, and the son of a now past Colonel in the army of Ghana). There were 4, but the Israeli soldier that befriended me in Israel on my second trip there in 1985 was killed in 1991. His sister found my letters among his things and wrote to tell me of what happened. I have found that people the world over are pretty much the same. We all want to live a quiet peaceful life (for the most part), have the freedoms to do as we like, live where we want. I learned to be more appreciative of America and the freedoms and opportunities this country affords. The amount of food ONE family throws away in one week could feed a low income family in Pakistan for weeks. We have freedoms that many in other countries could not even dream of. We bad mouth our elected leaders and it's our right. In some countries, what I've seen on here about our elected leaders would not just land a person in jail in some countries, but would sign their death warrant.

We have the right to believe (or not believe) as we wish, and the right to question the beliefs of others. Try that in Saudi Arabia or Iran, or Malaysia! We can be what ever faith we like. I have heard of at least two people a couple of years ago in Afghanistan who became Christians. Both are under death threat by THEIR GOVERNMENT for converting from Islam to Christianity (it's against the law to convert to ANY other religion).

I learned Italian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian, Cantonese, Turkish, Hindi, Swahili, Dika, Arabic, enough to get something to eat, not get lost (get directions), shop, shop and carry on a limited conversation. I already knew enough Spanish and French to accomplish the above. When in Tunisia, North Africa, I was once mistaken for an Italian because I spoke French with an Italian accent. When in Toulon and Nice/Villefranche, France, they acted like they couldn't understand my French, yet in Tunisia and Mauritius, folks had no problem understanding me.

I have experienced things that the 'kids' I grew up with could hardly dream of doing. When I relate some they look at me like I'm making it all up.

The advantages are that you become more educated about the world, your life can be more 'rounded' from your experiences, and you become more tolerant of those around you instead of looking down on them, like too many people do.

My sons have often asked me to write my experiences down. My older grand kids often asked me to tell them my 'stories', as they call them. Maybe 'one day'.

North America: Rush Europe: Black Sabbath Asia: X Japan Australia: AC/DC South America: Angra Africa: Osibisa

You learn there are people with different view points and philosophies and therefore you can amend your world view and ideas.

Also seeing what humanity has achieved throughout the centuries is nice. I always get an amazing feeling when I see what people around the world have accomplished and built.

Since when is Algeria a continent

you have an extra continent on there.

You obtain a rich culture, learn new languages and become very open minded

Why exclude Antartica? Penguins are nice....and they are always dressed nice.