Fact: Eating local is an essential part of travel. It lets you immerse yourself in the culture (stroopwafels are a rite of passage in Amsterdam), be adventurous with international foods and spices (fried scorpions in China, anyone?), or simply find your new favorite bite (where do we even begin?).

And besides, there’s nothing quite like that first sip of espresso in Italy. Or that tentative nibble of fermented shark in Iceland. Love it or hate it, you’ll develop opinions you never would have otherwise, and get a feel for what you want to try more of.

Best of all, international foods and spices help us realize one of the most important takeaways of travel: Even if you don’t share the same tastes as someone else (literal or otherwise), it doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate their culture and hope to learn more about it.

So be daring at the Thai night markets. Share tapas with new friends. And definitely order multiple scoops whenever you stumble across gelato. Because food is one of those special rarities that brings people together. And that’s something we can all raise a glass to. So, cheers to teachers like you, making all this a reality for your students.

Ready to dig into your next adventure? Browse our itineraries for a taste of what educational travel can give your school community.

Editor’s note (2021): This piece has been updated for clarity, accuracy, and relevance.