Travel is a wonderful thing. It opens our eyes, our minds, and our hearts to a myriad of new places, people, and possibilities. It relieves us from the constraints of the everyday, of the nearby, and pushes our boundaries in new and exciting ways.

I’m firmly of the belief that everyone should travel. And that everyone should travel solo on at least one occasion (but that’s for another day). 

The US J-1 visa is a very interesting visa under the non-immigrant category. It is used to allow teachers, exchange visitors, and scholars to participate in US programs promoting cultural exchanges. In most situations, the visa is used to get business or medical training in the country, but other situations do apply. Applicants have to meet strict eligibility criteria that are much stricter than the ESTA based visa waiver program.

It's no secret that Paris, the City of Light, has long been a tourist favorite. Why?  For starters, Paris undoubtedly hosts some of the most well-known museums, monuments and historical sites that have inspired authors and artists for centuries.