IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE'VE LEARNED IN RECENT YEARS, IT'S THAT IT'S A small world after all. After a pandemic pause, travel has rebounded, and people are appreciating it like never before. The empathy and sense of community we have as global travelers - guests in other peoples' homes - is stronger than ever, making wanderlust not just a privilege, but a powerful act as well. Whether it's a road trip not far from our own backyards or a major getaway across an ocean, as much as we gain from immersing ourselves in a different place, we also forge new connections showing the common ties of humankind.