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Having lived in three different countries across three continents I have learned to appreciate and celebrate the difference between the different customs and cultures. Once you go out to another country you learn that people have their own lives to lead and don't really care about USA on a day to day basis. Yes, US culture of McDonald's and Hollywood movies are present in big cities of other countries but once you go past that you appreciate what the local has to offer. You can incorporate the good practices in your daily life.
And you start to appreciate USA for all its its faults and see it in a new light.
I do like the Mark Twain quote, but don't you think things have changed a lot since then? With globalization and the Internet, travel isn't necessary.
Also, in Mark Twain's time, maybe a city like London was so vastly superior to almost every other place else on earth that you would come back from a visit to the city a totally changed person.
Maybe you would want to permanently upgrade your living standards, for example, after such a visit. This is what often happens to people who come from poor countries and visit rich countries.
I've lived in a foreign country and loved it. But after 6 years I was ready to come home. I hear other people complaining about the USA and planning to move elsewhere and all I think is, "you go right on ahead. I'm staying here, and I bet you'll be back before the end of 6 years is up."
I don't care if traveling in broadening or not. I enjoy traveling. I like to see new places and meet new people and learn about new cultures. I love to visit museums, ruined castles, and lovely scenery. I've never thought that it had any real world value at all. I do it because I enjoy doing it.
It certainly CAN expand your point of view. However, some people just take the same vacation year after year...or even though they go to a different place it's still the same "all-inclusive" and they never get off the property. Not all travel is created equal. And there doesn't have to be an "a ha" moment for you to learn about others, learn about yourself, etc.
It certainly CAN expand your point of view. However, some people just take the same vacation year after year...or even though they go to a different place it's still the same "all-inclusive" and they never get off the property. Not all travel is created equal. And there doesn't have to be an "a ha" moment for you to learn about others, learn about yourself, etc.
To be clear, I look back on my time living abroad with fondness. Of course it affected me, just like every other experience that I've had in my life. Before I left the States, I was fairly well aware that there was, in fact, a whole big world out there- so going abroad really didn't fundamentally change my outlook in that way.
So, no, I didn't have an "a-ha" moment where I saw the light and changed my outlook. I simply don't look at travel in that way.
I don't care if traveling in broadening or not. I enjoy traveling. I like to see new places and meet new people and learn about new cultures. I love to visit museums, ruined castles, and lovely scenery. I've never thought that it had any real world value at all. I do it because I enjoy doing it.
Before I had the means to travel, I always imagined far away places being so different. Just weird different, not relatable different.
After pretty much traveling the world, no matter where I go, 90% of it feels like home. Maybe that's because no matter where one goes, people aren't that different. Spouses argue the same in Japan as they do here. A father is as proud of his boy's big fish catch in Cook Islands as he is here.
Russia sticks out at scary similar. Like walking over a hill and discovering another whole valley of rednecks just like myself. Drinking together you would have never guessed we grew up on opposite sides of the world. Same life views, same values, same personalities, same one more shot for good luck and another to forget
Last edited by HansProof; 07-05-2016 at 09:22 PM..
Before I had the means to travel, I always imagined far away places being so different. Just weird different, not relatable different.
After pretty much traveling the world, no matter where I go, 90% of it feels like home. Maybe that's because no matter where one goes, people aren't that different. Spouses argue the same in Japan as they do here. A father is as proud of his boy's big fish catch in Cook Islands as he is here.
Russia sticks out at scary similar. Like walking over a hill and discovering another whole valley of rednecks just like myself. Drinking together you would have never guessed we grew up on opposite sides of the world. Same life views, same values, same personalities, same one more shot for good luck and another to forget
I really enjoyed this post because when I was 20 and never left the country I felt the same way. After living and traveling abroad you realize that humans truly are the same everywhere. Sure there are cultural differences, but humans are human.
I remember walking out of the casino one day and seeing a big nerd with a ponytail and a dragon Ball z shirt. Went to a gym and had Arnold posters everywhere. We're all the same, just separated by borders and languages.
Nice post
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