pam

Most notable among the people I know who have little or no interest in traveling is my EX-husband. No wonder, eh? (I was young and naive.) ...And I actually had someone say to me, 'Why would I go to Europe? I've seen all that on TV.' <BR> <BR>My son's school has a 'world fair' each year where each classroom is a different country, and they travel around the school with their passports. The teachers always ask for things from home to display during this. One year I took my expired passport with stamps from my '85 Europe trip. One teacher asked me where I'd been. I said, "Just part of western Europe." (A friend berated me for that 'pompous'--gee, I thought it was factual--response.) But the teacher said, "Just western Europe? I've never been out of Texas!" And I still wonder, Whose fault does she think that is?

Andria

My fiance just doesnt share my passion for travel. I will do just about anything to get myself back to europe at least once a year. I would probably be living there if he was more adventurous. I guess I'll have to settle for just visits. On a positive note though, I'm on my way to being a teacher and summers off means weeks in paris, i cant wait.

Kim

I have a couple of friends who have no real interest in travelling overseas. When asked, they don't really know why, they just don't care if they go. I don't think they would give up a free trip, but they certainly don't care enough to make it happen. I got back from my second trip to Europe 2 months ago and can't wait to go back again. Their attitude is unfathomable to me because I would like to visit every nook and cranny of the world if I had the time and money. But, they have interests that I don't share. So who am I to say boo?

Diane

My late mother and father-in-law had no interest in foreign travel. They had the money, the time, and (for many years) the good health. But they preferred staying in their own house up north in the spring/summer, and their own place in Florida in winter. They loved to play golf and go boating. They loved each other dearly, were married for over 50 years, and died within 2 years of each other. (She died last, of cancer, but I think it was hastened by a broken heart.) Their children all enjoy travel, in varying degrees. We all wondered why they didn't travel more, but they were happy, so it didn't really matter.

michele

Yes, I know plenty of people who have no interest in traveling abroad. DO NOT ENCOURAGE THEM! It is crowded enough out there.

Trina

Lynn - <BR> <BR>You have definitely struck a chord here. Allow me to explain- as some of you know, I live in Germany (stationed with my military hubby). And in the 5+ years we've been here, you would not believe how many times I've heard people complain about how little there is to do here! I'm not making this up. We live only 4 hours from Paris, 4 hours from Switzerland, and 5 hours from Amsterdam, yet I know dozens of people who never leave the base during their entire 3+ years here. It's really sickening considering all of the unfortunate souls back home that will never have an opportunity to leave their home state, nevermind flying overseas. Unfortunately, my husband also falls into this category. Unless we are going somewhere with a beach and lots of sun, he refuses to travel with me. I haven't let that stop me, though. I've enjoyed many excursions and don't plan on leaving Europe until I've seen it all!

greg

One reason why someone stationed in Germany may not be interested in what it offers is in where the essence of value comes from. Things easily acquired seem to have little value. Take for example the opportunities that the children have at schools. While there are tremendous variations depending on where they go, they have overall more opportunities than those went to schools during less presporous times in this century. While I regularly volunteer at a nearby school, I cannot notice how little values students place in the opportunities within their grasps. My daughter tells me about students in her French class how they proud themselves in saying "they can't make me learn anything." I am saddened by us adults having to pay tuition out of pocket and fight traffics to attend community college language classes at night across the town, coming home late at night. At least I have this opportunity where I live. I wish I can take their places attending all expense paid advanced language classes next to my house instead. <BR>

hycinth

Well, my office mate is very defensive about my upcoming trip to Europe. I don't recall asking her why she wasn't going too, but she did take it upon herself to explain why she wasn't going <BR>First off, her husband owns a business (hard to get away). Second, she says she likes her children to spend time with their cousins and form strong relationships rather than trotting around to places they can't properly appreciate. Gotta admit, there's logic in that! <BR> Third, not everyone has enough vacation/money to make a European trip worthwhile.

gregoire

Well, I like that one ! <BR>Yes, it is true that some people don't care about traveling, and I'd say Bob is close to an answer : no interest. But why ? How come you can decide you're NOT INTERESTED !? <BR>It seems to me to be a matter of education. Adrienne said she was so greatful to the woman who encouraged her to travel. You can send a virgin traveler almost anywhere, but ask him/her to just try it once, and only if the personn didn't like it should he/she be encouraged to travel again. Other than that he/she will volunteer to more travel by himself with great pleasure ! <BR>Being french I've had a very hard time enjoying the us at first, even though I was almost fluent when I came here (I lived in NY till the age of 4). People ARE different, and we have such a HUGE prejudice against each other's countries, that, added to the real difficulties -languages, diets, fields of interest, etc...- it makes it very hard to appreciate. How many times have I seen my fellow froggies temporarily located on this side of the atlantic being snobish to those capitalistic materialistic americans ?!?! Well, I am being too french, but there is really something about americans -there are thousands of things a french will forgive any foreign guy but to us citizens. And I had to see the good part of it to like it, my skills were not enough to allow me to feel confortable at first, even though I had travel several times in Europe/Asia before. <BR>Now let's talk about americans disregarding Europe : I feel the "no-interest" syndrome is just due to a lack of interest for nice urban devellopement -you know what I mean, the little cafe in front of the church where everybody gathers at the end of the day, the cosy pedestrian downtowns, and other pretty neighbourhoods. Houses areas are nice here, but it seems to me that most of US is made of appartement complexes that all look the same, highways, and malls, malls, everwhere. Right, I'm not in the best place to say that : Dallas, Texas. I've seen others where it's much nicer. But it doesn't really seem to actually go towards more and more concern of building nice cities. It is so rare to see someone walking in the street -if it happens, it means the personn is lost, is doing a sport perfomance record, is or in trouble. Dallas is getting uglier every month, I can see it, and I don't think it's an exception. Now, if you were born in a big city like that, where outside town is just open land -so wide-, and TV just shows Europe as being : <BR>1/Old (who wants to live in an old house in the US ?) <BR>2/Small (same...) <BR>3/Alegdely intelectual and snobish <BR>4/Always on strike <BR>...Then why would one like to go there ? <BR> Our former american neighbourgs, who live a lovely house on the Hudson river north from NY, are very dynamic people, and I should say rich enough to spend the rest of their life abroad. The father is just scared about coming to France, he thinks he won't get an ATM to save his life. Meanwhile one of his 11 children got a chance to come to Europe as a kid, and currently lives in Geneva for he couldn't find a job in Paris, but he's so eager to get there, you can't imagine ! One "knows", the other one doesn't. <BR> Same for this collegue, young engineer who mainly drinks Budweiser while looking at football : he's being send to la Ciotat, Provence, south of France, and kept grumling since he learned it. He just doesn't know ! Why would he enjoy two jet-lags in 5 days in a country where he doesn't understand a word ? It's just like god : why follow him if it's just for pain ? No reason. But if you're educated -and you met him, and bla-bla-bla, there you'll become a christian. <BR> So after all, as I said, I see it as a matter of education. Indeed Europe has all the problems I mentionned, but it has great things that just makes you forget them ! If you know how great it is to live in a wonderfull city like, you won't keep thinking there nothing in the world but your hometown. And as soon as you get a chance to actually meet the people, it's getting fantastic. <BR>And it's the same on the other side : there are great things to enjoy being here. Ok, US government needs to improve (or start ...) an urban policy to prevent money from talking too much before the whole country is destroyed. And probably americans should be a bit more interested in philosophy. But still you can enjoy lots of things, and the good part of the "american way of life", once you've had a chance to see it, and you've made the effort to like it. I've had a hard time getting my hyper-anti-american wife to the conclusion that it's not that bad, and it's clear that I would never have reach that point without coming here. But now she likes it, she's no longer disliking americans, even the wild Texans -it's easier to like people in San Francisco, I don't know why... <BR>Now, if YOU are rich, try that : accept to reimbourse your shy fellows the trip if they don't like it. I'm sure if you take them to a place you know they will like it, you won't have to take a penny out of your pocket. <BR>Last thing : Thanks to all you american guys who flew overseas. It makes you so much different from the others. All the people I really liked here had seen parts of Europe -they're still deeply yankees and red necks, but something was opened, that made them even more interesting then many, many europeans. <BR>Again : EDUCATION !!!!!!!

elvira

Different strokes for different folks. Just think if EVERYONE travelled! Why, everything would be crowded, you'd never get a table in a restaurant, everyone would be more tolerant and understanding, people would accept averse conditions more calmly, Amtrack would be in the black, you'd always have to pay the rack rate....just imagine the havoc! People learning different languages! Boston Brahmins eating grits! Floridians having to buy mittens! Sakes alive, all hell would break loose! No no let's just leave everything just the way it is....

Lori

<BR>Message to Maira: <BR>My mother says the same thing. She says "Why spend all that money when all you have left are some pictures and memories'. Thank God of all the things I DID inherit from her, that attitude isn't one of them.

Erin

Great thread Lynn! Yes I do know someone who refuses to travel ANYWHERE, although I must admit I am thankful. Why...she's my cat sitter! Because she refuses to leave the confines of her apartment (with four cats and 2 hamsters), I can get up and go and never have to worry about my kitty! Every time I tell her about an upcoming trip I have planned, she starts talking about her one and only vacation (hideous cruise to the Caribbean taken YEARS ago) and how "no place is like home".