Hi: <BR> <BR>I've received some negative responses too, such as "Why are you going there" or "How can you afford it." What I do now is only tell those people who will wish me a good trip. <BR> <BR>Rita

Nope, I've never had anyone ask me a question like that. <BR> <BR>On the other hand, I've asked people why they're going to a particular country, but that's only out of curiousity, to discover why they've picked one country over another.

I also get some of these questions. I do have an answer for those who ask "But there is so much to see in the US" since I do agree and have visited 47 states. I also get blank stares when some gets in my car with me and hears a tape on Polish, Romanian, Spanish etc. I have brought some of my albums to work and have a few postcards and pictures haning on my wall and those that have seen them becore more interested. The only ones in my family that have traveled did so in the Military service and have not done so since. At least most of them have shown interest in seeing my pictures and hearing about my trips. I am fortunatly to work with several people from other countries including Russa, Iran, Austria and South America to name a few. <BR>KEEP ON TRAVELING. <BR>Regards <BR>Art <BR>

I can feel your pain. People who know me aren't at all baffeled, although they mostly have no desire to go themselves. I absolutely love to talk about my travels and experiences abroad because it is part of who I am, but sometimes I wonder if it irritates others. <BR> <BR>Heather, the Sylvania part is too funny. I took a study abroad course once, and we visited a factory outside of Debrecen, Hungary that makes lightbulb filaments for GE. It was pretty interesting actually. I wouldn't be surprised if Sylvania had a plant right down the road.

While I was planning our trip to Italy three years ago, my aunt (very German) asked, "What's wrong with Germany?" "Nothing; I just want to go to Italy." When my mom told my aunt that she was going to Italy with me this spring, aunt asked, "What's the big deal with Italy?" <BR> <BR>One answer I've used when people say "It must be nice," is, "Oh, yes, Italy is WONDERFUL!" <BR> <BR>On a different subject, when I told people I'd met my birthparents (when I was 34), people would ask my why I searched, and say, "It's not like you were ABUSED or anything, is it?" as if my family which adopted me had ANYTHING to do with my searching. (I'm just very glad that I had traveling genes AND grew up in a traveling family!)

Maybe it's a generational thing. I'm in my mid-20s and I don't know anyone who hasn't gone to Europe - except my boyfriend who doesn't even have a passport!! People are always surprised when they hear that.. <BR>

The only reaction I have gotten when telling about trip to Italy is; <BR>Will you take me with you? <BR> <BR>When my husband and I went to Tobago, that drew a lot of blank stars, and then when we explained where it was, people wanted to know why we did not pick Bahamas, or Aruba. <BR>(Tobago was beautiful in 1975 and 1985, but have not been back since International Airport opened.)

I don't get a lot of strange reactions from people other than my Korean dentist, who always asks me if I'm going back to France and then tells me the one time he was there he hated it "because there were people having sex in the parks." Go figure. <BR>But I've certainly encountered some people with strange attitudes about Europe. Once, when I was returning from France, I went through the Agriculture line and an officer confiscated a jar of goose fat I had with me, leaning into my ear and telling me in very stern tones "they just don't have the same standards of hygiene over there - if you know what I mean."

I had to listen from my mother-in-law that she couldn't understand why someone would choose to go to Warsaw, Auschwitz, Prague and Berlim, because these were dangerous places and we could be kidnapp, murdered, and this sort of things. As a bonus, she asked me: Why don't you just go to Paris and Rome? They are civilized yet! <BR>Tell me, please, what can you possibly answer to someone with such ideas and which fun is to be a shop-addict? <BR>(Well, not necessary to say that she loved the bohemian cristal we brought to her, even being made in an "uncivilized" place of Europe, like she thoughts). <BR> <BR>Débora

I wish my wife and I would get the "how nice" treatment. Instead, we are getting sideways looks and bugged-out eyes when we tell people we plan a return trip to Vietnam. We've done a lot of traveling in our 70s-plus years, but few places fascinated us as much as the streets, waterways, and farms of Vietnam. And the people! So curious, so welcoming. Friends can only remember news events of a generation ago. They haven't a clue of what goes on and what is to be seen and enjoyed over there today. And there is simply no convincing them that we are sane, serious, and looking forward to our return trip. Go figure.

I heard once that around 95% of US citizens have never held a passport, I suppose there is some justification for this when you have such a vast and varied country, but I get the impression that a lot of Americans are rather 'provincial' in their outlook, and afraid to leave their comfort zone. <BR>Living in Europe, it is much easier to visit other countries and become acclimatised to different cultures. <BR>In fact I have recently been visiting the US about twice a year, and in some ways find it more 'foreign' than Europe despite us speaking approximately the same language !

Oh, yeah. Especially when we told friends we were going to Turkey. They looked as if we were going to be tortured. I am the only one in the office with a passport! And, my bulletin board is covered with picture of us from many trips. We have offered to assist friends with travel, guide them ourselves--but they tend to be more content at Disney World or on the beach. Oh well.

Al, I have a good friend who works for the federal government in Washington, D.C. He visited Vietnam on the way back from business in China a few years ago and his impressions were the same as yours, especially about the people being curious and welcoming. I happen to be much more interested in Europe than Asia, but he (and you) sure make a trip to Vietman sound tempting. Thanks!

Yes, Neville, M& J- so true. I'm not sure but I think it might be worse here in the middle of the USA, also. In my circles I meet many, many good intelligent people who are highly educated and successful financially but have never seen an ocean, yet alone crossed one. In my own huge family I am the only one who has a passport, yet that will change with the next generation that is coming of age. <BR> <BR>After my last trip to Europe, I actually had some co-workers ask a bunch of questions and really listen to the answers. A few are getting the bug, I think. BUT I still get a whole lot of, <BR>"What's wrong with Wisconsin or Minnesota? (or somewhere else that is nearer to my central USA location.) <BR> <BR>Many people are uncomfortable with travel because of the "changes" it may require. Some people feel way too challenged when out of their comfort zones. To each his own, but then they should stay home and not expect their ways to be all ways. <BR> <BR>My favorite was before and after my last trip to NYC. I must have heard at least 10 times. "NEW YORK, why are you going to NEW YORK? It's just like Chicago, only with more crowds and dirt. <BR>I have NO interest in going to New York." I made it a point to tell most of these when I got back that I would return again in a New York minute.

Invariably my mother will say when I get back: "...thank God you're back on American soil..." <BR>What's really funny about this is that I live in NYC - my mom lives in Florida, of which Miami, Tampa and Orlando made it into the top 10 dangerous ctities in America a few years back - NYC was something like 12 or 13. <BR>Also - when I told here I was going back to Budapest again - she said "why? you've been there already." <BR>

For all the women travelers out there, (especially the childless, childfree, child is grown, whatever) my scenario may sound familiar to you. <BR> <BR>All of my female friends, relatives and neighbors are married and raising children right now. They send me photos of the kids with every letter and e-mail, our conversations center around their kids, and my friends/relatives/neighbors spend most of their time being moms. <BR> <BR>But if I try to discuss an upcoming trip with them, or show them my travel photos from a past trip, they barely try to conceal their disinterest. Then it's back to the discussion of diapers, bottles and little Johnny's soccer game. <BR> <BR>I used to think I was the only woman around who enjoyed studying history and art and loved to travel to Europe. That is, until I found Fodor's! Thank heavens to have found such a wonderful group of travelers. Now, why can't you all be my neighbors and co-workers?:)

When I tell my wife I'm going to France, she says: "Damn, not again! That's the 3rd (4th, 5th...) trip this year. Can't they send somebody else this time?" <BR>When she tells me she's going to France, I say: "Damn,...etc."

I have a high-stress job that requires long hours, so the irratating question I always get (usually from my mother) is: Why don't you go to someplace more relaxing, like Hawaii.

Be thankful for those disinterested in foreign travel; can you imagine how crowded things would get if more Americans started leaving the country on vacation? I say fine -- stay here. For fun for the rest of us! <BR>:-)

Neville, I think you've hit the nail right on the head with your comments...about both Americans and Europeans. That is precisely why my husband and I have done alot of traveling with our kids in the last several years. We felt it was important to have them experience for themselves that it's a big interesting world out there, and that Americans are not the center of the universe. And also, to make some of those places they've read about in textbooks come alive and to appreciate different cultures. I didn't want my kids to grow up to be one of those people who say, "Gee why do you want to go all the way over there." We started off with visiting places here in the US to get them used to traveling, planes, airports, etc. Then we moved on to some English-speaking countries (starting with England, Neville!), to get the feel for international travel, but without a language barrier; now we go to non-English countries, as well. My kids are all teens, and are wonderful travelers. They have learned so much about other cultures and our own, too. This summer, it's off to Italy and Switzerland!

Traveling can be a touchy subject sometimes. My husband & I travel much more than any of our relatives and I travel more than most of the people I work with. The situation is financial for the most part. Some people truly have no interest in traveling but for the people close to me since it is a financial problem I'm hesitant to even bring it up since I don't want to appear to be bragging. I love to travel so much I think it would be very hard to listen to other people talk about their travels when I know I would probably never go. My friends and relative are very gracious about our travels but I do think you have to be sensitive to other people's situations.

Nano has made very good points about real education. That by role modeling you can, through travel with your children, make the page learning come alive. BUT, do not expect that your children will be world travelers- just because you enjoy travel and have encouraged it. My oldest two children are in their 30's and highly successful people, but do not travel outside of business at all anymore. They have chosen a different way and enjoy going to a not so distant lake and boating / swimming / jet skiing / fishing etc. as their family vacation experience. Now I will have to take my granddaughters and grandsons to Paris and Rome someday. <BR> <BR>Just as the last poster said, it doesn't hurt to be understanding of those who don't like any travel experiences. My sister says it feels like every day is a test, and that it just makes her extremely anxious when she travels. She is a very kind and sweet person who very seldom chides, yet she told me last month that she thought my enthusiasm over my trips and big sigh when I heard her yet again "cancel" plans- made her feel bad as they were too judgmental. Maybe she is right. The irony is that SHE is the one married to a United employee and has free air fare that she has used one time I know of in the last 15 years. <BR> <BR>My youngest are apt to take off for anything, like I am. They are more into history than the others and I do think if you study the past at all that it really enhances travel desire.

This topic brings back a memory I have about someone else in the travel business who should look for a different career like Deeanna's. I used to be a travel agent and have changed my career completely but my love is still travel and my husband and I continue to travel at least once a year, msotly to Europe. When I went to visit the staff at my old travel agency after my 5th trip to Spain and France they actually asked me what I found to do after so many times there. We have explored in these 5 times only small pockets of Catalonia and there's so much left to do. The question left me shaking my head and suggesting to my ex-boss that she had been sleeping when hiring that particular agent. One other staff member noted that she didn't like France cause there was too much "dog doo doo" on the ground there. I told her she was obviously looking in the wrong direction. Up and forward would have given her a much different perspective. Needless to say I don;t book my trips there! <BR>Regards, <BR>Lynn

topping

before- "Now where are you going to?" You must have a rich relative giving you trips. (NOT) <BR> <BR>after- "What did you want to go there for, you could have done that at !*&#^$% <BR>right here!" <BR>

My first trip abroad was to the USSR in the "Evil Empire" days, at the tender age of 19. Boy, did I get the comments on that! "Aren't you afraaaayid?" "They're going to keep you there!" (as if) and my all time favorite, "Why would (she) want to go to a godless country?" It was, of course, an absolutely terrific trip with some of the greatest cultural encounters imaginable. People are funny!

It's not so much the before questions that get to me as the after I return scenario. People will stop by and ask if I had a nice trip. I say it was great and have my mouth open to tell them about it, and they say, "Well, while you were gone . . ." and proceed to fill me in on the latest office or neighborhood gossip. It used to leave me with my mouth still open, but now I just chuckle inside and think, "Poor things."

My wife and I travel every chance we get. Life is very short. We travel now because we have our health and have the opportunity. Fortunately we have a close group of friends who also want to travel. If there was anything I ever wanted to pass on to my two daughters - it was the love of travel. We were very successful because they love to travel as much as we do. I get the "must be nice" line all the time. Travel is a priority with us. We find a way to do it, even if it means not spending money on other things that are not so much of a priority. Last comment - my wife and I took a Spanish class before out first trip to Spain to at least learn some basics. My mother said "Why in the world would you learn to speak Spanish, they should spead English to you".

I often get the comment "you should see your own country (Australia) first", which really annoys me. Travelling overseas is often hard work - my friend and I are up and walking from about 0800 to 1900 or later, with stops for lunch and coffee only on most days. It's a long way from just about anywhere here too.

I didn't realize I had been asked this question several times before and while in Scotland until you reminded me. Blank stares progressed to total confusion when I told them I was going for a sun worship festival.

I'm Australian and my husband is American (yes we met whilst I was travelling). I have really noticed that when we mention our travels the Australians are really interested and have usually travelled themselves whilst our American side, really isn't interested in travelling anywhere. <BR> <BR>My husband thinks that its the old "We have everything right here in good ole USA - why would we want to be bothered going there" sydrome. <BR> <BR>Generally, I do find that Australians are travellers (I know that I was also encouraged to travel) yet Americans not so much .... <BR> <BR>This is VERY general - just my observation from my family..... <BR>

Some of my post above got lost in the ether, so here it is again.... <BR> <BR>I often get the comment "you should see your own country (Australia) first", which really annoys me. Travelling overseas is often hard work - my friend and I are up and walking from about 0800 to 1900 or later, with stops for lunch and coffee only on most days. It's a long way from just about anywhere here too. There are loads of tours of Australia and New Zealand that cater for older tourists and that's just when I'll be doing them, when I'm too old to do my own thing. There won't be the stress of long flights and they will be more affordable for the pensioner I will then be!

the strongest comment i got was from someone at my destination. it was a cold, rainy day in glasgow when a shopclerk looked at me and said, 'u're from hawaii and u came HERE?!' well, guess what's exotic to someone from hawaii!

Two scenarios, both of which just happened to me in the past 3 weeks. <BR> <BR>Told a girlfriend that my husband had just gotten back from Palau. Dead silence. Then she says "but we haven't had snow for ages!". Not kidding. But the only trip she has been on was in the '70 when she folloew Donny Osmond to Las Vegas! <BR> <BR>Then, I told my Mother-in-Law's friend that we were going to Austria & France this summer. She is a travel agent. Her response was "Austria! Why! They don't want YOU there!". She said this because we are Jewish. My stomach actually rolled over on this one. I had to get up and leave the room. But the worst part is that I almost started to believe her. My husband turned absolutely as white as a sheet and was ready to cancel that part of the trip. So, we are still going, but now we will have it stuck somewhere in the archives of our brains that we are not welcome. May not be true, but wow, the damage done by one insensitive comment. Hopefully, we will be pleasantly surprised.

Oh Ellen, your story made my eyes fill with tears. You will have a wonderful visit to Austria. How insenstive can people be?

I've never had a negative response when talking about my upcoming/most recent trip. I live in a large city, but make it back to my tiny hometown very often. People there are always very interested in my travels. <BR> <BR>The one thing that does annoy me, and I get it both in the city and in my hometown--I often travel to Northern Ireland, and everyone always asks, "Aren't you scared to go there? Isn't it dangerous?" If I happened to be a member of a paramilitary group or sold drugs, yes it would be dangerous. But I know people don't believe me when I tell them that Belfast is SO much safer than any city in the US. There's very little non-Troubles-related crime, and I've never felt uncomfortable walking in the city alone at night. <BR> <BR>On a related topic, I went into the post office to mail a package to Northern Ireland, and I had neglected to write "U.K." under N.I. on the address. The postal clerk asked me what country I was sending to, I said "the United Kingdom". She informed me that Northern Ireland wasn't in the U.K. (wishful thinking)! I assure her it was, but it took quite a while before she would believe me. Somehow, my package did make it through in the end.

This year my husband and I (with our two daughters) flew to Paris for thanksgiving. We spent five days; took only one vacation day and my oldest only missed one day of school. I got some great comments, like "it must be great to be a ble to go to Paris for the weekend." You know what, airfare for the 4 of us only cost me $1050 and the hotels were charging low season rates. It would have cost me much more to go to Disneyland with the kids at the same time. I guess its just a matter of what's important to show your children: EPCOT or the Louvre.

I work in a large facility and most of the people there know I love to travel. Recently one of the girls asked me where I was going on my next trip. When I responded, "to Bermuda", she wanted to know if I was scared. When I asked, of what? She responded, "What if you never come out of the Bermuda Triangle?" <BR> <BR>She honestly seemed surprised to see me when I returned!

15 minutes ago I got the 'France? Why don't you go to Hawaii or Disneyland?' from a co-worker

<BR>They are not travellers!