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!