Bringing it up again

When I hear the "why do you want to go over there when there is so much to see over here" question, I still find myself speechless. <BR> <BR>But I do know this, since having traveled abroad every year for over twenty-five years, when I do travel here in the States, I see through very different eyes. One example is art. If I only saw the art in the United States' musuems, look what I would have missed in the Louvre! In the d'Orsay! In the Hermitage! How could one deliberately limit themselves to the treasures of only one country? Patriotism? Give me a break. <BR> <BR> Not only that, but people listen a lot longer to someone telling about their trip within the U.S. than they do to someone telling about their trip to another country. (I never talk about my trips to anyone..they notice I'm back & say how was your trip, and I say fine. Learned long ago that any more than that and they get an attitude or very obviously show boredom within one minute) And I can only surmise that this is jealousy. And if it is jealousy, then it's because people would really like to go to another country. <BR> <BR> So why don't they? Especially when it has been proven to them that it is no more expensive than traveling here in the States? The only answer that makes sense to me is that people are AFRAID to go to another country. And if it IS just disinterest, how can people live all the years it takes to grow up and not be curious enough about the rest of the world to want to experience it themselves? (By the way, I have noticed this same reaction in people living in the countries that I visit...they, too, seem to be afraid to leave their nests.) <BR> <BR>Is there any other explanation? Had you ever said that before you went overseas for the first time? If you did, what were you thinking?

Among others, how does that sound: "I am not going to give my hard-earned money to those europeans. I would rather keep it in America". <BR>At least these ones travel somewhere. In America. Or rather not. Because the nearest McDonald is around the corner. <BR>There is no reason to vomit over the French food, as one poster put it, be it a troll or not. <BR>The main problem is that even those who travel abroad have better knowledge of how you should plan your budget ("how about saving for retirement"), where you are supposed to go, and how many times a year. To tell the truth, the only people who share my excitement are my 75-years old parents, avid travelers themselves. My son not a curious person by nature already belongs to that other category that understands that vacations are not for travel, and travel is not for satisfying the interest. <BR>I am not eager to share my joy even with him when I book something new, because he will take it with such sceptical expression "oh, well...". And holding it back at work, god forbid, they would think that I am independently wealthy (I am - in spirit), I have no one to share my post-vacation impressions - once I started describing Paris with such enthusiasm until I noticed the hatred in the person's eyes. I stopped doing it whatsoever. <BR>And one more line: "are you just walking the street? Can't you take a taxi? Or subway?". OK we have our own way of enjoying the other places, and we respect other people choices and tastes, why can't they respect ours?

I used to get the "you haven't seen all the USA yet so why go to Europe" from family and friends. They can't say that anymore because I have been in all 50 states and seen quite a lot of each one. <BR> <BR>Last September, I took my Mom and Dad to England and Scotland (our family is primarily from Scotland) - their very first trip to Europe and my Mom's first trip out of the USA. They don't ask anymore why I go to Europe - they just want to come with me! I guess for some things you just have to go to understand.

any more insight here?

I live in Florida and was having a conversation with a business associate in Delaware. This associate knows that we take a European vacation annually. Anyhow, we were making small talk about the weather, the heat wave and how Florida is generally hot. He asked whether we had a swimming pool, I replied no. He then said "Just think, if you used the money you spend on your vacations, you could have a really nice pool". I had to disguise my laughter with fake coughing.

I guess everything truly is relative. My guess is that no one here is going to admit to fitting this profile, but I'll give it a shot: <BR> <BR>I too have traveled through/lived in Europe and gotten "quizzical" responses from those who have never traveled outside the U.S. By the same token, I have gotten the very same types of responses about my trips to OTHER parts of the world - Central America, Asia, Africa etc - from "world travelers" who hit the most popular European spots time and time again - London, Paris, Rome etc - which, compared to other parts of the world, are pretty easy to navigate and user friendly. Many of these people consider themselves ultra-wordly and adventurous but are close minded when it comes to going off the beaten path of the U.S. tourist in Europe. Don't get me wrong - I absolutely love some of those places - I lived in Rome for 2 years. I also love traveling in the U.S. and wonder why so many people are quick to criticize it as a travel destination. Has anyone else noticed this hypocrisy? Anyone willing to admit to exhibiting it?

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Holly, you were reading my mind. That's exactly what was going through my mind as I read thread! <BR>

Well reading through this thread has mainly made me appreciate living in an area (Berkeley, Calif.) where international travel is just considered a totally normal (and actually pretty unremarkable) thing to do: I can honestly say that among my American friends I hardly know anyone my age (I am middle-aged) who didn't spend part of their teens/twenties backpacking around the world (or large parts of it). And in a fairly large circle of friends, neighbors, work colleagues, etc., most of them continue to travel all over the place, as time, family obligations, and finances permit. (BTW, none of these people would be considered wealthy by American standards, although they have the advantages of being middle-class financially.) <BR> <BR>We have a very ethnically diverse population here, so I guess that's the explanation for the fact that I have never encountered any of the more hilarious (horrifying?) responses to travel discussions detailed by others above. I work for a high-tech company of fewer than 200 people and we have people from the following places working here: Croatia, China, Guatemala, India, Russia, South Africa, Germany, UK, Japan, France, Vietnam (and I probably missed a few). So I can travel around the world (metaphorically speaking) when I hang around the coffee machine! <BR> <BR>I often get totally fed-up with San Francisco Bay Area real estate prices - then I read threads like this and realize that those prices buy me, not just real estate, but a diverse community of interesting people, most of whom would never consider saying "if only you didn't waste money traveling, you could have a really nice pool". <BR>

Any more experiences?

ok how about this remark?!?!?! <BR>my mother-in-law thinks my hubby and i are being hoggish going somewhere twice a year. hoggish?

Holly raises an excellent point toward the end of this thread - any other comments?

My grandmother never fails to beg me not to go, just as I'm leaving. She thinks that Europe is full of evil strangers who are going to rape and kill me. <BR> <BR>Noone in my family can understand my love of Europe, nor the pull I feel to the continent. <BR> <BR>I also get comments (with that kind of snide tone of voice) from people who say "You really love *that* Europe, don't you". <BR> <BR>Ah yes, and the famous "You're so brave. I could never travel alone like that" (I'm a woman in her mid 30's) <BR> <BR>Then again, I also receive a lot of "oooh, wow, I'd love to go and just backpack over Europe" and "Oh, I want to go back to......."

Has anyone else noticed that some of the people who post here talking about how worldly, sophisticated and adventurous they are for going to Europe also posted in the thread about places they would never go because, the places are too exotic, "foreign" - or just plain different? Isn't this a bit hypocritical? I posted about this awhile back - but no one seems to want to address this issue. I wonder why? :)

Hi, <BR> I work with a lot of other women (I'm a nurse), and the response I hear most often is "oh, I hate you" when I mention my travel plans. I drive a 12-year -old economy car, don't own a computer, and shop for clothes (infrequently) at Wal-Mart - all so that I can travel someplace abroad once a year with my boyfreind. Don't hate me, you guys- look at what I'm doing without to travel!

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Holly, <BR>I share your feelings about people who think they are adventurous and sophisticated because they go to the same European places over and over again. I agree it is hypocritical. I think they are really not that adventurous because Europe is closed to the US. Europe is not exotic enough for me. Do not get me wrong, I love traveling to Europe, but sometimes I want to be in a place that is completely different from what I am used to. I live in NYC, and for me Paris, Rome, Berlin, or London are just like being home. Besides the architecture and the art, I do not see that much of a difference. It is much easier to travel to Europe than to go some exotic, truly foreign place. <BR>The weather, the seasons, the music, and the food are very familiar to middle class Americans. I think it is a sense of security for some people to go to a place where they do not feel they are completely different yet it is still different enough for them to feel adventurous. <BR> <BR>I like being in a place where people do not look like me, almost nobody speaks English, the weather and geography are completely different from what I am used, and the food is something I have never experience before. Sometimes, I also like to experience something other than western or eastern European culture and art. I prefer traveling to the jungle in South America (Brazil and Peru), or Thailand, (I want to go to Vietnam) I have been to several places in the Fiji Islands, Madagascar, and now I will be trekking through the Andean Mountains this New Year’s. I have been in Colombia and some parts of Africa people would consider dangerous. <BR>So just to let you know, I agree with you, and yes I think people in this forum do not want to address the issue. <BR>

Hi: <BR> <BR>In my experience there are three types of people when it comes to travel. More a mentality really (and mentalities CAN change with some gentle nudging): <BR> <BR>1. Let's stay home (or stay in the familiar) <BR>2. Travel means uncertainty so go in a group organized by others who will lead us around. <BR>3. Travel is education as well as pleasure - broaden my horizons and I will be better for it. <BR> <BR>Fodorites, IMHO, are #3, thank God for Fodorites. <BR> <BR>Kaufman