The importance of travel

[CapnAwesome]

Every once in a while on this board I've told someone that they strike me as someone that has never left the United States. Often times this is as a response to someone who is bashing America, or just making totally inaccurate claims about America. Ironically in my real life I find that these are often the same people who are afraid of actually leaving the country.

My comments are not meant to be the same as ignorant rednecks who say stupid shit like "If you don't like America, you can get out!" or the idiot left wing equivalent who say shit like "Well if you don't like so and so law, why don't you live in Somalia." I actually had someone say that to me on here when criticizing some of America's stupid traffic laws. Ironically I might be one of the few people on these boards who has actually lived in the developing world. (The so called third world) So these suggestions fall rather hollow on my ears.

No, mine is a real suggestion for people to go overseas and experience a different culture. I mean actually experience it too, a two week vacation to an area set up to replicate America is depriving yourself of any real experience. Try to get significant time off. If you do it correctly, traveling in the developing world should be much much cheaper per month then just paying rent in the US. For example your average hostel in most of South America is 3-5 dollars a night. Not only will this give you an actual experience with a different culture, but you will understand why we have it so good here in the United States. I feel that people who die within 100 miles of where they grew up have wasted their lives. Remember you only get one.

If people aren't aware of the best travel guide in the world:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

[KichigaiNeko]

Armchair traveller myself.

But do have many friends of different cultures and from them have had a "taste" of what their home country is like sans the dangers.

[Dee Dee Ramone]

@ caps, where did you live?

Travelling is an excellent investment in yourself.

[CapnAwesome]

@ caps, where did you live?

Travelling is an excellent investment in yourself.

Well, I'm traveling right now.

[Dee Dee Ramone]

You're welcome for a coffee and a place to crash, but I quess you are not in Europe now?

[CapnAwesome]

You're welcome for a coffee and a place to crash, but I quess you are not in Europe now?

No, I actually haven't been to Europe in almost 15 years, I've been to every country in North and South America except for Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia. That's because they charge for Visas, so it's only worth it for me if I go for a long long trip. I was going to go to Africa this winter, but ended up in the American southwest, following the weather north. I normally spend my entire winter in Mexico. These places are not as dangerous as people think. If danger is what keeps you from traveling, you are missing out. I remember flying from Lima to Las Vegas and when I arrived my first thought was "What a sketchy shithole."

If I make some more money next time I work though, I might be going to Europe and will take you up on that couch. I've yet to meet a Dutch person who I dislike. Probably the friendliest European nationality.

[Tea Earl Grey Hot]

I've only travelled internationally once. I visited Venezuela for two weeks when I was 10 years old (a little before Chavez went completely nuts) with my older sister and my aunt (my aunt lived there for several years working for some corporation). We had a lot of fun. I remember it all quite vividly. We landed in Caracas which is where my aunt lived at the time. But we spent most of the time at this city near some beaches (the city name started with a 't', can't remember). I also remember going up into the mountains to this town that was where a bunch of germans settled a long time ago. There was a german restaurant there we ate at. While we were eating there, Chavez's wife just happened to visit at the restaurant. She was surrounded by several armed men and they walked right past our table.

I remember there were ice cream men everywhere in Venezuela. It was freaky to me because they don't have them in the states. They were even out in the shallow water between little islands selling ice cream from floating igloos to tourists traveling on small boats.

In Caracus there was this really weird restaurant we visited. It was huge and they had horse riders performing tricks on horses in the middle of the restaurant.

The hotel we stayed at near the beaches had a small zoo. I remember there were at least 2 monkeys, a lot of birds, and they had alligators. There were also like gerbils I think running around the lawn of the hotel. A large snake was there too. They served different fish every night.

[Annik]

Tegh, then have ice cream men in the US, they're just not as popular anymore.


I'd love to travel, but I have a degree to earn that'll leave me with a 15K sinkhole in my finances. Good thing I'm marrying a man who'll be doing field work! And I hope to honeymoon on Lake Sevan in Armenia. <3

[Dee Dee Ramone]

You're welcome for a coffee and a place to crash, but I quess you are not in Europe now?

No, I actually haven't been to Europe in almost 15 years, I've been to every country in North and South America except for Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia. That's because they charge for Visas, so it's only worth it for me if I go for a long long trip. I was going to go to Africa this winter, but ended up in the American southwest, following the weather north. I normally spend my entire winter in Mexico. These places are not as dangerous as people think. If danger is what keeps you from traveling, you are missing out. I remember flying from Lima to Las Vegas and when I arrived my first thought was "What a sketchy shithole."

If I make some more money next time I work though, I might be going to Europe and will take you up on that couch. I've yet to meet a Dutch person who I dislike. Probably the friendliest European nationality.

South-america is on my wish list, but the list is long ofcourse. Danger doesn't keep me from travelling, it's the money if anything keeps me from doing it more. Luckily I was able to use internships to spend lots of time in South east-Asia and the great lakes area in Africa.

Believe, there are many dutch assholes...but those avoid south america

[CapnAwesome]

South-america is on my wish list, but the list is long ofcourse. Danger doesn't keep me from travelling, it's the money if anything keeps me from doing it more. Luckily I was able to use internships to spend lots of time in South east-Asia and the great lakes area in Africa.

Believe, there are many dutch assholes...but those avoid south america

Yeah, money is always the big factor. If you have free time off though, traveling can be cheaper than living in a single place. How was Africa? I wanted to go to Ethiopia this winter, but alas, money has limited me to being on this continent again.