Travelers, how do you see the world?

I am fourteen but one goal in my life is to travel the world. I also want to visit every state. I have only visited just less than ½ though. I’ve been to Aruba, Mexico, France, Canada, Italy, Vatican, Belgium, and of course USA. I plan to see a lot of the world when I grow up.

It’s a big place and culture differs wherever you go, even in the same country. I’ve learned to be open-minded and learn how each place does things. From a biological perspective, there are certain things that are essentially the same everywhere.. for example, we all have courtship rituals, customs regarding food and dress, that sort of thing. But what these things are in actuality can be very different, depending on where you go.

I think everyone wants the same things. Some of the kindest most generous people are from Arab countries. (IMHO) Once you understand the customs and rules of different societies you realize that underneath it all we all want a better life for our children, and to be treated with kindness.

I see the world as a great big play ground, with a thousand corners to explore, dig in, and enjoy. We travel often, and take our kids whenever possible. The exposure from seeing other cultures and the experience of being out of your element really opens your eye and gives you great perspective. While I think people are fundamentally the same, values, needs & priorities are vastly different world wide.

People I’ve experienced are the same at the core – we all have similar needs and desires. But the diversity, down to the little things, is what floats my boat.

Like seeing a bottle of juice in an Irish vending machine that says “still and fruity.” LOL

I agree with PupnTaco on this one.

I’ve been to lots of different countries already, and sometimes at first, I was like “OMG everyone’s so different from me! Nothing in common!”

But if you scrape away the culture, manners, foods, and even language, we are essentially the same deep down. We all are trying to make our own mark on the world in some way, we all strive for our goals, and in the end, we all pass away. That’s it.

I find it reassuring though, not depressing, but that’s just me.

A big wide world with a whole lotta interesting cultures, foods, and traditions. What’s funny is when you work with people from different areas (like I am doing right now in the Middle East) and start recognizing things like “Hey that guy’s a big joker like Jon”...etc., etc. Only place left for me to visit is Africa and hopefully in a few years I’ll be able to do that :-)

Well I’ve travelled quite a bit and make it a habit not to stay anywhere for more than 3 years. There are certainly divisions, and every place (even within the same country) is different, but big cities are becoming more and more similar to each other, whereas the countryside often stays the same (though shrinking).

There are certainly interesting little peculiarities about every different place, which is why it’s such great fun to travel. But deep inside, people are actually the same, all human beings driven by the same dreams, hopes and ambitions.

I have lived for many years in Greece, which is like Poland in a way (where I am now), Germany, which is better than people think, the Czech Republic, which is losing its magic, various places in the UK, all very different to each other, and a bit in Holland, which was great but not for long.

If you stay on the trail and do the touristy things, then it’s all the same. If you live as the locals do, then it can be quite different. Even some of the most basic things are different.
Little mannerisms show culture, such as time, eating habits, space and many other things.

The world for me is one big crossroad.