Kristin: The farthest I’ve ever traveled was South Carolina for my aunt’s wedding.
Jed: That’s nothing. I flew to San Francisco before.
Tyrone: Yeah, but have any of you been outside the U.S.?
Leah: I’ve been to Mexico.
Me: That doesn’t count. It’s like Canada. Also doesn’t count.
Leah: Why not?
Me: Because they’re, like, connected to us and stuff.
Leah: That sucks.
Kristin: Yeah, going to Mexico is what sucks. Don’t drink the water.
Tyrone: I drank tequila once.
Jed: So what.
Me: I’ve been to Ireland. Twice.
Kristin: Why would you go to Ireland?
Me: Because I’m Irish. Duh.
Tyrone: No way you’re Irish, dude.
Leah: He can be Irish, if Mexico counts as another country.
Me: Mexico is totally in.
Leah: And you’re Irish.
And the conversation continued, but I had to leave before it was done. I’m sure they argued about what constituted actually leaving the country beyond what we already talked about because they do love to argue, but I had heard what I needed to hear. It seems like most people from this area don’t do any real traveling. Maybe they drive out to Syracuse to see the basketball team play, or they take a day trip to NYC to peruse the shops in the Village. Or maybe they even visit relatives every once in a while who live out of state, but that seems to be the extent of it. They thought I was a consummate world traveler because I had been to Ireland once. Much less twice.
Which is fine, but I’ve found that the more you travel the more you experience. I know it sounds simple, and you can experience a full range of things right where you live, but traveling exposes you to so much more of the world, to so many people who are different from you, who live in cultures that are so different from yours. I wish we could charter a plane and just go wherever we wanted whenever we wanted. It would be amazing. Paris for a month. Marseilles for a month. London for a month. Istanbul for a … week (I heard it gets boring after a week), and the list goes on. It would be amazing, if we had unlimited funds and great company.
Because that’s another thing about traveling. It’s just not as fun or as exciting if you don’t go with other people. To see them experience what you’re experiencing, but in their own way is phenomenal. To have those memories to look back on together is also incredible, and it creates depth to relationships that not much else can do in so short a time. Traveling is amazing if you can do it. Even if it is just to South Carolina. They’ve got cool stuff there too, right Kristin?
Sam
Sam's Online Journal 
“…the more you travel the more you experience.” Yup. And I agree that it’s better to travel with someone, but I’m all for traveling alone, too, if you have to. You meet people everywhere you go!
You meet people in your everyday life too, of course. I think sometimes we forget that we can get to know others in our own backyards just as well, and they can be just as interesting as anyone elsewhere.
I’ve never forgotten that, Sam. You are so right. But I *do* think there is a huge benefit to taking a step back from one’s own culture and being immersed in another. There is a perspective and an understanding that just can’t gained elsewhere.
Agreed, Jess. But one’s own culture is also related to individual circumstance. For example, I really stepped outside my culture moving to Tennessee.
A valid point, to be sure. It was a shock for me, too, when I arrived in Tennessee. But moving to Taiwan took shock to a whole new level.
I can only imagine. I would finally have a visual for all my “Made in Taiwan” products.
Lol. That’s an old joke. We should go together someday. I am dying to get back.
When are we going? I love flying.
It’s relative. Would you argue that Italy doesn’t count as a separate country for someone in France? Even one part of France to another can be quite different.
I would argue that every little town and village is a whole other world in and of itself. There is so much culture inherent in every small facet of society it is incredible. Oh, and everyone knows Italy is better than France. 🙂