An immigrant and now permanent resident of the U.S. makes observations about why travel, as generally practiced by Americans, does not lead to real understanding of other cultures:<\/p>\n
The problem is made worse \u2014 not better \u2014 by idiotic travel abroad.<\/p>\n
To understand the differences in a country, you need to live with them, as one of them, for a while. You need to speak the language well enough you understand overheard conversations. Etc.<\/p>\n
My experience coming over as an exchange student for 12th grade was about ideal…… So I got to experience the normal life of normal people in normal circumstances, which was an eye-opener.<\/p>\n
….<\/p>\n
Going over for two weeks, with or without the guided tour, staying in nice hotels and associating only with people at your social level and not past the level of polite interaction does not enlarge the mind. Instead, it gives a false sense of knowing what the world is like. This is where we get the \u201csocialists\u201d who know it\u2019s good, because look at all the magnificent buildings in Europe, and the fact everyone has time to sit in the coffee shop and socialize with friends. And look at all the amazing public transportation. And and and. If you lived there, or knew history, you\u2019d know most of the buildings created by socialists in the 20th and 21st century are already crumbling.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n