Traveling Abroad

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by Dale Smith


Traveling abroad is a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend that everyone do it, if they get the chance. However, in order to properly understand other countries and their cultures, you need to explore your own, first.

I live in the United States, and have traveled extensively through it. I have seen the poverty of the Deep South, with families living in shacks that don't have electricity or running water. Compare this to Beverly Hills, where each house is larger than many commercial buildings, and only a couple of people live there. I have seen a homeless vet giving directions to a young man in a new Mercedes. And I have seen a young family sharing their picnic in a park, with another homeless person.

I have seen the Redwood Forests of the Pacific Northwest, the Mojave Desert, the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, the Great Plains and more. All in one country, anywhere else in the world, you would have to travel through several different countries, just to see similar terrain. Everywhere I went, people spoke the same language. I drove across the country, and it took me almost a week to do it. I have been places where the locals welcomed me with open arms and others where everyone seemed to be wondering why I was there, and when I would leave.

I have been to the Smithsonian museum, and was awed by the history that I saw there. I have been to Disneyland, and was astonished by the feeling of happiness that can be had in a place so crowded, near one of the largest cities in the country.

I have been to Europe, and was impressed by the immensity of the history there. I stood in buildings that were put up before my country was even a thought. I visited the tombs of Kings who never even knew that the Americas existed. I wouldn't understand or be impressed as much, if I hadn't explored and understood my own history.

I have met people who didn't even speak my language, yet were friendly, courteous and helpful as could be.

I have been to Central America, and driven from one side of a country to another in less than half the mileage than it takes me to drive to my brother's house in the same state. It almost took the same amount of time though.

People claim that you have to leave home to find adventure, but I don't believe that. I believe that traveling anywhere is an adventure, but how can you appreciate the adventure of a new place, if you haven't explored an old one. We all need a point of reference to understand something new.

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Abroad

by Ann Palmieri


Before becoming a world traveler, I would have written for the "Home Country" side of this debate. Now I am inclined to choose traveling abroad for several reasons: history, culture, and current affairs. The history of America is important, or course, but it only has 400 years of history as compared to Asia and Europe. It is more important to me in today's world to know how the world is affecting my country, both economically and socially.

I have seen much of America which is beautiful and appealing to me, but when I stepped off the boat in Egypt, I really learned to appreciate my sense of well-being and peace that I have always enjoyed. No longer did I feel safe from people who think and worship differently; neither did I feel the comfort, respect, and appreciation that I feel in the United States. I was appalled by the intense security that is needed there for Americans. The housing for the average person is horrible; of course, they know no difference, or at least it seemed that way. Other countries struck me the same way. It took a trip to another culture to examine my own more closely.

History in many countries is everywhere one looks. In America, one has to search far and wide for real "history." Our history only extends as far back as our Declaration of Independence. In Egypt, pyramids loom close by a large city, calling me back thousands of years. Of course, I have a tree in my yard that is over 400 years old, but doesn't compare with seeing the Sea of Galilee in Israel, where I felt close to my religious roots; in Greece, I saw the land of my grandfather. History came alive and cultures were experienced by touch, sight, hearing and taste.

The cultures of the world are strong in certain states in the US, but the cultures of Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Greece and Italy permeated their everyday life. In the US, we experience the Greek culture once a year at a local church festival; however, to be in the land of your forefathers is an amazing feeling. To see their cooking rituals, to touch their clothes, to visit their homes, to worship in their churches, and to talk to their people can only be realized without the infiltration of our American ways. The most important part of the experience is to interact with people who don't speak our language or even know us except through television and news reports. They are as interested in who we really are as we are of them. Some actually hate Americans; some wish they lived in our country. The world news comes alive when you have actually been to the place being discussed on television. Travel to other countries really opens up one's opinions.

One factor that shocked me was the currency values. Our dollar was worth very little in many places. The cost of one night's stay in a hotel in Italy cost us over $400! What a difference! In the US we try to aim at $100 a night or less when we travel. It is costly to travel abroad, but one realizes very quickly how very lucky we are that things are much cheaper in the US. Cheaper is not necessarily lower quality either. Our economy may be slow right now, but gas, clothes and food are outrageous overseas. Italy was the most expensive place we have visited so far. No wonder people love to come to the US for vacation. They really get a bargain here!

All in all, traveling abroad is really a good idea whenever it is available. Seeing and feeling the cultures and history of the world helps one's perspective of our place in this world. Since we are a young country, it helps us see what others value and revere in their countries when we travel there. I highly recommend a visit to an ancestral homeland. It revives the sense of belonging and respect for our forefathers who fought and died for the freedoms we cherish so much today in our homeland, the good old USA!