Suffice it to say, I think that we should all think more seriously about international travel. Yes, there are a lot of places in the US to see, but when it comes down to it, they are a lot alike. New York may have more theater, and a lot more Starbucks, but the general culture is that in which we already live. You can go see the fancy old houses of the south, you could go see either ocean. It is easy, albeit boring, to drive across Nebraska or Kansas. For the right ammount of money there are resorts, golf courses, and restaurants. The language is the same. There is no real surprise when you pass yet another Wal-mart.
Every time I leave the country, which is now 3 whole times, it floors me to see that people really do live differently than we do. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun. It was beautiful, had multi-lingual signs for everything, and in many ways felt a lot like America. Leaving the resort, and talking to people in a halted english/spanglish, I was struck by how different other places are. It is really cool to barter for goods. It is interesting/sad to watch kids sell goods along side their mothers when I can't get Hadley to carry her own lunch box.
I Love America. I am filled with National pride, and thought DC was a great trip. I just think that Americans are missing something if they never experience anything away from home. How can you expect to understand the world we live in, if you never see any other people or cultures? I have added more international travel to my bucket list!
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