Traveling is the best gift my parents ever gave me. We grew up in a small town allowing us to have a bigger view of things. It really exploded when I went to Europe for the first time. Absolutely life-changing. It started a great love affair and I've been hooked ever since.
During my travels, I have found that there are friendly, helpful people all over the world, even if you can only communicate with your hands and feet. This helps to reduce mistrust of foreign people in general.
Decades ago, a young President Kennedy used the phrase 'my fellow citizens of the world.' In all things, that should be our perspective. We all have different cultural backgrounds, yet we all share so much in common. Travel helps erase the prejudices we all harbor to one extent or another, and allows us to both understand and embrace the rest of humanity in a much more universal way. Plus, it's just plain fun! Yours in wanderlust, and on my way to Munich in a few hours, Steve
I have been lucky enough to visit over 50 countries and all seven continents. There is something so special about chatting to a beduin who spoke 5 languages, while sitting on a sand dune or talking to a guide who lived through the horrors of the pol pot regime in Cambodia. Then there is watching 100 humpbacks near Bear Island on the way back from Svalbard. I am sure everyone who travels has memories they will treasure. All you need is an open mind and a willingness to try.
Indeed, our world changed when we started meeting locals and engaging with them even if we didn't know the language. We have made friends from all over the world including friends from he US traveling around the world. Harriet and I have alway kept an open mind when traveling. Stereotyping comes from a lack of knowledge. Thank you Mark and Jocelyn for sharing this knowledge. All the best👍👍 Jim and Harriet
Amazing topic. I think when we look at countries like the US, Canada, England and even Australia I think we can all agree these are pretty multicultural countries. However that may be, travel has opened up my eyes to believe there is nothing like the real experience. While many people who love travel may have a Lonely planet or Fodors collection at home. I have a culture smart series collection at home. When I travel I want to learn about how people live in that country. What do they like, what do they not like. How are they different. What is Taboo. What do they eat, what do they believe in etc... That to me is what travelling is all about. It's about educating ourselves to see how society works as a whole. I love couchsurfing and meetup events for these reasons. It's always great to talk to someone and ask where their from and you can say you've been there and make a compliment about where they're from. Lately I've been doing some serious research on where I am travelling next. The Philippines. It will be the 50th country I visit and we're leaving very soon.
It's so beneficial to learn about other cultures. Beside traveling watching TV shows from all around the world is also a good way to see things differently.
i love that travel lets me be a part of something and somewhere different. i love interacting with new people and learning new things. lol what really surprised me in edinburgh was the canadian accent! so many canadians moved there and work there so i didn't hear the scottish accent as much. i also love exploring. that's why i love going into nyc because there's always something to do but to do it elsewhere is even more exciting! i hope i hear a lot of people with a southern accent when i go to savannah next month but my friend already warned me that it's not that prevalent. oh well, at least there's the food! i love trying the food of the places i go to!
So true on the stress part! I can appreciate exploring outside of the US. You learn to appreciate other people who think different than you. I always suggest to take holidays outside of US and see other parts of the world and to minimise news consumptions and misinformed acquaintances.
Thats a great video, thank you Mark. Travelling means a lot to me, for many different reasons. I have been lucky to have two separate one year long trips around Asia, and I am still travelling about twice a year. For me travelling is the best school ever. I learn so much about other countries, cultures, religions and way of livings. It opens my mind and makes me hopefully more open minded and tolerant. I like to try and enjoy new kind of foods. Also, when I am abroad, I am reminded of how lucky I am to live in Switzerland (when things like health, safety, education, social care etc. are concerned), which I take sometime too much for granted.
I had the amazing opportunity to travel to the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium a little over a year ago and it was my first time outside of North America. I was always afraid of travelling so far from 'home'...even as an adult. But one of the most incredible feelings I've ever felt was walking around these 'foreign' places but somehow still feeling at home. Yes, I missed my bed and my dog, but I didn't feel so out of place like I expected. Even with language barriers, it was amazing to feel so connected to people on the other side of the world. I can't wait to travel more!
It really opens up your eyes when you travel to different countries and you see their cultures. And get to meet and talk with the people. As an English man, we have a stereotype that we are all disrespectful, and I made a group of German guys in a karaoke bar in Amsterdam realise that not all of us are. And we had the best night out with them all.
After having bad experiences of Germans when on holiday around the world, I was pleasantly surprised how nice they are back home. My first visit to Germany was to Berlin and found Berliners very welcoming and totally changed my view
One thing nobody ever tells you about traveling abroad is you will get your fair share of critics too. I went to Europe solo for the first time last year, and I was shocked when people criticize my choice. Those are the people who need an overseas trip more than anyone else. As for me, I have no regrets over broadening my mind and I’ll do it again as time and finances allow.
Went to Turkey this year. Had a few people genuinely concerned I was going to get assaulted for being an American tourist. By the time I was back in the Istanbul airport, headed back home, I was so over their ignorance it was actually hilarious.
I went to Europe for the first time last year. Everything you said is correct in my case. I can't wait to get back there and experience more! Next April. 😊
Thanks for saying Suomi, I've had the wrong pronunciation in my head, emphasizing the first syllable. Totally agree with your perspective here on travel.
Ooo you got nice eyes. I never noticed until now. Im gonna travel to switzerland, and Venice, next year partly cuz u and other travel content creator😊 inspired me
Great video, thanks for sharing. My Mum gave me the travel bug, & I think its changed my perspective on how I do my photography. I am a passionate film shooter, & I tend to save certain specialty type films for my overseas trips. I also think I have a similar feeling about food as what you mentioned here. I love pizza, & after having the real thing in Italy, it doesn't feel the same at home (I'm Australian). I can still enjoy the fast food style of something like Dominos, but I'd much rather have the traditional Italian pizza.
Being Scandinavian, I'm fortunate having the means to travel the world. I've met with people in India, USA and the south of Italy where life is very different from my neck of the woods. It's easy to say things like "we're all the same", but different levels of income really create gaps between people. My experiences have made me more humble, but does that sentiment aid a family in Gujarat, Leon County or Basilicata? Probably not, but I will always claim encounters between people are enriching. Have I used my time and money wisely? Yes, of that I'm sure.
I agree to the most part, but with a caveat: many people think they are like sooo much wiser just because they've visited places around the world. what I mean is: going abroad is not enough to broaden your mind, you need the right attitude too
(I include myself too, I spent a gap year in New Zealand and in the following years I've thought I knew sooo much more than anybody without this kind of experience, when in reality it just meant I was privileged9
Thank you. I enjoyed this video. I hope to travel more...need to balance the wallet with the experience. Cheers my friend. Much joy and happiness to you and your fsmily.
OK but ultimately, most Americans come back to the states and change absolutely nothing. And Military service members are some of the most well-traveled but their worldviews still are conservative on average
Traveling is the best gift my parents ever gave me. We grew up in a small town allowing us to have a bigger view of things. It really exploded when I went to Europe for the first time. Absolutely life-changing. It started a great love affair and I've been hooked ever since.
During my travels, I have found that there are friendly, helpful people all over the world, even if you can only communicate with your hands and feet. This helps to reduce mistrust of foreign people in general.
Travel is to the soul as a smile is to being happy.
Brilliant video. This is why we travel, and what a lot of people miss out on.
Decades ago, a young President Kennedy used the phrase 'my fellow citizens of the world.' In all things, that should be our perspective. We all have different cultural backgrounds, yet we all share so much in common. Travel helps erase the prejudices we all harbor to one extent or another, and allows us to both understand and embrace the rest of humanity in a much more universal way. Plus, it's just plain fun!
Yours in wanderlust, and on my way to Munich in a few hours, Steve
I have been lucky enough to visit over 50 countries and all seven continents. There is something so special about chatting to a beduin who spoke 5 languages, while sitting on a sand dune or talking to a guide who lived through the horrors of the pol pot regime in Cambodia. Then there is watching 100 humpbacks near Bear Island on the way back from Svalbard. I am sure everyone who travels has memories they will treasure. All you need is an open mind and a willingness to try.
Thanks for changing the world for the better, Mark!
Traveling expands your mind
Indeed, our world changed when we started meeting locals and engaging with them even if we didn't know the language. We have made friends from all over the world including friends from he US traveling around the world. Harriet and I have alway kept an open mind when traveling. Stereotyping comes from a lack of knowledge.
Thank you Mark and Jocelyn for sharing this knowledge. All the best👍👍 Jim and Harriet
Amazing topic. I think when we look at countries like the US, Canada, England and even Australia I think we can all agree these are pretty multicultural countries. However that may be, travel has opened up my eyes to believe there is nothing like the real experience. While many people who love travel may have a Lonely planet or Fodors collection at home. I have a culture smart series collection at home. When I travel I want to learn about how people live in that country. What do they like, what do they not like. How are they different. What is Taboo. What do they eat, what do they believe in etc... That to me is what travelling is all about. It's about educating ourselves to see how society works as a whole. I love couchsurfing and meetup events for these reasons. It's always great to talk to someone and ask where their from and you can say you've been there and make a compliment about where they're from. Lately I've been doing some serious research on where I am travelling next. The Philippines. It will be the 50th country I visit and we're leaving very soon.
It's so beneficial to learn about other cultures. Beside traveling watching TV shows from all around the world is also a good way to see things differently.
Traveling and meeting a lot of people also gives more insight about your own personality, how people in different countries react to you
Hey Mark, awesome video.
i love that travel lets me be a part of something and somewhere different. i love interacting with new people and learning new things. lol what really surprised me in edinburgh was the canadian accent! so many canadians moved there and work there so i didn't hear the scottish accent as much. i also love exploring. that's why i love going into nyc because there's always something to do but to do it elsewhere is even more exciting! i hope i hear a lot of people with a southern accent when i go to savannah next month but my friend already warned me that it's not that prevalent. oh well, at least there's the food! i love trying the food of the places i go to!
So true on the stress part! I can appreciate exploring outside of the US. You learn to appreciate other people who think different than you. I always suggest to take holidays outside of US and see other parts of the world and to minimise news consumptions and misinformed acquaintances.
Thats a great video, thank you Mark. Travelling means a lot to me, for many different reasons. I have been lucky to have two separate one year long trips around Asia, and I am still travelling about twice a year. For me travelling is the best school ever. I learn so much about other countries, cultures, religions and way of livings. It opens my mind and makes me hopefully more open minded and tolerant. I like to try and enjoy new kind of foods. Also, when I am abroad, I am reminded of how lucky I am to live in Switzerland (when things like health, safety, education, social care etc. are concerned), which I take sometime too much for granted.
I had the amazing opportunity to travel to the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium a little over a year ago and it was my first time outside of North America. I was always afraid of travelling so far from 'home'...even as an adult. But one of the most incredible feelings I've ever felt was walking around these 'foreign' places but somehow still feeling at home. Yes, I missed my bed and my dog, but I didn't feel so out of place like I expected. Even with language barriers, it was amazing to feel so connected to people on the other side of the world. I can't wait to travel more!
It really opens up your eyes when you travel to different countries and you see their cultures. And get to meet and talk with the people. As an English man, we have a stereotype that we are all disrespectful, and I made a group of German guys in a karaoke bar in Amsterdam realise that not all of us are. And we had the best night out with them all.
After having bad experiences of Germans when on holiday around the world, I was pleasantly surprised how nice they are back home. My first visit to Germany was to Berlin and found Berliners very welcoming and totally changed my view
Love this video so much! I've been lucky enough to visit 30 countries, and have found that we are all much more alike, than we are different!!!!
One thing nobody ever tells you about traveling abroad is you will get your fair share of critics too. I went to Europe solo for the first time last year, and I was shocked when people criticize my choice. Those are the people who need an overseas trip more than anyone else. As for me, I have no regrets over broadening my mind and I’ll do it again as time and finances allow.
Went to Turkey this year. Had a few people genuinely concerned I was going to get assaulted for being an American tourist. By the time I was back in the Istanbul airport, headed back home, I was so over their ignorance it was actually hilarious.
This, I love.
I'm going to be going to Austria as my first time solo travelling and your videos are a bunch of help and very reassuring. Thank you Wolter
I went to Europe for the first time last year. Everything you said is correct in my case. I can't wait to get back there and experience more! Next April. 😊
The stress reliever for me. Love seeing how people live all over the world. And yes. Breaks down stereotypes ❤
Thanks for saying Suomi, I've had the wrong pronunciation in my head, emphasizing the first syllable.
Totally agree with your perspective here on travel.
True 💯
Traveling only ever makes me with I was back in the midwest. People are not the same everywhere.
Ooo you got nice eyes. I never noticed until now. Im gonna travel to switzerland, and Venice, next year partly cuz u and other travel content creator😊 inspired me
Great video, thanks for sharing. My Mum gave me the travel bug, & I think its changed my perspective on how I do my photography. I am a passionate film shooter, & I tend to save certain specialty type films for my overseas trips. I also think I have a similar feeling about food as what you mentioned here.
I love pizza, & after having the real thing in Italy, it doesn't feel the same at home (I'm Australian). I can still enjoy the fast food style of something like Dominos, but I'd much rather have the traditional Italian pizza.
Hi Wolter! Great video! 🇪🇬🐪🌴
3:35 Not just Finnish, but Nordic cinnamon rolls are the GOAT of cinnamon rolls.
Nice hair cut ❤ love this guy always positive
Being Scandinavian, I'm fortunate having the means to travel the world. I've met with people in India, USA and the south of Italy where life is very different from my neck of the woods. It's easy to say things like "we're all the same", but different levels of income really create gaps between people. My experiences have made me more humble, but does that sentiment aid a family in Gujarat, Leon County or Basilicata? Probably not, but I will always claim encounters between people are enriching. Have I used my time and money wisely? Yes, of that I'm sure.
After traveling, when I hear someone speak English with an accent, I know they are probably fluent in 4 or 5 other languages.
It's cheaper to travel abroad then in the US now.
I agree to the most part, but with a caveat: many people think they are like sooo much wiser just because they've visited places around the world. what I mean is: going abroad is not enough to broaden your mind, you need the right attitude too
(I include myself too, I spent a gap year in New Zealand and in the following years I've thought I knew sooo much more than anybody without this kind of experience, when in reality it just meant I was privileged9
Thank you. I enjoyed this video. I hope to travel more...need to balance the wallet with the experience. Cheers my friend. Much joy and happiness to you and your fsmily.
One of the most important experiences in life is traveling outside your country.
❤
♥️🇺🇸♥️
OK but ultimately, most Americans come back to the states and change absolutely nothing. And Military service members are some of the most well-traveled but their worldviews still are conservative on average