I've had to take off my shoes in other places' airports besides America. The most galling was in Saudi Arabia who provided the bulk of the hijackers in 9/11. The bored, condescending attitude of those doing the screening was infuriating.
If you look at the relative sizes and populations and such, then going between countries in Europe is the equivalent of going between states in North America. I really get tired of Europeans being so smug about having visited a dozen different countries, when they haven't traveled nearly the *distances* that most Americans have. An American who's never been outside their home state is just as rare as a European who's never traveled outside their home state, as it were. But in America, going on a two or three week road trip is a real thing. I've driven from Chicago area to New Orleans a few times, about 1500km.
The distance from Chicago to Orlando is a bit further than the distance from London to Budapest. How many people who live in London do you think have driven to Budapest, stopping at various sights along the way? Dublin to Moscow is about 3500km; San Diego to New York is almost a thousand kilometers further!
Yeah but the cultural differences between Chicago and Orlando are FAR less potent than those between London and Budapest. So I think the smugness is justified somewhat
I disagree that the *smugness is justified somewhat*, I assumed this person talks about the differences in distance between countries to show that it's less reasonable for an American to travel to foreign countries as much. It'll require more time and money for an American than a European, and it's not like traveling is a competition.
Nope, the interesting thing about travel is the difference in culture, food, and language, not how many miles or hours you logged getting there. Miles logged only prove that either you have nice car seats or a durable backside. But not whether you have seen something of the world. I commute about 30.000km per year (I'm a weekly commuter), by your definition I'd be well-traveled. But it's all within my own country, so there aren't really cultural differences. That one weekend going 100km in the other direction and over the border from Austria into Slovakia is 10x more difference in culture, language, and food than that.
I always assumed that the potion sizes in America were huge to justify to the customers the price, so it is more acceptable to not finish anything and bring home leftovers.
So funny.But taking off your shoes at airport security is usual practice in Russia too. And about discussion in the comments,Russia is big too,bigger than the whole Europe.Still it's totally different to be in different country even if it's in couple hours of driving from being in your country even 7 days avay.
I speculate that Russia maybe also has more diversity within it's borders? America has diversity in its borders (the South is very different from Idaho is very different from New England, etc.), but Russia has a lot of very divergent culture within its full span, right? There are more communities in Russia that have a long history of existence there, whereas in America there is an assumption that one culture has precedence and all others are still held exotic.
Thank you for acknowledging that America has diverse cultures, too! Many of us speak relatively similar dialects of a single language, but there are pockets of other cultures and other languages within single cities! I wouldn't have to travel across state lines to experience new languages and cultures, just a few miles. Look at Chicago, and you'll see pockets of Polish, Indian, Pakistani, Italian, Russian, Ukranian, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Thai, I could go on for pages!
Even among English speakers, there is a lot of difference between a rural inhabitant of the Southeast, and a Boston native or a San Diego denizen. Anyone who thinks Americans don't experience other cultures traveling within America, either hasn't ever actually traveled in America, or hasn't paid attention when they did!
Malachi, this comic is funny and all, but care to explain what's the full story? The whole gig? Coz I don't understand it.
ReplyDeleteMmmmm...if it's funny and all, that's the whole gig!
DeleteAlt-text broken a little.
ReplyDeletehttps://pp.userapi.com/c844616/v844616890/1c5d3e/3BUcSnOji-k.jpg
Fixed thanks!
DeleteI've had to take off my shoes in other places' airports besides America. The most galling was in Saudi Arabia who provided the bulk of the hijackers in 9/11. The bored, condescending attitude of those doing the screening was infuriating.
DeleteIf you look at the relative sizes and populations and such, then going between countries in Europe is the equivalent of going between states in North America. I really get tired of Europeans being so smug about having visited a dozen different countries, when they haven't traveled nearly the *distances* that most Americans have. An American who's never been outside their home state is just as rare as a European who's never traveled outside their home state, as it were. But in America, going on a two or three week road trip is a real thing. I've driven from Chicago area to New Orleans a few times, about 1500km.
ReplyDeleteThe distance from Chicago to Orlando is a bit further than the distance from London to Budapest. How many people who live in London do you think have driven to Budapest, stopping at various sights along the way? Dublin to Moscow is about 3500km; San Diego to New York is almost a thousand kilometers further!
Yeah but the cultural differences between Chicago and Orlando are FAR less potent than those between London and Budapest. So I think the smugness is justified somewhat
DeleteI disagree that the *smugness is justified somewhat*, I assumed this person talks about the differences in distance between countries to show that it's less reasonable for an American to travel to foreign countries as much. It'll require more time and money for an American than a European, and it's not like traveling is a competition.
DeleteNope, the interesting thing about travel is the difference in culture, food, and language, not how many miles or hours you logged getting there. Miles logged only prove that either you have nice car seats or a durable backside. But not whether you have seen something of the world. I commute about 30.000km per year (I'm a weekly commuter), by your definition I'd be well-traveled. But it's all within my own country, so there aren't really cultural differences. That one weekend going 100km in the other direction and over the border from Austria into Slovakia is 10x more difference in culture, language, and food than that.
DeleteI think we can all agree it's EASIER for Europeans to travel abroad. That's for sure. Cheaper, too.
DeleteI always assumed that the potion sizes in America were huge to justify to the customers the price, so it is more acceptable to not finish anything and bring home leftovers.
ReplyDeleteIt is acceptable to take home leftovers, yes. But many Americans are not afraid to eat it all
DeleteSo funny.But taking off your shoes at airport security is usual practice in Russia too. And about discussion in the comments,Russia is big too,bigger than the whole Europe.Still it's totally different to be in different country even if it's in couple hours of driving from being in your country even 7 days avay.
ReplyDeleteI speculate that Russia maybe also has more diversity within it's borders? America has diversity in its borders (the South is very different from Idaho is very different from New England, etc.), but Russia has a lot of very divergent culture within its full span, right? There are more communities in Russia that have a long history of existence there, whereas in America there is an assumption that one culture has precedence and all others are still held exotic.
DeleteThank you for acknowledging that America has diverse cultures, too! Many of us speak relatively similar dialects of a single language, but there are pockets of other cultures and other languages within single cities! I wouldn't have to travel across state lines to experience new languages and cultures, just a few miles. Look at Chicago, and you'll see pockets of Polish, Indian, Pakistani, Italian, Russian, Ukranian, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Thai, I could go on for pages!
DeleteEven among English speakers, there is a lot of difference between a rural inhabitant of the Southeast, and a Boston native or a San Diego denizen. Anyone who thinks Americans don't experience other cultures traveling within America, either hasn't ever actually traveled in America, or hasn't paid attention when they did!
Sales tax and garbage disposals! YES, YES, YES!!!!
ReplyDelete