What makes you want to travel outside of the U.S.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an American citizen. My great-grandparents on my mother's side were born in Italy. My grandparents on my father's side were born in Italy. We have been here in the U.S. since the late 1800s. I am the only person in my family to leave the U.S. for travel, and that was a vacation in Italy. My family had no desire to ever go back to Italy to visit or to live there again.

When I was a teenager, airfare was very expensive. I am just curious, with so much variety in geography in the U.S. what makes you desire trips to Europe (after one or two sight seeing visits) or to Mexican beaches and resorts or other countries?

For me at least, Tokyo is simply the greatest city in the world. I return at least once a year, I speak the language reasonably after a decade of study, I would not be able to lead a truly satisfying life that didn't have Tokyo as a part of it. But at the same time, the work is in DC and DC has its own appeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an American citizen. My great-grandparents on my mother's side were born in Italy. My grandparents on my father's side were born in Italy. We have been here in the U.S. since the late 1800s. I am the only person in my family to leave the U.S. for travel, and that was a vacation in Italy. My family had no desire to ever go back to Italy to visit or to live there again.

When I was a teenager, airfare was very expensive. I am just curious, with so much variety in geography in the U.S. what makes you desire trips to Europe (after one or two sight seeing visits) or to Mexican beaches and resorts or other countries?

I would rather shoot myself and travel to a vacation resort. That said, I visit about a dozen countries a year, primarily urban capitals where I'm looking to see the latest in food, art, design, music, and culture -- living culture, not churches and dusty museums. I'm in my late 20s, I want the entire world in my orbit, not to be confined to a provincial backwater (it's a charming city, but c'mon, it's true) like DC. I'm not much for nature travel at all.

Offend much? Churches are living to many people and much of the world's best art is found in the great world museums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an American citizen. My great-grandparents on my mother's side were born in Italy. My grandparents on my father's side were born in Italy. We have been here in the U.S. since the late 1800s. I am the only person in my family to leave the U.S. for travel, and that was a vacation in Italy. My family had no desire to ever go back to Italy to visit or to live there again.

When I was a teenager, airfare was very expensive. I am just curious, with so much variety in geography in the U.S. what makes you desire trips to Europe (after one or two sight seeing visits) or to Mexican beaches and resorts or other countries?

I would rather shoot myself and travel to a vacation resort. That said, I visit about a dozen countries a year, primarily urban capitals where I'm looking to see the latest in food, art, design, music, and culture -- living culture, not churches and dusty museums. I'm in my late 20s, I want the entire world in my orbit, not to be confined to a provincial backwater (it's a charming city, but c'mon, it's true) like DC. I'm not much for nature travel at all.

Offend much? Churches are living to many people and much of the world's best art is found in the great world museums.

I want to see art that speaks to the political and social realities of today. I can see incredible art from the past whenever I damn well please, in NY or LA or London or wherever. It'll always be there. Checking out some avant-garde shit in shimokita, on the other hand -- if I'm not there in the moment to witness it, it's gone and beyond my scope of vision forever.

I'll have time for the permanent stuff when I'm old. It'll still be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an American citizen. My great-grandparents on my mother's side were born in Italy. My grandparents on my father's side were born in Italy. We have been here in the U.S. since the late 1800s. I am the only person in my family to leave the U.S. for travel, and that was a vacation in Italy. My family had no desire to ever go back to Italy to visit or to live there again.

When I was a teenager, airfare was very expensive. I am just curious, with so much variety in geography in the U.S. what makes you desire trips to Europe (after one or two sight seeing visits) or to Mexican beaches and resorts or other countries?

I would rather shoot myself and travel to a vacation resort. That said, I visit about a dozen countries a year, primarily urban capitals where I'm looking to see the latest in food, art, design, music, and culture -- living culture, not churches and dusty museums. I'm in my late 20s, I want the entire world in my orbit, not to be confined to a provincial backwater (it's a charming city, but c'mon, it's true) like DC. I'm not much for nature travel at all.

Offend much? Churches are living to many people and much of the world's best art is found in the great world museums.

I want to see art that speaks to the political and social realities of today. I can see incredible art from the past whenever I damn well please, in NY or LA or London or wherever. It'll always be there. Checking out some avant-garde shit in shimokita, on the other hand -- if I'm not there in the moment to witness it, it's gone and beyond my scope of vision forever.

I'll have time for the permanent stuff when I'm old. It'll still be there.

Also, if you're the sort of religious person who actively gets offended when people aren't emotionally invested in the same magical sky pokemon that you are, what on earth are you doing living in DC? There are plenty of red states for you to set up shop in.

[Anonymous]

For me, the answer to the OP's question can be summed up in one word: perspective.

It's good to see life from a new one every now and then and challenge our own assumptions. Some things are better in other countries, some things are worse. We can all learn from each other. But to do so, we need to know each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an American citizen. My great-grandparents on my mother's side were born in Italy. My grandparents on my father's side were born in Italy. We have been here in the U.S. since the late 1800s. I am the only person in my family to leave the U.S. for travel, and that was a vacation in Italy. My family had no desire to ever go back to Italy to visit or to live there again.

When I was a teenager, airfare was very expensive. I am just curious, with so much variety in geography in the U.S. what makes you desire trips to Europe (after one or two sight seeing visits) or to Mexican beaches and resorts or other countries?

I would rather shoot myself and travel to a vacation resort. That said, I visit about a dozen countries a year, primarily urban capitals where I'm looking to see the latest in food, art, design, music, and culture -- living culture, not churches and dusty museums. I'm in my late 20s, I want the entire world in my orbit, not to be confined to a provincial backwater (it's a charming city, but c'mon, it's true) like DC. I'm not much for nature travel at all.

I used to think that way about resorts. When we lived in Europe we'd often just pack, get in the car, and go. Drive to Italy, Spain, France and see the authentic side of it. Or we'd meet up with friends somewhere in Norway or Iceland.

But two years ago we did the lazy thing and booked a classic resort vacation in Sardinia. It was the best! We drove up and down the coast to all the adorable little towns and at night the kids loved the cheesy entertainment programs, while we got to relax with a glass of wine. So, I guess in the right place it can have its perks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an American citizen. My great-grandparents on my mother's side were born in Italy. My grandparents on my father's side were born in Italy. We have been here in the U.S. since the late 1800s. I am the only person in my family to leave the U.S. for travel, and that was a vacation in Italy. My family had no desire to ever go back to Italy to visit or to live there again.

When I was a teenager, airfare was very expensive. I am just curious, with so much variety in geography in the U.S. what makes you desire trips to Europe (after one or two sight seeing visits) or to Mexican beaches and resorts or other countries?

I think it comes down to who you are. You either have the travel bug or you don't. People who have it want to see the world, even if their country has plenty to see, that itch isn't scratched unless they are stretched beyond their comfort zone.

That's me and that's what I've noticed over the years as the difference between domestic travelers and foreign travelers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an American citizen. My great-grandparents on my mother's side were born in Italy. My grandparents on my father's side were born in Italy. We have been here in the U.S. since the late 1800s. I am the only person in my family to leave the U.S. for travel, and that was a vacation in Italy. My family had no desire to ever go back to Italy to visit or to live there again.

When I was a teenager, airfare was very expensive. I am just curious, with so much variety in geography in the U.S. what makes you desire trips to Europe (after one or two sight seeing visits) or to Mexican beaches and resorts or other countries?

I would rather shoot myself and travel to a vacation resort. That said, I visit about a dozen countries a year, primarily urban capitals where I'm looking to see the latest in food, art, design, music, and culture -- living culture, not churches and dusty museums. I'm in my late 20s, I want the entire world in my orbit, not to be confined to a provincial backwater (it's a charming city, but c'mon, it's true) like DC. I'm not much for nature travel at all.

Offend much? Churches are living to many people and much of the world's best art is found in the great world museums.

I want to see art that speaks to the political and social realities of today. I can see incredible art from the past whenever I damn well please, in NY or LA or London or wherever. It'll always be there. Checking out some avant-garde shit in shimokita, on the other hand -- if I'm not there in the moment to witness it, it's gone and beyond my scope of vision forever.

I'll have time for the permanent stuff when I'm old. It'll still be there.

You are just so cosmopolitan and hip. Wish I could be like you.

[Anonymous]

1. To visit family members, scattered around the world. We are a multinational family.

2. To experience different cultures.

3. To observe rare ecosystems, even though that has a slight ethical risk to it.

Every single person I know loves to travel (apart from the couple that can't because they have claustrophobia). The better question would be:

"Why on earth DON'T you want to travel????"