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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We just got back from a trip in LATAM where we rented a car. We always drive and have, like other posters, done so on 6 continents. That said, DH and I were commenting in the car on our trip that it makes sense that many Americans don't drive in any country but US or Canada. Traffic rules and customs are incredibly different and many Americans aren't able to function in traffic that is akin to orderly chaos. Americans like rules and lines, and knowing what their lane is. So I can see how driving in MENA or LATAM may be daunting. Plus, you have to be relaxed enough to not be bothered by the chaos and just roll with it. Most Americans (particularly VA drivers) cannot handle that, and like to tell other drivers what to do. In sum, it's a good thing that most Americans don't drive while abroad. [/quote]

You're acting like it is advanced calculus.  It is not hard to get a feel for the customs while driving.  We drove pretty much the entire country of Portugal, no problem. Including very, veerrry narrow streets in medieval towns like Obidos.  We just got back from England and drove probably 1000 miles all over the country side and other bigger cities like Bath.  It was completely on the opposite side with circles everywhere.  No big deal.  We've driven all over Thailand many, maaaaaany times, which is again on the opposite side and there are far less rules than England. Traffic is chaotic in Bangkok when you need to get out of it or onto the edges of the city, but it is no big deal. You just have to put you Americanism away and realize that people don't get pissed off when they get cut off or merged in front of like they do in the US.  There's chaos but no road rage.  And driving all over Belgium, France (including super small roads on Alsace etc), Germany, the entire country of Croatia (which included needing to cross immigration in Bosnia) was so easy.

It does not take genius level intellect to get a feel on the pulse of how people or nation drives.  Americans are just scared of the world too much. Omg, what if I run into a corrupt cop? Omg, what if I take the wrong turn !!?? Omg, what if I make a mistake?

Who cares?  If you make a mistake while driving. You just stop and brush it off while not panicking.  Honestly, it's much scarier driving in the US where everyone seems to have road rage and there are 300,000,000+ guns in circulation, many of which people bring while driving. Taking a wrong turn in Baltimore is 1000x scarier in Baltimore than doing it.in Hungary or Bosnia, lol. I've done both, too. [/quote]

How many posters have to explain that they are not too scared to drive overseas. Rather, it is not what they like to do on vacation.

No one is impressed by your tales of what you seem to think is courage or resilience?? Not a one of us. But it is nice that you are proud of that…feat. [/quote]

Totally agree. So many of these judgy humblebrag posts lately as well as criticizing Americans in general. It must be incomprehensible to some posters that people like to do things differently. [/quote]

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