Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 19:02     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've traveled a lot but not to many third world countries. I have been reluctant because I feel as if bearing witness to the grinding poverty would ruin the experience for me. I couldn't sleep at night in India knowing that right outside my window there are people without the most basic means to survive. Yes, I know when I got to sleep here they are still there but somehow the thought of lookign people in the eye and not really being able to help them while touring around the country and treating them as a bit of the 'experience' feels uncomfortable for me. I mean we took a helicopter trip to a tiny island in Hawaii with fancy picnic lunches and I ended up spending the whole time on the island feeding our lunches to the skinny dogs we stumbled upon. I'm not good with proximal suffering. How do others manage this or am I just too empathic?


What experience exactly are you looking for when traveling?



I travel mostly for nature, art and architecture. Not super interested in food or shopping. It is nice to meet people but usually it is so brief and of course colored by the fact that I'm a visitor and they are likely pleasant because I'm a customer, that I don't find it immensely valuable. Maybe when I retire I can stay someplace and get to know some people but just walking around like it is a zoo is uncomfortable for me.


This is a weird hang up. There is amazing nature, art, and architecture all over the “third world”. Some of the best actually. I’m not sure how going to Paris or wherever you’ve traveled is any less “zoo-like”. Being carted around in a bus staring at the same statue or building a thousand other tourists are staring at doesn’t change whether you’re at the London Bridge or the Taj Mahal.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 18:54     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Just by calling them “third world countries” you are shouting how poor are you. Poorly empathetic.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 18:49     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:I've traveled a lot but not to many third world countries. I have been reluctant because I feel as if bearing witness to the grinding poverty would ruin the experience for me. I couldn't sleep at night in India knowing that right outside my window there are people without the most basic means to survive. Yes, I know when I got to sleep here they are still there but somehow the thought of lookign people in the eye and not really being able to help them while touring around the country and treating them as a bit of the 'experience' feels uncomfortable for me. I mean we took a helicopter trip to a tiny island in Hawaii with fancy picnic lunches and I ended up spending the whole time on the island feeding our lunches to the skinny dogs we stumbled upon. I'm not good with proximal suffering. How do others manage this or am I just too empathic?


I get you, OP. I have had trouble some places I've traveled to, and I live near a city with extremely high homeless rates and poverty. Half my family is from a third-world country as well. My friends from India have told me not to go because I would not enjoy myself at all due to the poverty. How do I manage it- I do some research and then decide if the planned destination is more likely to upset me than facilitate an interesting vacation. Yes, it's limiting, but the world is huge.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 18:39     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:I've traveled a lot but not to many third world countries. I have been reluctant because I feel as if bearing witness to the grinding poverty would ruin the experience for me. I couldn't sleep at night in India knowing that right outside my window there are people without the most basic means to survive. Yes, I know when I got to sleep here they are still there but somehow the thought of lookign people in the eye and not really being able to help them while touring around the country and treating them as a bit of the 'experience' feels uncomfortable for me. I mean we took a helicopter trip to a tiny island in Hawaii with fancy picnic lunches and I ended up spending the whole time on the island feeding our lunches to the skinny dogs we stumbled upon. I'm not good with proximal suffering. How do others manage this or am I just too empathic?

You are definitely something, OP, but empathic isn't it.

IIUC, you're not good with "proximal suffering", and you'd prefer to enjoy the art and culture of other countries without having to be bothered by the inequality and suffering the people living their experience. You also are okay with the inequality and suffering in the US, because it's not something you have to see. It kinda sounds like you're just an entitled a-hole who thinks the entire world exists for her aesthetic pleasure. Please, do the people in other countries a favor and stay home. They don't want you there viewing them as a blight on your ability to experience the places where they live and fight for survival.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 18:32     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It must be limiting to be this empathetic.


I actually don't think OP sounds empathetic.


Me either.

Poor people around the world don't want or need OP's pity party.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 17:26     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've traveled a lot but not to many third world countries. I have been reluctant because I feel as if bearing witness to the grinding poverty would ruin the experience for me. I couldn't sleep at night in India knowing that right outside my window there are people without the most basic means to survive. Yes, I know when I got to sleep here they are still there but somehow the thought of lookign people in the eye and not really being able to help them while touring around the country and treating them as a bit of the 'experience' feels uncomfortable for me. I mean we took a helicopter trip to a tiny island in Hawaii with fancy picnic lunches and I ended up spending the whole time on the island feeding our lunches to the skinny dogs we stumbled upon. I'm not good with proximal suffering. How do others manage this or am I just too empathic?


What experience exactly are you looking for when traveling?



I travel mostly for nature, art and architecture. Not super interested in food or shopping. It is nice to meet people but usually it is so brief and of course colored by the fact that I'm a visitor and they are likely pleasant because I'm a customer, that I don't find it immensely valuable. Maybe when I retire I can stay someplace and get to know some people but just walking around like it is a zoo is uncomfortable for me.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 17:21     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:How do you manage to sleep now with the poor and homeless in DC? Or the local poor are not poor enough for you? If you feel the way you do, just don’t go to “third world” countries.


+1. There is a huge homelessness issue in DC. How do you respond here? Maybe do the same. I say donate money to a non-profit there or an international grantmaking organization in the States. There are plenty of those in DC. Or vacation somewhere else. There are lots of amazing places to visit, rich and poor. If you insist on going to the developing world, then maybe try a middle-income country. Chile, Argentina? See how you feel and proceed with booking trips accordingly.

For me, I feel like traveling abroad really opened up my mind and made me want to help. I spent time after college working with a non-profit in Latin America and I now work with low income communities in the US. I love travel and while I feel interested and concerned about the poverty I see here and abroad, it doesn't impact my travel plans.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 16:57     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:The correct term is “developing countries”
since at least the 1980’s
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 16:49     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:I’m not going to judge you, but I will recommend not just getting on a plane for Africa just yet.

Try Eastern Europe and South America first. Then India and after that Southeast Asia. Once you’ve done all of that, then I’d recommend South Africa/Namibia/Botswana. Feeling okay after that, then Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. Only once you’ve done all that would I recommend West Africa. And then once you done West Africa I would recommend Central Africa.


Interesting that you put India above so many of these nations that do not have nearly the same scale of poverty.

India can be really tough bc the sheer size of the population, not just the scope of the wealth gap. IMO it's one of the hardest on this metric
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 15:59     Subject: Travel to third world countries
I’m not going to judge you, but I will recommend not just getting on a plane for Africa just yet.

Try Eastern Europe and South America first. Then India and after that Southeast Asia. Once you’ve done all of that, then I’d recommend South Africa/Namibia/Botswana. Feeling okay after that, then Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. Only once you’ve done all that would I recommend West Africa. And then once you done West Africa I would recommend Central Africa.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 15:51     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:To start, you could stop calling them "third world" countries.

People are living in extreme poverty all over the world whether you see it or not or travel to those countries or not.

I think everyone should see how other people live, so you can acknowledge your privilege and learn the reality of the world. Yes, it's hard to see suffering, but it can also give you important perspective.


So do you think that poor people exist just to make us aware of our privilege? So it is like a field trip so you can see the slums and then go home oh so enlightened by how humble and happy and hard working these people are despite their poverty?
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 15:42     Subject: Re:Travel to third world countries
My parents are from "third world" countries.

Op, please consider this - people from developing countries may be poor, but they lead rich, happy and fulfilling lives just like we do here. You can learn a lot about other cultures, cuisines, music, etc by visiting these countries. It may make you even richer culturally.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 15:33     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To start, you could stop calling them "third world" countries.

People are living in extreme poverty all over the world whether you see it or not or travel to those countries or not.

I think everyone should see how other people live, so you can acknowledge your privilege and learn the reality of the world. Yes, it's hard to see suffering, but it can also give you important perspective.


This. The fact you still use the term “third world” is gross. Stay home OP until you educate yourself.


Citizens of "developing countries" refer to their home countries as "third world". But your virtues will carry the day!

Exactly.

Signed,
- someone from a third world country.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 15:33     Subject: Re:Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I do small things that people on here will say are silly, but they help.

I bring suitcases of stuff to give away to people

I bring lots of small denominations of currency everywhere I go and am constantly tipping people

I know that tourism is often the lifeblood of these economies, so just my being there is helpful

I try to spend as much of my money locally as I possibly can


Please consider buying things locally versus bringing them from overseas.


It’s stuff like leftover diapers, medical supplies, clothes, toys, blankets that I already have or that friends and family members give me for the trip. I already said I try to spend all the money I can locally. Bringing stuff I have already to give away (especially medical supplies and baby items) works better for me and makes more sense economically as it frees up that money to spend on other things locally.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2021 15:32     Subject: Travel to third world countries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To start, you could stop calling them "third world" countries.

People are living in extreme poverty all over the world whether you see it or not or travel to those countries or not.

I think everyone should see how other people live, so you can acknowledge your privilege and learn the reality of the world. Yes, it's hard to see suffering, but it can also give you important perspective.


This. The fact you still use the term “third world” is gross. Stay home OP until you educate yourself.

I was born in such a country and still have family living there. I have no problem with someone saying “third world” on a forum like this. Now if this was an academic or journalism setting, then that would be different.