GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

Well, I hope I haven't posted anything too offensive here or anywhere else on this forum. I'm just not into having to be right, pounding a point, convincing others, etc., and being mean to people is not in my nature, anyway. Even if I'm insulted, I rarely take it personally. I hope my greatest breach of etiquette on GL is my stupid sense of humour; sometimes I joke too much.

The only country that I've been to a couple of times is Canada.I've only been to about 10 US states.I really have never had the need to travel,it's just not that important to me personally.

The only countries that I would like to go to outside the US is:
Italy/Sicily-To visit relatives that I've never met..

Egypt-I've always wanted to see the pyramids in person..

South America-To see some ancient ruins/maybe get to see an archaeological dig in progress,and maybe find some relatives(My great-grandfather was a "player",and used to go there alot for "recreational purposes")

I for one was not offended but you had to know it would bristle some, imo.In as much as there appears to be a pro-american slant to post on this forum there is definately an anti US sentiment as well.

To answer your question I think you have fallen for the fallacy that all americans have the means($$$$$) to travel outside of the states. People with the income to allow them to travel generally do travel to foreign countries.Time can also be a factor. Most americans are confined to one or two weeks vacation time which would allow one to see the usual tourist sites, but hardly enough time to absorb the culture as has been the suggested reason for traveling outside ones homeland. I also suspect that some US travelers are timid and worry about speaking the language or being understood, which I have yet to experience.

Dags,you couldn't be more wrong about the many sub-cultures within the US.Using your example,there is a town,Lynden,WA settled by Dutch Lutherns,where it is still illegal to work outside your home on Sundays and very much feels like another culture.We are 15 minutes drive from there. Travel season started early this year for us. We had the opportunity to take our neice and nephew traveling this summer. Most of our time spent was on the east coast.There were times when on the road from Orlando to Portsmouth,ME that our companions thought we had entered another country because of the food and various versions of the english language. While subtle the particularities are there.

Now my main reason for responding to this thread is the threat of banning people. I can only assume that the people in question are those singled out. I personally enjoy reading the postings of Natalie,Dags,and Deena and realize that you can easily read into a question or statement your own interpretation of intent.We all have had to be strong willed to get where we are and it should be expected that strong opinions will be expressed and more often than not will be misinterperted.

I now am returning to vacation mode at the request of my spouse.

I say BAN BANNING and pleasant journeys all.
Ciao

Personally, I just hate flying. I don't do boats either. I've been to Canada. Wow!!! I've been all over the US, and that's some countries by itself -- take California for example. The Deep South for another. Then there's Texas. New York. But I will make it to BC one of these days.

hey I've been to Texas too!

kat

Travelling has been one of my passions after being seduced by its power at an early age.I am if nothing else well traveled.I have visited or passed through most of the States in the US includeing Hawai 3 times. In Mexico, Central and South America I have visited every state,region and country part of a 2 year mostly overland journey after finishing university which is one of the best things I have ever done.In Canada Ottawa,New Foundland and Nova Scotia are the only areas I have seen so there is work to be done there and reason to go back and visit what I have missed. Since I'm from the NY area going away to the carrabean on vacation especially in the winter was an easy thing to do when there were more airlines,cheaper fuel and a strong dollar. To that end I have been to most of the carrabean Islands at one time or another. Cuba remains on my list and there are to be sure some additional less developed more obscure islands that I have missed as well.
I have been to Europe multiple times to include a year spent living in Rome [came for a week stayed for a year]Countries were Germany,Austria,Switzerland,Iceland,Luxemberg,Holland, Lichtenstien,France,Spain,Andorra,Monaco,Portugal,Belgium Italy,Malta,Numerous Mediterranean Islands such as Ibiza, Corsica, Sicily, Capri,Yugoslovia before it was chopped up,Hungary,Greece along with many of its islands,Turkey,Cypris,
Isreal,Egypt,Morroco,Algeria,Tunisia, Jordan, canary Islands,Gibralter and how could I leave out Ireland and Great Brittain to include England, Scotland, wales. In Asia a brief stay in Japan on the way to Hong Kong,Maccau and Southern China.

There are several countries in eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Russia, Sub Saharan Africa, The rest of China and Japan, South eEast Asia, Indian subcontinant,Arab and Shia Moslem States.
Australia and New Zealand, South Pacific Islands That are missing from my list and remain on my countries to visit list.
I have a map of the world with pins representing any of the places visited, color coded to seperate the different trips each represents.

Where have I traveled; I was in the Navy for 20 years so I’ve been to a lot of different places.
1) Afghanistan
2) Australia
3) Bahrain
4) Croatia
5) France
6) Grease
7) Hong Kong
8) India
9) Indonesia
10)Iraq
11)Israel
12)Italy
13)Japan
14)Kenya
15)Kuwait
16)Malaysia
17)Mexico
18)Nova Scotia
19)Philippines
20)Qatar
21)Singapore
22)Spain
23)South Korea
24)Sri Lanka
25)Thailand
26)Turkey
27)United Arab Emirates
Territories
28)Diego Garcia
29)Guam
30)Virgin Islands
If it wasn’t for the Navy I would not have went to all these places.

1)United States
2)Mexico
3)Wyoming

I feel like I've been nowhere compared with some of you, despite that I've spent cumulative about two and a half years of the last fifteen traveling. Anyway, here's my list: Canada, every state in the continental US (AND I've spent time in every state, not just in a motel 6 on the side of the interstate!), Mexico; a dozen or so islands in the Caribbean; England (I've even been outside Heathrow, but not sure why), France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Greece.

Funny, I was just looking through pictures the other day reflecting on this, here is my list:

Canada (Vancouver, Banff, Jasper, Montreal,a lake cabin north of Detroit)
Mexico (Border Towns, Cozumel)
Panama (game fishing)
Belize (game fishing)
Germany (Oktoberfest!)
India (Taj Mahal! and all the high-tech centers)
England (London, Lake District, Wales)
New Mexico (one of our 50 is missing )
and of course... Wyoming