For me it's a both nature and nurture. Growing up our family vacations were camping in the Appalachain mountains...but that's as far as we went. We moved around a lot but always in GA and TN. Ever since I was a kid I've always wanted to travel and see other lands, meet new people from different cultures than my own...see the world. My brother and sister are the same way but my Mom has had no desire to travel outside of the US. She only got her passport because I was doing a study abroad program in Costa Rica.

quote:

Originally posted by karinada:
Before that I went to an inner city school and was mostly around kids from poor backgrounds, remember: travel/ holidays are a privilige--- most Americans do not have.

Absolutely. We were had zero spare money left over for luxuries like travel when I was growing up. When we used to go and see my gran she had to send us the train fare.

I still maintain that curiosity is natural, but thatmaybe nurture defines the way the curiosity will present.

For me, I never got a taster of travel when I was younger. But then, I did grow up thinking 'there has to be something better than this'.

Maybe for some people travel is a rebellion against what they were brought up to believe in - that there is only a narrow part of life they are allowed to slot into.

KPG

Neither of my parents have ever had passports. They have been to Tassie and Sydney (NSW). Dad drove us all around Victoria and showed us so many different places --I do declare I could give you travel directions.

It is my belif that people should see their own country first before visiting other peoples. With Australia having six states and two territories, I do realise it is easier than Americans who have fifty or is it fifty-one states?.

Anyway, as an adult I never went anywhere. It wasn't until after being divorced that I started to travel. Only small at first, like (don't laugh at me now) day trips involving ninety minute train trips to Frankston (the beach). Mind you, there were perfectly good beaches a whole lot closer to home, but it had to be Frankston-- that was the last station at the end of the line.

From there we( my two younger lads) graduated to a week at Rye- another beach but and extra sixty to eighty minutes- by bus.

I made a committment to myself that it was my aim to stay in every state and territory of Australia. The only one left is A.C.T.: Canberra to be precise. Went there many many years ago for a protest, it poured buckets the whole time, the wind was icy and the bus was locked. We spent time huddled on the ground.

Any, ever since I was a child I've always wanted to go to Ireland. Had an Irish grandma who used to jig me on her knee and sing Irish songs to me. It wasn't until I'se all growed up I realised they were all "Patriotic" songs. Grandma instilled in me a deep love for Ireland and the Irish people,and the Wearin Of the Green.

Started a savings account called my "Ireland Account", but alas, one of my boys won a scholarship to a prestigious private school. It covered 50% of fees, so Bang! there went my travel fund. That boy has now won a scholarship to Melbourne University where he is in his third year. The other boy (Year 10) also won a scholarship which covers 50%. I may never get to Ireland but who knows? Stranger things have happened and I have the knowledge that both boys have an opportunity which otherwise they would not have had.


Anyway, I umm, think this post is gettin too L
. O
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Have a nice day, Whistler.


If you can keep a sense of humour and see the funny side of life, you will never be old. SMC.

You'll get there Whistler...

quote:

I do realise it is easier than Americans who have fifty or is it fifty-one states?.

there are only 50 states in the usa. canada isnt a state...yet

I once dated an American who thought that there were 53 states. Had to end it after he argued it with me. Many American's don't know how many there actually are.

I have to disagree with seeing all of your own country first before going abroad. I think I've been to about 20 or so states so far while I've been to 24 countries in Europe. There are many that I just have no desire what so ever to see. On top of that I would much rather spend my money flying to Europe than to California. It's all in what interests you and where you would prefer to spend your time and money.

I took advanced spanish in high school and I think that started it. I wanted to see the places I was hearing about. Most of my friends from high school didn't care to travel, it just wasn't a priority.

Although my grandmother definitely had a travel bug (she lived in France, Germany, Hawaii, California, Montana, Baltimore) my parents/aunts/uncles didn't. Perhaps it skips a generation?

quote:

Originally posted by chrissy2k5:
I took advanced spanish in high school and I think that started it. I wanted to see the places I was hearing about. Most of my friends from high school didn't care to travel, it just wasn't a priority.

Although my grandmother definitely had a travel bug (she lived in France, Germany, Hawaii, California, Montana, Baltimore) my parents/aunts/uncles didn't. Perhaps it skips a generation?

I totally agree with skipping a generation... My parents never really traveled (not counting going to the states to go to disney land). On the other hand, my grandparents are major travellers. They have been to almost every country in the world (or so it seems to me). So that must be where I get it

I think most of us Northern chickens would have a bit of a problem with becoming #51.....

At any rate, I'll have to come down on the nature side of this one. Both my husband and I come from families that never traveled. And, we have wanderlust that doesn't seem to waiver. However, I think it helps if you get some help (or start with small steps) along the way. It can be a tad intimidating at first if you have no knowledge of how to start traveling.

Thanks bigmaude, you've given me hope.

And okieboy, thankyou too.
Question: Out of curiousity, would you all like Canada to be another state? And if so, why?


Have a nice day, Whistler.


If you can keep a sense of humour and see the funny side of life, you will never be old. SMC.

quote:

Originally posted by Whistler:
Thanks bigmaude, you've given me hope.

And okieboy, thankyou too.
Question: Out of curiousity, would you all like Canada to be another state? And if so, why?


Have a nice day, Whistler.

This American girl who lives in Canada is going to say NO on that one---- Canada will/should not become the 51st State.

Last week While cooking my roomate cut herself really badly and we had to go to the emergency room. Once there they took one glance at her "care card" stiched her up and sent her home. She did not pay a dime/ no time spent hassling insurance companies etc. It was an incredible experience for me, every time I've been to the emergency room there is always a bill involved--- even with insurance.

Well, my father started me on international travel before I was born by being stationed in Germany. Then hauled me all over the U.S. and started me on Central America when I was six. My brothers and sisters, three of each, tend to be more homebodies. They'll travel when they have to for jobs and such but to just pack up and take off like I do because the want shepherds pie and pint in Dublin is something they would never do.

I think people that travel are born with the sense to know. T know about everything and to let themselves experience life I do believe Mark Twain said it best."Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."

Ouch! Hope your friend makes a quick recovery. Stone the bleedin' crows.In Australia when/if you go to emergency dept. you never pay- everyone is entitled to the same treatment in the public hospitals regardless of income or insurance. All you do is show your "medicare" card which every person (kids go on their parents one) is given by the Federal Government. Around 1% is deducted from your wages for "Medicare" each pay day!
America sounds like a tough country money-wise.


Have a nice day, Whistler.


If you can keep a sense of humour and see the funny side of life, you will never be old. SMC.

I think it's the immigrant blood in me (Irish and Polish). I love hearing my grandfather's Polish accent, the way he puts"the" in front of names...."Where's the Kelly? (my sister} "Did you feed the Barney?" (his dog's name). Maybe Polish speakers put articles in front of names....that and other questions make me curious, and travel can provide some answers.
But I do dream of having a homebase, too. You know that scene in "Moonstruck" when the entire family is sitting around the table and then the father opens the bottle of spumante....makes me weep everytime.....but then again, I also weep when everything becomes too familiar, when the wanderlust is strong but I'm stuck in a boring job....ah, the conflict.

It does tend to run in families - my parents loved to travel (although they couldn't afford it when we were younger), and all my six brothers and sisters (with one exception) have been back and forth to Europe several times over. My daughter is carrying on the tradition - she spent two semesters abroad in college, and just got back from spending a year in Spain TEFL.

But then I know others who love to travel and it came out of nowhere. A good friend of mine has traveled extensively, however, her parents never traveled more than 150 miles from the town they lived in.

I actually think that education and creativity has a lot to do with it. Travel and imagination go hand-in-hand. That's not to say that uneducated people don't travel, but I think that education lends itself to a certain curiosity about the world. And it's also true, as someone said, that travel costs money, although not as much as most people think.

I always tell people who want to travel overseas but are afraid to that once they take that first trip, they will see how easy and enjoyable and inexpensive (relatively speaking) it is. It's just getting the first hurdle out of the way...