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[destroycreate]

Without meaning to sound overly elitist, am I the only one who feels that, as a person who has lived and traveled all over the world and grew up with an expat background - it is hard to find people to relate to? I feel like I struggle to find stuff in common with ordinary Americans (I live in San Francisco) because so many of them have never

Comments

[heuteistmeintag]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_culture_kid

plenty of us in the bay area.

[debbieann]

maybe it is where you are hanging out. lots of well travelled americans in SF.

[congogirl]

I think you're right about many Americans - they do have a resort mentality when it comes to travel, which can be frustrating. Maybe you are frustrated, but on some level, maybe you are providing them an opportunity to see another way and are opening doors for them.

[schmoomom]

At the same time, I see the resort mentality in a lot of people here in Ireland too...they go to Spain/Portugal/France for their hols, rarely any other country. I'd kill to take my kids anywhere right now (many factors why we can't) so they can *experience* life.

Everyone can be closed minded when it comes to travel. I think it's heading back towards a luxury anyway with the crappy economy everywhere.

[yummydeb]

...and I can't help but feel that people are rolling their eyes behind my back thinking, "Geez haven't you just been everywhere!?"They probably are doing just that, if you are constantly going on about it :-). I don't mean that as a slam, I mean it as in anyone gets tired of anyone else always banging on about something. So maybe tone it down a little unless they ask

[ijs_koningen]

I second the recommendation to tone it down. The tenor of your original post came off as a notch elitist and snobbish. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that that wasn't your intent, but I'd re-think some of your word choices if you were having that conversation out loud with people you don't know well

[je11ifysh]

Agreed.
I have to admit that it's really hard not to say "In _________ it's like this." And the thing is, you want to say it wherever you are!^^

If I still worked American style (40+ hour work weeks balanced by two weeks of vacation- a week of which is usually used to make it possible to see family during the scant handful of holidays) I'd certainly view my five whole days of real vacation time as a luxury.
Also, I'd like to add that the States is a rather large country. To get out of it you pretty much have to fly or have a lot of time on your hands. Not only that but it's a very diverse country- insanely so geographically but, yes, even culturally. There is still a lot of it I would love, and hope, to see.