Never left the country?
 

I was talking to a friend the other day who brought up the fact that most Americans don't leave the country...ever. My perspective is skewed because not only did I grow up in a military town, I went to college with a lot of international students...it wasn't until graduate school that I had met people who had never left the continental US.

For those GC-ers who have never left the States, do you have a reason? I figure we're a pretty representative sample...

I've never left the country except for a couple of trips to Niagara Falls, but those are practically day trips from Pittsburgh.
I guess I've never been anywhere else because of financial reasons, but as soon as I can afford it, I want to go to London, Australia, Spain, and Tokyo!!

I also want to visit all 50 states in my lifetime. Even just driving through, just to say that I've BEEN there!

Growing up and living in Michigan all my life, I don't know anybody who has never been to Canada. But, Canada is closer than most of the U.S. for us!

Dee

been to canada, mexico, carribean. want to go to europe. been to all 50 states.

I've only been to Canada and Mexico. There are two main reasons why I haven't gone overseas as of yet:

1) My mother is afraid of flying over water; in fact, she's afraid of the ocean, pools, etc. That limited the places my family could travel on vacations.

2) Money. Specifically, I didn't grow up with much, and it was a concern in college. Having to work my way through school, going someplace overseas was not an option for spring break, or even a study abroad program.

That said, I hope to make my first trip overseas in the next year or two. I've wanted to go for quite a while, so it will be nice to visit someplace outside of the country.

!
 

I had never left the country until last January, and that was to the Dominican Republic for my honeymoon. Before that, I had never even been to Mexico or Canada!

I don't know if there's any particular reason except that my parents never took me outside of the country when I was growing up, and I guess I just never had a chance to until last year. Next month I am going to London, which will be my 2nd trip outside of the US of A!

I had never left the country until my honeymoon (when I was 22, almost 23).

I, too, have a reason for that. My parents loved to travel - in fact, there are only about a dozen states I haven't been to. But my father has some kind of inner ear thing that prevents him from flying, so everywhere we went, we drove. The summer b/w my freshman & sophomore year in high school, my parents went to Canada, but I chose not to go so I could 1-take driver's ed (it was hard to enroll in during the regular school year), and 2-hang out w/ my friends. My parents never had the desire to go to Mexico. If it wasn't reachable by automobile, we didn't go.

In high school I dated a guy who had never been out of the state of Florida! :eek:

I've never left the country (unless you count gambling in Windsor, which I don't).

Plain and simple- my family doesn't have much money. I would have loved to study abroad, but it was out of the question.

I've been to Canada and France but that's it.

Honestly? I never had the interest. I probably could have figured out a way to afford it -- if something's important enough to you, you do it, right? -- but there were just always so many other ways I needed to spend that money. Like on college.

I have only been to Canada. But I've never been outside of North America... yet. I still have plans to fly to Europe soon. Just not this year unfortunately.

No, I have never left the country and probably never will.

Why?

Too expensive. My parents couldn't afford it. My grandparents could but....

I'm afraid to fly! My mom has a health condition that can be exaccerbated by flying or going into high altitudes. I have a trait of her illness and I can be harmed by flying also.

Little interest. I dunno, it seems like we have everything here in the states. We're like a mini-world. If I want to go somewhere really tropical with brown folks, I can go to hawaii, lol. If I want to live by a cottonfield I can go to Mississippi. If I want to be humbled by visiting impoverished people, I can go to any ghetto. And so on....

Most Americans haven't left the United States, and most have never had a passport.

I have traveled to a few countries: Ireland, Mexico, England, France, and the Bahamas. I haven't traveled to all the places that I hope to visit because of the problems in the world lately and it's expensive. I hope to travel to Italy and Asia in the future.

So Munchkin, how was your trip? :)

I've been to Nuevo Laredo, that's it. That doesn't really count though, does it?

Per Capita Income was just slightly over $28,000 in 2001. Most Americans don't leave the country and travel that much because when you make that much it's difficult to justify spending several thousand on your travel instead of things like food, housing, etc.

Also I doubt many people from other countries, like saaaaaaay Mexico are just living it up and travelling everywhere.

Anyway, I have had the good fortune to come from an international background where I was born and raise abroad and my family shouldered that expense. Even now with my very good income, I'm happy that I can pay to travel wherever but I know most people don't have that or families paying for them to go abroad.

-Rudey

This is a pretty good point, and outside of say Europe and the wealthier segments of the Asian population, I can't think of a region that I automatically think travels more.

Note that European travel, by distance, is remarkably similar to interstate travel in the US, too.

I've been out of the nation, the furthest was to Ukraine, where I was gloriously wasted with the other brilliant 17 year olds. Good trip, good times.

Travel is really a hobby for those with higher amounts of disposable income, which is unfortunate....

I highly recommend taking advantage of college programs (and parents' generosity!!LOL) such as an internship, Co-op, or, as my school had, a mandatory 2 week trip for those enrolled in the travel & tourism program, when you are an undergrad...You may not be afforded such opportunities again....The time and money will elude you once you start that first, low-paying, 40hr a week, year round job!

If you are able to travel often (even if it's just for business purposes), you are soooo lucky and I envy you!

I understand if there's a money issue -- but I think a lot of Americans never leave the U.S. because they don't think the rest of the world is worth visiting. I can't understand that viewpoint -- I was raised in a family where travelling was a way of life. My dad speaks Spanish (and a smattering of Italian, Greek, and French), was a poli sci major with a focus on the governments of various Spanish-speaking countries, spent several months post-graduation in Argentina, and had visited a bunch of other countries before he married my mom. I had been to Mexico before my third birthday (in fact, my earliest memories are from that vacation). We went to Canada when I was 8 or 9, Mexico again when I was 13, Spain when I was 14, Austria and Germany when I was 16, and we're on our way to Italy this summer (since I've turned 17 family vacations have become more and more difficult for me to handle, but I can't pass up a free trip to Italy). My dad travels every year -- he has been to Italy, Greece, France, and a ton of Latin American countries. My little sister's been to Italy with my dad and will be going on a trip to a bunch of European countries this spring. There are so many places I want to see before I die.

I don't think it's a money issue all the time. Less than 20% of Americans even own a passport, so I'm not sure 80% of us are too poor to travel...

In other countries like Australia and Canada, traveling is a very important step in life. I just took two months off to backpack by myself around Europe and it is definitely an experience unlike any other. You learn a lot about other cultures and people. Nothing can be more exciting than getting a taste of our planet.

Plus, it's kind of funny, but Americans that backpack or travel are treated very nicely abroad. Some are shocked to see us because they think we are all fat and too snobbish to come visit them :p

If you haven't left the country, let alone your own state, then I think you should consider planning a trip or two outside your conservative border. It's a marvelous adventure and you will have so many great stories and memories to fill your head.


RUgreek

I hear you both re: people's attitudes towards other nations. I really feel sorry for people who don't want to leave behind what they think of as "comforts" of the USA....The world is an amazing place...

I wonder if the process for applying for a passport could be a deterrent at all? I know it was a bit daunting and frustrating when I applied (first, finding a location, and then finding one that could take my application at X time)...The cost associated with it is nothing to sneeze at either...Should it be that expensive?

Just a thought...

Doesnt your local post office accept applications? Thats the only place I've ever gone to get my passport renewed. The $85 bucks is definitely a hard hit on the wallet but it lasts you 10 yrs so for the frequent international traveler it works out but I can see where it might be an issue for someone going just once.

I was also fortunate to be raised in an internationally minded family. I've traveled the entire eastern seaboard and the across the south. My dad's a huge fan of road trips so thats what we did for vacations when I was a kid. Then once my siblings were old enough to remember trips abroad we started going abroad. Now I do agree that you can find pretty much anything in the states and to some it might seem why bother leaving the country when you can get it all, I think international travel is different...it opens your eyes to the rest of the world and how different CULTURES (not american) live. I'm a very big supporter of traveling of any kind so you can at least say you've left your state/county! :rolleyes:

Now let's ask a question or two:

How many of you pay for your own travels? I don't mean you pay for your souveniers and moms and pops pay for everything else. I mean pay for it all.

How many of you pay your own bills aside from travel? It is a lot easier to even pay for your own travel expenses when your parents are busy paying for school, living, eating, whatever.

Also some of you that are in grad school like RUgreek had the luxury of taking large blocs of time off to travel. I wanted to enter a certain field that wouldn't allow me time off. I get my 10 days a year and make due with them, but I won't be able to backpack for a while anyway.

-Rudey

It's cool you have those opportunities, but honestly I don't agree with your primary assumption. I'm pretty sure that even if you're correct . . . it's still a money issue.



no, i'd guess it's more like 90%.

Just a correction, I'm not in school anymore, but I did backpack before starting a career. True, working and traveling in large blocks is impossible, I just think people who can do it before they get bogged down with work should seize the opportunity.


RUgreek

Any trip I have taken after high school I have paid for myself. I also pay my own bills. Normally my friends and I will start planning something a yr in advance (ie we're going to Oktoberfest this year and we started planning in Aug 2004). That way we all have time to start saving up.

I definitely agree being in school gives you the opportunity to travel more, which is why my upcoming trip to Germany will probably the last big trip I will take for awhile since on my return my internship will have ended and I will be working full time.

Well I'm not trying to question people. I don't know if you pay for your school, car, health bills, food, rent, and travel all on your own. If you do, great. You should be proud but you are in the minority.

-Rudey

$85 for a passport is a lot of money for some of us. Sadly.



Wow. I think both these statements are incredibly close-minded and, additionally, kind of a stretch coming from two women who have extensively traveled.

Personally, my lack of travel has NOTHING to do with being scared to leave behind the "comforts of the USA" or because I "don't think the rest of the world is worth visiting."

Maybe if we thought of this more as it compares to greek life? Those of us who are in have had great experiences and love it (for the most part.) But there are lots of people who don't join, for a variety of reasons -- money, family, illness, other priorities. That doesn't meant they don't think greek life is worth their time or they're scared to jump into something new. It means they didn't join. For a variety of reasons.

I really disagree. Most people I know whom have traveled outside the US do it for relatively cheap. I know people who spend more on their week at the beach than others do on going to Europe/Australia/Asia. If you really want to travel, you can easily save up, find really cheap tickets, and stay in hostels. My family definitely does not have as much money as most of my friends, but if you save wisely and want to travel enough, you can. Sure, it won't be in a luxury hotel, but if you just love to travel, you'll just be grateful to have a bed and a roof over your head :)

You really disagree? Because of your friends who have expensive beach trips? And again you bring up your family and if your family is helping you pay for anything in your life, including your travel, you obviously couldn't afford to do it on your own.

Even an extremely cheap trip to Europe with $300 airfare and $30 a night for hostel will end up costing you quite a bit (or your family).

-Rudey

I haven't traveled much because I've never had the time. My parents and I have gone skiing many times, and my mom and I went to New York City a few Christmases (oh my gosh, how do you spell Christmas plural?!) ago and will return there this summer. I want to go to Eastern Europe and Greece.

I've never left the country, and I've never been further east than Memphis, Tennessee (I'm from Arkansas). Mainly finances, but also obligations at home. I promised my boyfriend that if I actually graduate from college we'll go to Europe the summer before I start Law School. I want to go EVERYWHERE!!!

It's more about priorities than it is about money. My family is not rich by any means -- they are pretty solidly middle class. My parents both believe that experiences are more valuable than things, therefore they sunk a lot of money into travelling, education, concerts/theater, etc. Meanwhile, our living room couch is about 30 years old, my mom is perfectly content to lounge around the house in jeans and thrift store tee shirts, and when I was growing up and my sister and I begged to go out to a restaurant for dinner, "It's too expensive" was a frequent reason why we didn't. ;) I know plenty of people who have just as much money as my family or more and don't travel because it's "too expensive," yet they think nothing of shelling out $40,000 for a new car when they have older ones that work just fine.

I'm not placing a value judgment on this, because I'm not always in agreement with my parents on the "experiences are always more valuable than things" train. But it really isn't THAT difficult to travel if it's something you really want to do.

Also, a lot of people assume that travel is more expensive than it is. My trip to Austria and Germany my sophomore year of high school, for example, was about $1300 (of which I paid for half and my parents covered the other half). Granted, that's not petty cash, but it's also not a staggering sum of money. I know middle-class families who bought their kids that much in birthday presents every year, easily. And my father travels very often (2-3 vacations a year plus business trips) and does tons of research while planning trips, plus he always makes a cursory effort to learn the language of the country before visiting. I know people who have gone to Mexico, stayed in the Best Western in the tourist zone of Mexico City, rented a car to drive down to Acapulco, blown $100 bucks a night on clubs, etc. -- of course that's going to be expensive! But if you're willing to stay in some smaller hotels where the owner doesn't speak English and the room is the normal size of a Mexican hotel room (i.e., breadbox-sized), you walk around the city instead of driving and take the bus instead of renting a car . . . to, oh, Zijuatenejo instead of a touristy place like Acapulco -- things start getting a lot cheaper. Again, as you said, because my dad knows so much about most of these countries and has travelled a lot, I've had advantages that a lot of people don't have in regards to this. But making an effort to know what you're doing really does cut back on costs pretty drastically.

I wasn't talking about YOU specifically. I don't know your reasons...I'm referring to people who ARE scared or unaware of the beauty of other cultures...These people do exist. I've met them...If this isn't you, I'm glad :) No one SAYS someone HAS to leave the US...There are plenty of things here to see and do in one lifetime...

I fully admit that the reason I have traveled so extensively is because of my parents. I'm thankful for it and I don't take it for granted. I've visited many Asian countries because I lived in Japan and it was easier (and cheaper!) than flying from the US.

There have been trips I paid for on my own like my Spring Break trips to San Diego, Key West, and the Bahamas but my parents were giving me some money when I went to school.

Now that I'm on my own, I can't travel as much since I can't afford it. My trip to London a few weeks ago was on my parents' dime (but it was a Hanukkah gift!) and it was family vacation. I have been saving up some $$$ from my paychecks because my friends and me want to take a Greek Islands cruise this summer where I'll get to see Athens and Crete.

I'm glad that I've been able to see so many different places. It's opened my eyes a lot to different people and cultures. Traveling overseas is an amazing experience and, if you can afford it, you should leave your own country at least once.

Since our families are paying for it all, who wants to buy an original Picasso and bid for Donald Trump's assets? ;)

-Rudey

The only way I've traveled has been on my parents' dime! Since my father's passing, my mother and I only get to spend a limited amount of time together thoughout the year and this is how we spend our time together....BUT IT ADDS UP!! I work for a non-profit now and they don't pay you a lot! Add in working in the DC area and rent on a 1-br being $1000+?!! Forget it...I can barely afford to cross the street!

You will have an awesome time, I wish I did it before law school :)

While I have had the opportunity to travel extensively within the US, I didn't have the opportunity to travel overseas until I worked a summer abroad in college. And my parents (who were well into their 50s by then) had never gone overseas until they came to visit me. They were very generous with their assistance in paying for my trip, which I am extremely grateful for.

I think money definitely plays a big factor. While you can sacrifice some comfort to extend your dollar, many people would rather choose not to. And that's okay, it's their prerogative. I absolutely want to be able to offer my children the opportunities my parents were able to offer me (and we were definitely not rich, either, while I was growing up) and expose them to different cultures and ways of thinking.

I've been to Mexico, Canada, England, Ireland and Scotland, as well as 45 states.

As far as places I'd like to go, I've always said I'd like to visit every continent, except maybe Antarctica. Because that's just too damn cold.

Yeah I have some friends in NYC. These girls are soooo cute. They work for non-profits too and went to expensive private schools growing up and then to great colleges. Their parents help with rent, food, clothing, and travel. I think they're quite the lucky characters! :)

-Rudey

I've been to Mexico, Canada, Caribbean and France. And plan to hit more every single year for the rest of my life. This year- Ireland.