Never left the country?

[Rudey]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
Why must you scoff at MGD?

I scoff at schools built around it. I am OK with MGD. MGD was the cheapest way to throw a party and get a girl feeling like she's drunk when she really isn't.

-Rudey

[angelic1]

I think a lot more people in our generation see traveling outside of the US as a possibility than our parents did. Primarily bc of the mere fact that more and more americans are flying everyday around the US than ever before. Which makes flying overseas more reasonable. When my parents were growing up it would have been a real luxury for them to fly anywhere.
In Europe, someone can travel from country to country far more easier than we can in the US. They can go by plane or train like we can from state to state. This ease allows it to be first off be cheaper for them and second it takes less time.

Saying that money shouldnt be an excuse, bc if people really want to do something then they can cut out other things to be able to go is a narrow-minded. Some people spend their whole lives living pay check to pay check just getting by. They wear cheaper clothing and drive those old cars all the time, not by choice. Sure if they do spend money on somewhat better stuff and not on an expensive trip its bc they see having new shoes as a more attainable purchase. Many middle class americans dont even save enough for retirement yet alone a trip. Its just hard to justify spending that much on a vacation when they feel other things such a food, clothing, a roof over your head, etc. are more important.

Second, most working americans do not have the time to travel. You get so many days off a year. When I have this time usually I go somewhere within traveling range so that I can spend the time relaxing. Europeans usually, on average, get more vacation time than americans as well. This can help out for travel sake.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

I don't have the $$$.
However, I am going to the Dominican Republic over spring break.
I would like to travel when I have the resources.

[aephi alum]

Originally posted by ZTAngel
Before anyone gets excited, here is the info direct from the US Passport Services Office: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_837.html

It is $85 if you're over 16.
It is $70 if you're under 16.
It is $55 if you're renewing your passport if you were over the age of 16 when your last passport was issued.

Are passports issued to those under 16 still good for only five years instead of 10?

When I went to get an adult passport for the first time (I was 20), I had to go in person. I was home for winter break, so I just went to the local post office. The clerk didn't want to accept my driver's license as proof of identity because it was issued while I was still 17. So my mother had to co-sign my application. For a 20-year-old!

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
Rob -- to me, at least, travelling is like education. I certainly don't think those who don't do it are bad people, especially when it comes down to finances or health and it's not a choice -- but I think that there are very few people who can't benefit from it in some way or another. As with people whose parents are footing the bills for their college experience, I don't really understand the animosity directed by the have-nots at the haves in terms of travel, either. I don't really care if somebody else's parents are footing the bill for them to go to Harvard, I don't really care if somebody else's parents are footing the bill for them to go to Japan, I don't really care if somebody else's parents give them a $200 a week allowance for handbags . . . and I'm not sure why anybody is so concerned that my parents are doing that for me. Which, uh, they aren't.

I don't think anybody's necessarily equating travel with culture here. We all know the people the people who go to France for the Eiffel and the Louvre and spend their whole vacation eating McDonald's and complaining about how small the Mona Lisa is and how rude French people are. "The ugly American" is funny because it's true. And I made it pretty clear that not everyone who doesn't travel is doing it because they don't think anywhere outside the U.S. is worthwhile. But come on -- we all know people like that. I certainly do. And these are the types of people who probably need to experience other cultures the most, whether that involves travelling or not.

This is completely outside what frau munch wants for her thread (duder I'm definitely calling you that from now on, it just flows), so feel free to start a new one or IM me if you want more specific details, but I'll just say 'yeah, but this doesn't address the overall tonal issues that permeate this thread.' All good though, it's just nittery.

Back to germane topics.

[HBADPi]

Originally posted by aephi alum
Are passports issued to those under 16 still good for only five years instead of 10?

Yes you get a 5 yr passport if you're underage.

Question for anyone who recently renewed/applied their passport. I was just in the post office and I noticed that they have a little office set up on the side for passport issues. You go in and sit down and I guess they interview you. It was all new to me since when I renewed my passport in 2001 (pre 9/11) all they wanted was my old passport, birth certficate and my check. I'm just wondering what type of stuff they ask you when you apply for your passport.

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by Rudey
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

That's the main part of it for me...at this point, I'm paying for everything, and when I was in school I was paying for 99% of things. I got enough money together for a trip to Mardi Gras, and that was my big trip during school. I would love to travel overseas, I feel like it's an experience I've missed out on. When I'm making a more solid income and can do it, I definitely will. With a wedding and the probability of paying for more schooling, it's going to have to wait.

For those that have gotten to travel extensively, though, I think that's a great experience.

ETA: This post isn't to criticize the haves, have-nots or anyone else. Everyone has their own background, and it doesn't make them better or worse than anyone else. I'm just adding to the discussion.

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
It went up in 2002. When I got my passport in 2000, it was only $60. That's where the confusion lies. Supposedly they increased the fees after the formation of Homeland Security. I still doubt, however, that people cancel travel plans because of passport fees.

You can bet I won't lose this one!

You're entirely missing the point. Which is that if a passport is stretching my financial limits, foreign travel is going to be beyond my means.

Thanks for turning this into an argument about the $25 price increase from 3 years ago, though.

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

Thanks for turning this into an argument about the $25 price increase from 3 years ago, though.

Show me where I turned it into an argument, missy. That's right...you can't.

When ZTAngel posted the information about the price increase, I realized why it had gone up so much in a fairly small time frame. Explaining where I made my mistake hardly constitutes "turning it into an argument," now does it?

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Then what were you betting you wouldn't lose?

[sigmagrrl]

From a bystander's point of view, I think she meant LOSE as in MISPLACE....not lose an argument...

Can't we all just get along??

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
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.

To some of us, that's a staggering sum of money. My parents, like yours, value experiences over material possessions, and I'm positive that they would have taken me and my siblings abroad if they had the money. It's hurtful to imply that anyone and everyone can afford to travel abroad if they make cuts in other areas, because some of us just can't.

But I would love to go to France, Italy, and Spain, if I ever have the chance.

[Glitter650]

Originally posted by sugar and spice


I don't think anybody's necessarily equating travel with culture here. We all know the people the people who go to France for the Eiffel and the Louvre and spend their whole vacation eating McDonald's and complaining about how small the Mona Lisa is and how rude French people are. "The ugly American" is funny because it's true. And I made it pretty clear that not everyone who doesn't travel is doing it because they don't think anywhere outside the U.S. is worthwhile. But come on -- we all know people like that. I certainly do. And these are the types of people who probably need to experience other cultures the most, whether that involves travelling or not.

I went with a group to France and I had a two people in my group like that, who WHINED the whole time about the food (wanted to go to Mcdonalds every meal), complained about "going to museums all the time" etc... it's quite obnoxious, really.

I personally think traveling is important. I don't think I'd be the person I am today if I hadn't done the traveling I've done (which certainly isn't extensive, but I've been out of the country). I haven't done much recently because of money, and I certainly wouldn't judge others by their lack of travel. For me, travel is important and when I am lucky enough to have money, I personally think going somewhere else is a wonderful way to spend it.

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by sigmagrrl
From a bystander's point of view, I think she meant LOSE as in MISPLACE....not lose an argument...

That's exactly what I meant.

I've edited the original post to ensure that such misunderstandings will not occur again.

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Yay! Want to hold hands?