I think that's true, maybe not so much in Europe. I find it surprising that more than half of Americans don't own a passport.
You don't need a passport to know things, and traveling somewhere for a week doesn't make you informed about an area.
I'm sure Patton Oswald has traveled abroad.
I think people tend to focus on what impacts them. That's why the US is better known abroad, than other countries are known about here.
You don't need a passport to know things, but you do need one to travel abroad...and they do say travel broadens the mind.
Meeting people from different cultures does that. Like you, we have no shortage of that anymore. I can go to the local Wal-Mart and meet people from all over the planet.
Plus, with the exception of language, a Texan traveling to NYC (or vice versa) sees as much culture change as you do traveling to France or Spain..
The US is like Europe. Traveling from LA to Denver is like going from Glasgow to Madrid..
Syl said
Dec 4 6:31 PM, 2025
We can all mix with people from all over the world without stepping far from home, it's different from mixing with people abroad who are in their own country.
We adapt to them and experience their lives and their culture.
Even on holiday, I love talking to local people who may have never even visited England.
Talking to a Greek who is living in Greece, is different to talking to a Greek in England.
Maddog said
Dec 4 6:40 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
We can all mix with people from all over the world without stepping far from home, it's different from mixing with people abroad who are in their own country. We adapt to them and experience their lives and their culture. Even on holiday, I love talking to local people who may have never even visited England. Talking to a Greek who is living in Greece, is different to talking to a Greek in England.
It's a little different I guess.
Talking to Yankees in Wisconsin is a little different than talking to them here I guess.
Sort of depends if they live here or are just visiting..
Red Okktober said
Dec 4 6:40 PM, 2025
Maddog wrote:
Meeting people from different cultures does that. Like you, we have no shortage of that anymore. I can go to the local Wal-Mart and meet people from all over the planet.
Plus, with the exception of language, a Texan traveling to NYC (or vice versa) sees as much culture change as you do traveling to France or Spain..
The US is like Europe. Traveling from LA to Denver is like going from Glasgow to Madrid..
Being an American who has never been abroad is a lot different to an English person who's never been abroad. I can't think of a single person I know who has never left England. I suppose the closest comparison would be to an American who has never left the state they were born in - is that rare there?
As you say, a cowboy in NYC will find it a completely different world, although they would be missing out on not being surrounded by a new language. Probably food and history as well
Syl said
Dec 4 6:48 PM, 2025
Red Okktober wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Meeting people from different cultures does that. Like you, we have no shortage of that anymore. I can go to the local Wal-Mart and meet people from all over the planet.
Plus, with the exception of language, a Texan traveling to NYC (or vice versa) sees as much culture change as you do traveling to France or Spain..
The US is like Europe. Traveling from LA to Denver is like going from Glasgow to Madrid..
Being an American who has never been abroad is a lot different to an English person who's never been abroad. I can't think of a single person I know who has never left England. I suppose the closest comparison would be to an American who has never left the state they were born in - is that rare there?
As you say, a cowboy in NYC will find it a completely different world, although they would be missing out on not being surrounded by a new language. Probably food and history as well
Food is a good way to differentiate. We have some great foreign restaurants in Manchester, probably every cuisine you can imagine, but eating in town is different to eating the food of that country in that country, served by the people born and bred in that country.
Syl said
Dec 4 7:09 PM, 2025
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
We can all mix with people from all over the world without stepping far from home, it's different from mixing with people abroad who are in their own country. We adapt to them and experience their lives and their culture. Even on holiday, I love talking to local people who may have never even visited England. Talking to a Greek who is living in Greece, is different to talking to a Greek in England.
It's a little different I guess.
Talking to Yankees in Wisconsin is a little different than talking to them here I guess.
Sort of depends if they live here or are just visiting..
You like talking and learning stuff about the UK from us Brits, or discussing all things Italia or Spanish from Vam, dont you?
Can you not imagine how much better it would be communicating with Europeans in Europe...just think of all the things you could experience first hand rather than just reading about them.
Red Okktober said
Dec 4 7:15 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Food is a good way to differentiate. We have some great foreign restaurants in Manchester, probably every cuisine you can imagine, but eating in town is different to eating the food of that country in that country, served by the people born and bred in that country.
It definitely enhances the eating experience if everything else is authentic. It probably makes the food seem to taste better as well, even though it might not do.
My limited knowledge of Amertican cuisine is that you only eat seafood on the coasts, and steak everywhere else!
I remember once having a hotdog at a baseball game in Boston - with the game going on and the organ music playing. Far more authentic than buying it off a greasy street vendor here at 3 in the morning!
Syl said
Dec 4 7:30 PM, 2025
Red Okktober wrote:
Syl wrote:
Food is a good way to differentiate. We have some great foreign restaurants in Manchester, probably every cuisine you can imagine, but eating in town is different to eating the food of that country in that country, served by the people born and bred in that country.
It definitely enhances the eating experience if everything else is authentic. It probably makes the food seem to taste better as well, even though it might not do.
My limited knowledge of Amertican cuisine is that you only eat seafood on the coasts, and steak everywhere else!
I remember once having a hotdog at a baseball game in Boston - with the game going on and the organ music playing. Far more authentic than buying it off a greasy street vendor here at 3 in the morning!
Exactly Red. Food conjures up some fabulous memories.
One of mine...eating sardines on a beach in Portugal, cooked on a beach fire and served by the fisherman who had just caught them.
They were the freshest, biggest and best sardines I have ever tasted.
Maddog said
Dec 4 7:32 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
We can all mix with people from all over the world without stepping far from home, it's different from mixing with people abroad who are in their own country. We adapt to them and experience their lives and their culture. Even on holiday, I love talking to local people who may have never even visited England. Talking to a Greek who is living in Greece, is different to talking to a Greek in England.
It's a little different I guess.
Talking to Yankees in Wisconsin is a little different than talking to them here I guess.
Sort of depends if they live here or are just visiting..
You like talking and learning stuff about the UK from us Brits, or discussing all things Italia or Spanish from Vam, dont you?
Can you not imagine how much better it would be communicating with Europeans in Europe...just think of all the things you could experience first hand rather than just reading about them.
And I could do that in NY or California too..
Both are likely further from me than Greece us to you.
I don't notice a huge difference talking to Mexicans here than I do there. Being immersed in a different culture is a little different.
And of course the histories are much different..
Red Okktober said
Dec 4 8:01 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Exactly Red. Food conjures up some fabulous memories.
One of mine...eating sardines on a beach in Portugal, cooked on a beach fire and served by the fisherman who had just caught them.
They were the freshest, biggest and best sardines I have ever tasted.
That sardine meal is hard to beat!
Another American memory was being in a place called Roanoak in one of those silver diners that look like a train carriage - waitresses all wearing pink with their name tags on and pouring out unlimited coffee like in the movies.
The woman who cooked our burgers told us that she once cooked burgers for Elvis when he did a show there."Tell all your friends in England" she said. I think I probably did as well - claiming that I had some kind of tenuous link to Elvis!
Maddog said
Dec 4 8:52 PM, 2025
Red Okktober wrote:
Syl wrote:
Exactly Red. Food conjures up some fabulous memories.
One of mine...eating sardines on a beach in Portugal, cooked on a beach fire and served by the fisherman who had just caught them.
They were the freshest, biggest and best sardines I have ever tasted.
That sardine meal is hard to beat!
Another American memory was being in a place called Roanoak in one of those silver diners that look like a train carriage - waitresses all wearing pink with their name tags on and pouring out unlimited coffee like in the movies.
The woman who cooked our burgers told us that she once cooked burgers for Elvis when he did a show there."Tell all your friends in England" she said. I think I probably did as well - claiming that I had some kind of tenuous link to Elvis!
Roanoke, Virginia?
People travel for different reasons. Some like to see where history happened. Others to see natural things like mountains or oceans. Some want to sit on cruise ship for a week. Others to experience cultures. Most probably for a little of them..
Red Okktober said
Dec 4 9:10 PM, 2025
Maddog wrote:
Roanoke, Virginia?
People travel for different reasons. Some like to see where history happened. Others to see natural things like mountains or oceans. Some want to sit on cruise ship for a week. Others to experience cultures. Most probably for a little of them..
Yup Virginia - it was part of a 3 week Greyhound Bus tour
As far north as Toronto and south as Miami, and although there was variety in the states and cities we visited, I don't think it was comparable to travelling around Europe for getting the differnt flavours of life.
If I ever visit the midwest or west coast, I will probably notice bigger differences then
Syl said
Dec 5 12:19 AM, 2025
Red Okktober wrote:
Syl wrote:
Exactly Red. Food conjures up some fabulous memories.
One of mine...eating sardines on a beach in Portugal, cooked on a beach fire and served by the fisherman who had just caught them.
They were the freshest, biggest and best sardines I have ever tasted.
That sardine meal is hard to beat!
Another American memory was being in a place called Roanoak in one of those silver diners that look like a train carriage - waitresses all wearing pink with their name tags on and pouring out unlimited coffee like in the movies.
The woman who cooked our burgers told us that she once cooked burgers for Elvis when he did a show there."Tell all your friends in England" she said. I think I probably did as well - claiming that I had some kind of tenuous link to Elvis!
Had a 'tenuous link to Elvis', well not everyone can claim the same person who cooked for Elvis also cooked for them....so in a way, you did
Maddog said
Dec 5 12:48 AM, 2025
Red Okktober wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Roanoke, Virginia?
People travel for different reasons. Some like to see where history happened. Others to see natural things like mountains or oceans. Some want to sit on cruise ship for a week. Others to experience cultures. Most probably for a little of them..
Yup Virginia - it was part of a 3 week Greyhound Bus tour
As far north as Toronto and south as Miami, and although there was variety in the states and cities we visited, I don't think it was comparable to travelling around Europe for getting the differnt flavours of life.
If I ever visit the midwest or west coast, I will probably notice bigger differences then
I think driving like that is the best way to see some place. Driving yourself might even be better, but that cound be a bit daunting for some people.
The road trip is sort of a quintessential American way to travel. Americans will drive 500 miles in a day, just so we can see the "sights" along the way. Although I think younger generations are doing more flying to a certain destination and staying there..
It's sort of the old question about, is it about the journey or the destination..🤷
Maddog said
Dec 5 12:57 AM, 2025
This drive here would look like a cool road trip for many Americans. Take 2 days and spend the night in some cool little French village..
But we have big cars and cheap gas. That trip may cost a lot more driving, even for two people..
It would be good in spring or summer, not something we would do now. We always fly, then hire a car for the duration, obviously we only stay in the country we are in, but have explored lots of places that way.
I don't drive now, OH who drove for a living all his life is happy to get cabs, even buses abroad...and though I don't get buses at home, I kind of like it when on the continent.
Maddog said
Dec 5 4:10 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
It would be good in spring or summer, not something we would do now. We always fly, then hire a car for the duration, obviously we only stay in the country we are in, but have explored lots of places that way.
I don't drive now, OH who drove for a living all his life is happy to get cabs, even buses abroad...and though I don't get buses at home, I kind of like it when on the continent.
Summer is the typical road trip season. Although many years ago when the kids were little we drove to Wisconsin to spend Thanksgiving with my brother.
The night before we left a blizzard started. The kids has never seen real snow so we stuck around and played in it.
We piled into the SUV (4wd) and I drove through that mess and pulled into my driveway 22 hours later..
In hindsight, it was a dumb idea.
Anonymous said
Dec 7 6:51 PM, 2025
"Sir Keir Starmer has said the "hugely talented" Angela Rayner will make a return to the cabinet, following her resignation over a tax scandal.
The former deputy prime minister quit in September, after it emerged she had failed to pay the correct amount of stamp duty on a £800,000 flat in Hove.
An investigation found she had "acted with integrity," but her failure to get the correct tax advice on the purchase fell short of ministerial standards.
In an interview with The Observer the prime minister said she remained a "major voice in the Labour movement".
Sir Keir added that Rayner, who grew up in poverty and left school at 16, was "the best social mobility story this country has ever seen".
Asked whether he missed her, he was quoted as saying: "Yes, of course I do. I was really sad that we lost her."
Pressed on whether she would be back in the cabinet, he replied: "Yes. She's hugely talented."
The reported comments are more categorical than previous remarks he has made about Rayner, who was also deputy Labour leader and housing secretary.
At a G20 summit last month, Sir Keir told broadcasters he "absolutely" wanted to see her make a return to government "at some stage"." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7vmlmm9343o
"I'm surprised" said no one, ever.
Magica said
Dec 9 12:36 AM, 2025
Anonymous wrote:
"Sir Keir Starmer has said the "hugely talented" Angela Rayner will make a return to the cabinet, following her resignation over a tax scandal.
The former deputy prime minister quit in September, after it emerged she had failed to pay the correct amount of stamp duty on a £800,000 flat in Hove.
An investigation found she had "acted with integrity," but her failure to get the correct tax advice on the purchase fell short of ministerial standards.
In an interview with The Observer the prime minister said she remained a "major voice in the Labour movement".
Sir Keir added that Rayner, who grew up in poverty and left school at 16, was "the best social mobility story this country has ever seen".
Asked whether he missed her, he was quoted as saying: "Yes, of course I do. I was really sad that we lost her."
Pressed on whether she would be back in the cabinet, he replied: "Yes. She's hugely talented."
The reported comments are more categorical than previous remarks he has made about Rayner, who was also deputy Labour leader and housing secretary.
At a G20 summit last month, Sir Keir told broadcasters he "absolutely" wanted to see her make a return to government "at some stage"." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7vmlmm9343o
"I'm surprised" said no one, ever.
She's as bad as him. She's corrupt and another liar.
Oh I wish we could.kick.the lying Labour out and have a General Election.
Red Okktober said
Dec 9 2:45 PM, 2025
Afghan national charged with raping two 14-year-old girls:
Sultani Bakatash, 28, was arrested in Bolton on Sunday.
Man jailed after sexual assault on train to London:
Hawre Mohamed, 27, followed a young woman through the carriages of a train, touching her and trying to kiss her, before asking how old she was because he 'doesn’t go for below 18'.
Meeting people from different cultures does that. Like you, we have no shortage of that anymore. I can go to the local Wal-Mart and meet people from all over the planet.
Plus, with the exception of language, a Texan traveling to NYC (or vice versa) sees as much culture change as you do traveling to France or Spain..
The US is like Europe. Traveling from LA to Denver is like going from Glasgow to Madrid..
We adapt to them and experience their lives and their culture.
Even on holiday, I love talking to local people who may have never even visited England.
Talking to a Greek who is living in Greece, is different to talking to a Greek in England.
It's a little different I guess.
Talking to Yankees in Wisconsin is a little different than talking to them here I guess.
Sort of depends if they live here or are just visiting..
Being an American who has never been abroad is a lot different to an English person who's never been abroad. I can't think of a single person I know who has never left England. I suppose the closest comparison would be to an American who has never left the state they were born in - is that rare there?
As you say, a cowboy in NYC will find it a completely different world, although they would be missing out on not being surrounded by a new language. Probably food and history as well
Food is a good way to differentiate. We have some great foreign restaurants in Manchester, probably every cuisine you can imagine, but eating in town is different to eating the food of that country in that country, served by the people born and bred in that country.
You like talking and learning stuff about the UK from us Brits, or discussing all things Italia or Spanish from Vam, dont you?
Can you not imagine how much better it would be communicating with Europeans in Europe...just think of all the things you could experience first hand rather than just reading about them.
It definitely enhances the eating experience if everything else is authentic. It probably makes the food seem to taste better as well, even though it might not do.
My limited knowledge of Amertican cuisine is that you only eat seafood on the coasts, and steak everywhere else!
I remember once having a hotdog at a baseball game in Boston - with the game going on and the organ music playing. Far more authentic than buying it off a greasy street vendor here at 3 in the morning!
Exactly Red. Food conjures up some fabulous memories.
One of mine...eating sardines on a beach in Portugal, cooked on a beach fire and served by the fisherman who had just caught them.
They were the freshest, biggest and best sardines I have ever tasted.
And I could do that in NY or California too..
Both are likely further from me than Greece us to you.
I don't notice a huge difference talking to Mexicans here than I do there. Being immersed in a different culture is a little different.
And of course the histories are much different..
That sardine meal is hard to beat!
Another American memory was being in a place called Roanoak in one of those silver diners that look like a train carriage - waitresses all wearing pink with their name tags on and pouring out unlimited coffee like in the movies.
The woman who cooked our burgers told us that she once cooked burgers for Elvis when he did a show there."Tell all your friends in England" she said. I think I probably did as well - claiming that I had some kind of tenuous link to Elvis!
Roanoke, Virginia?
People travel for different reasons. Some like to see where history happened. Others to see natural things like mountains or oceans. Some want to sit on cruise ship for a week. Others to experience cultures. Most probably for a little of them..
Yup Virginia - it was part of a 3 week Greyhound Bus tour
As far north as Toronto and south as Miami, and although there was variety in the states and cities we visited, I don't think it was comparable to travelling around Europe for getting the differnt flavours of life.
If I ever visit the midwest or west coast, I will probably notice bigger differences then
Had a 'tenuous link to Elvis',
well not everyone can claim the same person who cooked for Elvis also cooked for them....so in a way, you did
I think driving like that is the best way to see some place. Driving yourself might even be better, but that cound be a bit daunting for some people.
The road trip is sort of a quintessential American way to travel. Americans will drive 500 miles in a day, just so we can see the "sights" along the way. Although I think younger generations are doing more flying to a certain destination and staying there..
It's sort of the old question about, is it about the journey or the destination..🤷
This drive here would look like a cool road trip for many Americans. Take 2 days and spend the night in some cool little French village..
But we have big cars and cheap gas. That trip may cost a lot more driving, even for two people..
I don't drive now, OH who drove for a living all his life is happy to get cabs, even buses abroad...and though I don't get buses at home, I kind of like it when on the continent.
Summer is the typical road trip season. Although many years ago when the kids were little we drove to Wisconsin to spend Thanksgiving with my brother.
The night before we left a blizzard started. The kids has never seen real snow so we stuck around and played in it.
We piled into the SUV (4wd) and I drove through that mess and pulled into my driveway 22 hours later..
In hindsight, it was a dumb idea.
"Sir Keir Starmer has said the "hugely talented" Angela Rayner will make a return to the cabinet, following her resignation over a tax scandal.
The former deputy prime minister quit in September, after it emerged she had failed to pay the correct amount of stamp duty on a £800,000 flat in Hove.
An investigation found she had "acted with integrity," but her failure to get the correct tax advice on the purchase fell short of ministerial standards.
In an interview with The Observer the prime minister said she remained a "major voice in the Labour movement".
Sir Keir added that Rayner, who grew up in poverty and left school at 16, was "the best social mobility story this country has ever seen".
Asked whether he missed her, he was quoted as saying: "Yes, of course I do. I was really sad that we lost her."
Pressed on whether she would be back in the cabinet, he replied: "Yes. She's hugely talented."
The reported comments are more categorical than previous remarks he has made about Rayner, who was also deputy Labour leader and housing secretary.
At a G20 summit last month, Sir Keir told broadcasters he "absolutely" wanted to see her make a return to government "at some stage"." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7vmlmm9343o
"I'm surprised" said no one, ever.
She's as bad as him. She's corrupt and another liar.
Oh I wish we could.kick.the lying Labour out and have a General Election.
Afghan national charged with raping two 14-year-old girls:
Sultani Bakatash, 28, was arrested in Bolton on Sunday.
https://news.sky.com/story/afghan-national-charged-with-raping-two-14-year-old-girls-13481266
Man jailed after sexual assault on train to London:
Hawre Mohamed, 27, followed a young woman through the carriages of a train, touching her and trying to kiss her, before asking how old she was because he 'doesn’t go for below 18'.
https://www.london-now.co.uk/news/25683867.man-jailed-sexual-assault-train-london/