Not everyone speaks English. Especially in Japan.
Not everyone wears walking shoes when walking. Especially in France.
Different cultures create different art.
And have different driving styles.
And different temperaments.
In Japan, if you say, "Hmmm, it looks like rain," someone will give you an umbrella.
In Hawaii, if you do something stupid in traffic, someone will flip you the "hang loose" sign.
In Italy, if you go to dinner at 7 p.m., you will be at the restaurant when they turn the lights on.
In France, if you eat a croissant while you're walking along a river bank and stopping to take pictures now and then, someone will shake their head at you and say, with a touch of cynicism, "Bon appetite" (because in France, you're not supposed to eat while walking, you're supposed to sit down somewhere and enjoy a rich, delicious, slow, sociable meal).
In Mexico, if you walk along a beach, someone will try to sell you something. Probably a timeshare.
In Europe, when you talk about something being new, you're talking about something from the 1700s.
In New Zealand, if you do something worth congratulations, somebody will say, "Good-on-ya."
I count it a great gift to be able to travel.
And a great education.
N'est ce pas?
1 comment:
On küll! In Estonia, it is bad luck to shake hands across a doorway. In the Baltics, instead of leaning on a lamp post or against a wall or sitting on a bench, people often just squat when they are hanging around. You definitely learn a lot when you travel!
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