What have you learned from travelling?

[MadMAGA]

I've been very fortunate in visiting lots of different places for work, study and holidays. I was idly thinking about what I've learned from it, other than generally expanding horizons, and came up with:

• British fruit and puddings are really, really sweet compared to the equivalents in Asia.
• Scotland's got a point when they complain about their infrastructure compared to England. The motorways are like 1980s England.
• Luton Airport has the best cabin baggage and passenger screening security machines anywhere in the world.
• I'm incredibly fortunate to have been born in this country.

Sweden and Denmark are not the liberal democratic paradises many (esp. Guardian readers) think they are.

In Dublin the amber light on a traffic light is purely for decoration.

That it's wonderful but hard work

Never underestimate safe (almost always) clean hot and cold water coming out of your taps indoors.

That public transport that is clean, and on time is possible.
Plenty of places consider a power socket in the bathroom to be perfectly reasonable.

That we are incredibly fortunate to live here. We are so incredibly lucky to live in such a stable country.

OMG this.

That I feel much better in the sun.
That I'm a holiday maker rather than a traveller, give me business class and a nice hotel every time.
That 90% of USA immigration staff are selected for their ability to be rude.
That the e-gates at Heathrow are mainly quite efficient.
That I really like Barcelona. A city with a beach is a good location for me.
That bread tastes better in most other countries (excluding USA).
That travelling around the UK is unbelievably expensive.
That as much as I like travelling I also like walking back through my front door.

Yes to the clean water.
Also humility - to see the worst possible conditions that people make a life in is really so humbling and makes you thank your lucky stars for the life you lead and the access to basic things that you have and take for granted.
Curiousity about other cultures and seeing there is nothing to be afraid of if everyone is mutually respectful.
That zebras are invisible in the bush!
That I get really bored spending day after day on paradise beaches. I don’t think I like not doing anything or relaxing too much but I guess that’s a me thing.

British fruit and puddings are really, really sweet compared to the equivalents in Asia.

And Asian buns you think are going to be sweet turn out to have very savoury meat in.

Agreed, it’s definitely something to be grateful for.

When you live elsrwhere, (not just on holiday/trip/travelling)... you life isn't that much different really.
You still have to feed yourself/family, clean up, travel around, stick to schedules etc.

That I’m grateful for indoor plumbing and toilet seats, the right to protest, being able to complain

Ooooh good thread idea op.

I've learnt:

That Northern/Western Europe is not especially threatening to single women travelling alone.

That sitting alone in a restaurant in another country is glorious.

That 50kph is actually about 32mph.

Americans really do feel strongly that you have a nice day. That the manners are in almost all cases genuine.

Obviously never tried Indian sweets which are ridiculously sickly.

Except for the immigration staff at Dublin preclearance who generally want to be your best friend after a couple of minutes chat. And if you're Irish they are almost certainly related to one of your rellies.

That the world is a beautiful and fabulous place with so many wonderful places to see

Every time I travel I think nothing beats home and the British countryside.

If you think British fruit and pudding are sweeter, then you've never actually eaten fruit or puddings in Asia!

That the USA really definitely is a foreign country (if you're a Brit).

Even though it's so familiar from TV and we speak (almost!) the same language.

That there are people nicer, kinder, harder working than me that can only dream of my life (on what I would call a bad day!) That I am so incredibly lucky to raise my children in a safe country with free accessible healthcare and schooling.

Americans really do feel strongly that you have a nice day. That the manners are in almost all cases genuine.

Yes yes to this. US courtesy.

I don't know if it would turn out to be completely superficial and hiding something entirely different, but the level of courtesy is really noticeable on first arriving.

The same approach I use for everything else: preparation, preparation, preparation.

Nine times out of ten, you get what you pay for.

You don't need to pack more than two pairs of shoes, tops.

Don't ha e lights on and windows open if you don't want mozzie bites, and there arwn't blinds.

That in a genuine emergency, most people are lovely and will help, including hardened BA staff.

Forward planning & local knowledge make all the difference.

That I can sleep anywhere if I really need to.

At least half the world is not safe for women & girls.

Stepping into the grounds of a British embassy or onto a British plane can be a huge relief.

Absolutely