Page 6 | What have you learned from travelling?

MadMAGA · 2026-09-07T10:12:09+00:00

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.

ohime · 09/09/2026 13:32

LondonLass2026 · 09/09/2026 12:31

That we in the UK really do have the best farm food shops and supermarkets, in my opinion.

That we really are overly-polite (although that's fast disappearing).

... But conversely that our UK customer service is non-existent compared to most places I've been to. As a pp said, American customer service really is excellent.

Interestingly, when I moved to the UK having grown up in the US, almost the first thing I noticed was how much better UK customer service was. That was in 2008 though, and while I haven't spent any significant time in the States since, can it really have improved that much?, or is it just what you're used to? I was used to bored, low-paid customer service people who overtly didn't care about your issue and wouldn't lift a finger to resolve it but would just shrug and basically tell you to go away... but in the UK, people would go out of their way to try to help you and would persist until they got results. They would also treat you like a fellow person, rather than just an annoying yappy thing making noises at them.

Missj25 · 09/09/2026 13:41

AnchorWHAT · 09/09/2026 13:21

That kids are kids the world over, every country and every culture.

Ah , so true ☺️.
Best point posted on this thread 👏

Autumnallaround · 09/09/2026 14:13

Cotopaxi · 09/09/2026 13:19

I've learned that when the holiday comes to an end, I will have had enough anyway and I just want to go home. Immediately. Teleported home in an instant, without all the faff of travelling back.

Nooo! I love the journey home.

European sandwich for the plane, a beer at the airport, a stop at M&S after arrivals for yummy dinner and a bottle of red wine.

Then a hell of a sleep.

Wonkybaby · 09/09/2026 17:24

CAdreamer · 07/09/2026 18:38

That this country is really dirty compared with places like Japan and South Korea. That our infrastructure is generally old, outdated and inefficient. That trains, buses and trams can and do run on time and that that's the norm in many other countries. That our media is generally really good and trustworthy and better than in many other countries. That the rights and freedoms we enjoy are not universal. That we are blessed to have a (generally) moderate climate and benign geology. That speaking English as our first (and in many cases only) language is a huge advantage. That the UK is expensive and that most places (though not all) are considerably cheaper and that in many other countries you can live really well with and on a lot less. That we are lucky to live somewhere where much of the wildlife isn't constantly trying to kill you. That we accept the shit state of a lot of things, when they could be so much better and that some other countries, even developing ones, sometimes have better schools and better healthcare than we do and they achieve them with a lot less money.

Yes to all of this

Stelladid · 09/09/2026 22:12

ohime · 09/09/2026 09:23

That I'll try almost anything once, but I'm simply unable to get myself to bite into a fried insect, even to be polite.

To wash your hands a lot - A LOT - or you're going to get very, very ill and need three courses of antibiotics to clear it, which will trigger an autoimmune disorder you'll still be dealing with ten years later (thanks, Egypt).

To pay close attention to other countries' social conventions. A woman friend I was travelling with almost got us arrested in Abu Dhabi for making a scene because the male airport officials wouldn't look us in the eye - which (an unrelated man looking directly at a woman) is apparently completely forbidden there. Separately, a male friend and I felt very uncomfortable in a rural Turkish town - he had dyed blonde hair (which apparently automatically meant he was gay) and I was wearing a strappy summer top - so the whore of Babylon and her abomination friend decided to take a walk through the town park, where we gradually noticed that (a) all the women were head-to-toe covered and (b) all the men were looking at us like they couldn't decide whether to rape or kill us first...

To always carry cash, as many economies function on a tipping structure where you'll be asked to tip in situations you're not used to (like toilet attendants). It's no use feeling outraged about this; in some economies this is an accepted part of how things work. It's the same way where I'm from (USA) - the people you're expected to tip generally make a very low wage and tipping brings it up to the living-wage standard.

That old ladies in China have extremely good knees. I know this because the toilet stalls in Tiananmen Square have no doors, and the toilets are the squat kind.

It isn’t the case that “many economies function on a tipping structure”. Most countries don’t have a culture of tipping at all. They expect Americans to tip, because Americans expect to do so and it’s therefore a way of making more money. Toilet attendants in small towns and rural areas in Africa take a small cash fee for using a toilet at a petrol station etc (and exchange it for a piece of toilet paper), but tipping there is not widely expected. In poor countries, people often ask for a tip if you photograph them etc.

ohime · 10/09/2026 09:31

Stelladid · 09/09/2026 22:12

It isn’t the case that “many economies function on a tipping structure”. Most countries don’t have a culture of tipping at all. They expect Americans to tip, because Americans expect to do so and it’s therefore a way of making more money. Toilet attendants in small towns and rural areas in Africa take a small cash fee for using a toilet at a petrol station etc (and exchange it for a piece of toilet paper), but tipping there is not widely expected. In poor countries, people often ask for a tip if you photograph them etc.

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Hi Stelladid, I'm sure you're correct that my use of 'many' (and perhaps of 'tipping' :) was perhaps overly general, sorry. I was thinking mainly of the Middle Eastern countries I've visited, where the toilet attendants can be an irritant for western travellers who aren't expecting to be asked to dole out cash every time they need to pee. But it's my understanding that in economies that have this kind of 'baksheesh' culture, the roles function in the same way as in US tipping culture: an institutionalised way of propping up a low-wage or high-unemployment segment of the economy by shifting the burden to citizens (and tourists), who provide a small amount of money in exchange for a service. I just googled the baksheesh culture and apparently, although I've never encountered this, in some places you pay a small fee not only to be handed a square of toilet paper and then a hand towel, but for the attendant to turn on the tap for you. Coming from a tipping culture, I would call this tipping.

Stelladid · 10/09/2026 12:12

ohime · 10/09/2026 09:31

Hi Stelladid, I'm sure you're correct that my use of 'many' (and perhaps of 'tipping' :) was perhaps overly general, sorry. I was thinking mainly of the Middle Eastern countries I've visited, where the toilet attendants can be an irritant for western travellers who aren't expecting to be asked to dole out cash every time they need to pee. But it's my understanding that in economies that have this kind of 'baksheesh' culture, the roles function in the same way as in US tipping culture: an institutionalised way of propping up a low-wage or high-unemployment segment of the economy by shifting the burden to citizens (and tourists), who provide a small amount of money in exchange for a service. I just googled the baksheesh culture and apparently, although I've never encountered this, in some places you pay a small fee not only to be handed a square of toilet paper and then a hand towel, but for the attendant to turn on the tap for you. Coming from a tipping culture, I would call this tipping.

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I see, yes I’d call it tipping too. Most countries no longer need us to carry cash though. Needing low denomination coins for the loo in Africa and some parts of the Middle East is a PITA isn’t it?

MoiraRosesBebes · 10/09/2026 13:33

How underinvested our public services are, expensive and neglected our public transport system is.How much cleaner other countries are in term of litter and dog poo.How much cheaper our food prices are (compared to places like Canada which are eye watering).

MyOliveViewer · 10/09/2026 14:55

MoiraRosesBebes · 10/09/2026 13:33

How underinvested our public services are, expensive and neglected our public transport system is.How much cleaner other countries are in term of litter and dog poo.How much cheaper our food prices are (compared to places like Canada which are eye watering).

I thought the opposite after I visited Cambodia and Tunisia . When I went there is was bo refuse collection system in place

usernamesaresohard · 10/09/2026 15:10

That a holiday visiting relatives is completely different to a purely tourist holiday. Not necessarily better or worse.

Yes water and plumbing. Clean water also allows safely eating raw fruit and vegetables and having safe iced drinks.

Weight lost when sick on holiday goes back just as fast as I get better.

Stelladid · 10/09/2026 17:56

MyOliveViewer · 10/09/2026 14:55

I thought the opposite after I visited Cambodia and Tunisia . When I went there is was bo refuse collection system in place

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I think @MoiraRosesBebes is referring to other relatively wealthy countries (with the exception of India, a very rich country, with tremendous poverty).

DebbieSavage · Yesterday 22:01

Xanhi · 08/09/2026 07:15

Do most people really hate Britain? I've lived abroad most of my life and London is considered one of the more desirable cities to live in. I'm sure Ethiopia will seem lovely when you are dipping your toe into the culture. However, you can come back to clean water, healthcare, housing and money that enables you to afford travel to other countries. That is if you don't get caught in any crossfire when you are out there.

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Yes of course they do. They have good reason to hate us too. I usually tell people I am Irish when I travel, as they don't believe me when I say that I am British due to how nice I am.

TheImpOfThePerverse2026 · Yesterday 22:26

You're not allowed more than one sapling on the trams in Budapest 😁

TheImpOfThePerverse2026 · Yesterday 22:31

And you're not allowed to mock the president of Syria ie. say 'Look at the fucking state of him'. Not to his face, just a passing comment. They don't like that apparently 😌

Jan24680 · Yesterday 22:37

Blackcountryexile · 07/09/2026 19:31

Some of the rudest, most aggressive people I have ever met work on security at Manchester airport.
The only reason to attempt to cross the road on a crossing in Italy is that you'd have a stronger case for claiming on your travel insurance when you get run over.
Ar least outside their own country Americans are rude to staff in restaurants and don;t know how to queue.

Ha ha I was going to say this. Worst place to cross the road was Moscow though

mathanxiety · Today 02:43

BobbySox71 · 08/09/2026 19:18

I’ve learned that travel is the best education you can ever get and it really broadens your mind.
I can’t believe some countries like America a huge percentage of the population never even had a passport.

Have you ever traveled to the US? Do you have any conception of how vast it is? Do you realise that Americans can travel to deserts, tropical.swamps, rocky coastlines, astonishing mountains, volcanic regions, national and state parks, incredible cities, quiet backwaters, vineyards, lakes, historic sites, amazing music venues, and can ski, swim, boat, fish, hunt, hike, sail, and bike to their hearts' content within the US?

Xanhi · Today 06:51

DebbieSavage · Yesterday 22:01

Yes of course they do. They have good reason to hate us too. I usually tell people I am Irish when I travel, as they don't believe me when I say that I am British due to how nice I am.

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Speak for yourself. They have no reason to hate me. It sounds like you are spending time with not very nice people.

Yetanothername3 · Today 08:13

That most places rely on food that is local and seasonal - including where I live in Europe. It is a great shame that this has been eclipsed by domination of the supermarkets in the UK.
Warmer climates tend to make people more relaxed.
Some countries were not 100% averse to British colonialism and look back on it nostalgically, considering the bribery and corruption that has replaced it.
The less you have, the less you need.
Rain is much more fun when warm.
Always use local mosquito/insect protection.
A friendly smile and hello works wonders.
Try anything once.