to be completely ignorant of other cultures

[ethanchristopher]

because thinking about it today i know alot about lots of african and indian cultures because our RS and PSHCE lessons are so PC and make sure we concentrate solely on these cultures

my only knowledge of american culture is what i see on the news (i.e. celebs, fat people who just eat mcdonalds, pissed teenagers who fuck about in high school and attend houseparties every night (in teen films)) and like the disney channel's vision of america...

i know nothing of australia, europe, basically anywhere other than the UK, africa and india

isnt that really sad? especially as mumsnet is a worldwide thing and i feel so ignorant as to how you live and if it is at all any different?

I've been lucky enough to do a lot of travelling in my time...a lot of it was related to jobs I was doing. Your situation is clearly very different to mine with a young DS, but life is a lot more flexible now. I travelled to the Far East with DS1 when he was 7 months (to see DH who was away for 7 months)...and travelling with children can be fun. Different certainly. You mention France...well it is a great place and we now spend loads of time there and the kids love it. I think life is what you make of it, and from the sounds of your posts, you certainly have the ambition to do something! Good luck.

Travelling with children can be fun, and even off the beaten track, if well thought through.

Many mumsnetters have been in "exotic places" with toddlers. I think I remember one travelling around south India.

When you travel with a child, you get closer to the cultures you visit, as most people react to your child one way or the other, and this may bring you even closer to the places you visit.

I remember once in Jordan, I got talking to some kids, they were having the holiday of a lifetime, their parents had taken them camping in Syria.

You CAN experience foreign cultures first hand even with young kids.

see this MN thread for a slice of life from MNers all over the world....