Question answered by Ahmed Roushdy, Middle East/Africa Coordinator at PTPI’s Middle East/Africa office in Cairo.
5. Can you ever really experience a country just touring? How can you best get a real feel for a country and its people?
Once you tour a new country, you would definitely enjoy the scenery, the history, and learn more about the background of the culture. But for me I always like to get a little more – by talking with the people, going out with locals and do what they normally do on a daily basis. You definitely should do some homework before arriving to the country you are visiting, by learning about some of the dos and don’ts, the spot places to visit and the crazy stuff to try. On the other hand, some people like to travel without any expectations and without reading beforehand about the city/country they are visiting to leave it for them to experience it their own way without anyone’s influence. As you know, sometimes you could be affected by someone’s opinion whether it’s an author of a book, a friend or even from the news and what the media is projecting. Moreover, sometimes we are influenced with movies. Some movies would make you want to experience what the actors are doing during the shooting of the movie or on the contrary make you scared or don’t want you to visit this particular country not today or ever.
The opinions expressed by PTPI staff and other book club members are entirely their own and are not necessarily the views of People to People International or that of PTPI’s Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.
Tags: Bill Bryson, Global Book Club, In a Sunburned Country, Travel
No. We cannot really experince just by touring. Of course i enjoy the scenary, plantation, animals and geography of the country when travelling. For me, I have to spend time with locals chit chat with them and share with them where i come from, etc and etc. I am always interested to learn and understand the diversified cultures of the world. What makes me even more interested is, what is that connects all of us inspite of the differences? This leads me to think that deep down WE ARE ALL ONE but appear different because of natural differences in the different parts of planet.
When I visit another country, even city, after I do the “touristy” things I like to go to the local shops. I’ll go to a grocery store to see what the “locals” are eating and how their fruits and vegatables differ from my town. I might go to sewing store and pick up unusual prints to make a dress. I like my souvenirs to be made in the country I’m visiting. And talking to the other people in the stores where I have a common interest with the other shoppers makes for a friendly casual conversation.