Why GO Overseas
By taurisca
@taurisca (104)
Indonesia
December 27, 2009 2:48am CST
I had an argument with a friend who thinks that going overseas is a waste of money. He said, " You won't see much difference. You won't learn anything new. Some are bad, most people are good."
I have an interesting story to share with MyLot friends. What I'm going to tell you is a true story, but too bad I don't remember the name of the smart Indonesian man who started a business quite accidentally, after going overseas. He went to several European countries, and while he was at a french restaurant his eyes were attracted to the name of one dish on the menu, with the word "Escargot" in it. It was the specialty of the restaurant. It cost a lot more money than other dishes on the menu. He was shocked when he found out that "Escargot" is a a French word for "Snail"
In Indonesia snails are not commonly consumed by human beings. Snails are considered not fit to be eaten by even the poorest people in Indonesia. Snails roam around in the garden of most houses. But what happened at the French restaurant gave him an idea :'Why not export Indonesian snails to French?' And that's what he's been doing. He must made a fortune considering that snails cost practically nothing to collect.
That's an interesting story.
How about you? What do you think? Why would you want to go overseas, Why you would not?
2 people like this
11 responses
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
27 Dec 09
Your friend is wrong. I went overseas to various countries and I learned a lot! In fact, I got to try different foods, speak their language (Spanish), and live with a family there. It was such a big experience. I got to do everything I could do here but in Spanish. Plus I got to sight see, I got to experience the world on my own. Yes, your friend is right it IS a lot of money, but worth it. Who wants to be stuck at home all the time? We do need some vacation time. There are so many countries to explore.
@JAG2009 (266)
• India
28 Dec 09
I am a big fan of going overseas...regardless of where 'overseas' is.
There are many reasons why I am in favor:
1. New experiences
2. Great exposure to other cultures
3. More awareness of different lifestyles
4. The chance to make new friends
5. The hope of new jobs, careers, lifestyles
6. The gift of seeing different geographical settings
I can go on with my list, but I think you would have got my point by now.
People are good and bad everywhere in the world - whether you're in your hometown or at the other end of the world. But the chance to interact with different people, people who don't look like you, who don't dress like you, who don't speak your language, who don't eat what you eat or how you eat, who don't live in the kind of house you do, who are superstitious about different things - the chance to interact with such people will broaden your mind and open your eyes; make you view the world differenty.
That is what is happening to me now, so I speak from experience. And it is a good thing. In every way.
@celebratelifeh (1142)
• China
28 Dec 09
i just visited vietnam this second half year and i also have same opinion with your friend somehow but i think that's only not deserve the money . not been wasted totally since we know and see the different landview on other country and that's we can't know before.
@my_name_is_coco (4333)
• Philippines
28 Dec 09
I disagree with your friend.you can learn a lot when you travel to other countries.you can learn about new culture,language,and traditions.we will learn a lot when you are in a new place.you will also learn socially.you will learn how to socialize with other people.you can learn a lot from other people's tradition and habits.
@junmae (1586)
• Philippines
28 Dec 09
That is one interesting story and I can say that that man is so lucky to discover it. I think travelling overseas is not a waste of money because who might think that you could found your fortune there. Traveling is fun and at the same time learning if you tend to do it. I would love to travel but unfortunately i cant afford to ride an airplane to go to other country.
@myramae19 (667)
• Philippines
28 Dec 09
hi taurisca!
For me Going overseas is fun! U can actually earned more than what you earned in your country, at the same time the leisure u had while overseas, you would also learn their language, learn to cook and eat their food, know the culture and traditions of the country you visited this are the advantage of going overseas for me:)who knows you will find your fortune in other country just like the man in your story. happy new year!
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
27 Dec 09
I love to travel overseas because it is enjoyable and very exciting. Traveling has increased my patience and learned about the people of the world. I have seen wildlife. I have visited religious buildings. So far in my life I have been to more than 50 different countries.
In Australia I snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef. In New Zealand I went sand boarding and there in the sea I came across a fairy penguin. In Sumatra I saw orangutans. In French Polynesia I went snorkeling with black tipped sharks and sting rays. In Central America I went caving and climbed Mayan ruins.
I have a vegan diet because I love animals and it is a healthy choice. People in different countries like different food. Meat eaters in my home country do not eat snails but lots of French people do.
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
27 Dec 09
taurisca,
St. Augustine once said: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
I feel that there is just some people who do not see what is beyond the making of a trip than a waste of time and money. It is just so with people who tends to generalize with everything in life and things around them.
In all my years of traveling, I have gained many insights in how other countries are governed, people conduct their lives and most of all the different cultures and food, as you have wonderfully shared about someone turning his insight to become one of entrepreneurship. So, if he had not traveled to Europe then, I am sure his business would not have been started in the first place.
It is also our experience with other countries that we learn to appreciate the finer things in life, where when we are in a country much developed than ours - we learn and appreciate how to improve ours. And when we visit countries who are backwards, we learn to cherish what we have in ours.
So, I just do not agree with your friend that we won't learn anything when we travel and that there is no differences with other countries. I'm afraid, he is simply being the frog in the well here.
“He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” – Moorish proverb
@neelianoscet (9615)
• Philippines
27 Dec 09
Well, that is a part of being an adventurer in life if you could not get the best taste of life in your place then their is no use to sticking around. One need to go out and explore to find his/her place under the sun and the motivation itself lead to discover some good things in life. Their may be bad things but it is a part and parcel of the adventures. One need to have a lot of courage and determination to come out with something which would benefit self on the process of finding the right place which could help to improve self through working or as state by your story through discovering the wonderful things which may be a simple ideas turning into a fabulous one catering to improve skills and talents.
@xiaxin728 (85)
• China
27 Dec 09
yeah,it's interesting story.i think go overseas we can burden our horizens,we can learn some fresh things .it's also can know some countries culture.it's so cool.
@xuara1 (82)
• United States
28 Dec 09
I live in the United States, but I have friends in England. In 2006, I went over there to see them and just to see what it was like, and despite the fact that it is another English speaking country, I found that there were several differences. The language was a little different. Common words meant different things, and they had some words we never used. People were generally nicer, and if they offered hospitality, it was almost offensive to refuse. They ate things I wouldn't dream of touching, like black pudding, which I won't say what is to keep from turning someone's stomach, but there were also some tasty morsals I wish we had here. So, for the cultural diversity alone I think that traveling the world would be more than worth it if you had the money to spend. I found it quite a rewarding experience. I also realized that most people there didn't have washers and dryers and were still hang drying clothing on a clothes line, and they didn't have garbage disposals either, so always had to throw their extra food or whatever in the trash. It made me appreciate the things that I do have here, despite the fact that I am well below the poverty line.
