fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2732 ]

heyyyy i'm sitting in my hotel room in stockholm rn :D i've only been in sweden for a day but it's been a blast so far!

we visited gamla stan like galerian-ash suggested (found the comics store you mentioned, btw). very impressive architecture. then we ate in an irish pub that i chose because i had a good feeling about it, and that feeling turned out to be right! i had the best meatballs ever, with an american beer (brooklyn lager i think? yeah that's it), and wow, the waiter was hot (he looked a bit like ragnar from vikings, with tattoos). and then we bought a lot of beer.

Edited 2014-06-26 23:27 (UTC)

Yup. I've visited a bunch of countries and lived in two besides my own.

My impressions mostly are that cultural differences are fascinating and that people are still people.

Soooo jealous! I've always wanted to go to Sweden. :D

Best place I've ever been is India (this was about seven years ago). Although they are having a lot of social problems now that temper my memories somewhat, at the time it was overwhelming. So many people and colours and smells and so much life everywhere! Amazing and beautiful.

My least favourite place to visit is Paris. People are so rude there. (Sorry, rubbertea, I know you're from France! No insult intended.)

My least favourite place to visit is Paris. People are so rude there.

I have to agree with this. Most other places have their share of dickheads, but in Paris that seemed to be more of a rule than an exception. Going to the countryside, on the other hand, was like entering a completely different France and that more than made up for the Paris experience.

Re: have you ever visited a foreign country? what was your impression

inkdust - 2014-06-26 23:42 (UTC) - Expand

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Re: have you ever visited a foreign country? what was your impression

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Re: have you ever visited a foreign country? what was your impression

ibbity - 2014-06-27 02:13 (UTC) - Expand

A lot of people say that about the French (and Paris in particular) but I never had a problem. People weren't smiley and warm, but almost everyone I encountered was just fine. I was worried about my poor French skills, but people were usually very patient, it was only a problem once or twice. That's totally on me, of course.

Re: have you ever visited a foreign country? what was your impression

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Re: have you ever visited a foreign country? what was your impression

(Anonymous) - 2014-06-27 00:36 (UTC) - Expand

I've visited a lot of them. I think my parents are to blame for my wanderlust, initially, as they dragged me along to a lot of places as a child.

Really in my experience the real differences happen when you cross continents. As a child, I thought say, Germany was very different from Belgium, but once I visited the USA and India I only found those differences minor.

But, I love travel. Architecture is one of those things that can really differ and amaze you, even in places that are relatively close to you.

I visited Germany once, Hamburg to be specific.

The food was good, loved the sausage. The people all looked really fancily dressed, and I felt ridiculously underdressed. I also didn't actually speak any German, so that didn't help.

I did get hit on a couple of times, which was kind of creepy, since I was 14 at the time, but I guess I looked older?

It was gorgeous, though, and I loved the cobblestones, and the bus/train/ferry travel system combo. I'd love to go there again, if I can.

Most of the EU countries, Turkey and Russia (when it still was the Soviet Union). The last two were the only ones that were significantly different from my own, but all of them were great to see. The trip to Russia was rather, let's say interesting, because our tourist group wasn't allowed to go everywhere, but only to the places that made the Soviet Union look great and rich.

I've visited Europe a few times and liked it a lot. There's some culture shock but as others have said, people are people, really.

My favorite place to visit is probably actually Paris, for reasons that I can't really put my finger on. It's just a really pleasant place to be a tourist for whatever reason. Yeah, the people are rude a bit, but I enjoy the architecture and the feel of the place, you can get around without too much hassle, and there's tons of stuff to see and do.

Italy (Tuscany, Florence, Pisa, Rome and San Gamigano) Awesome except I had a GF diet during that time :(
France (Dordogne- Excellent, Paris- alright)
Austria (Salzburg and Halstatt) Awesome
Berlin- Awesome

I've been to Italy, Costa Rica, the UK and then France.

Italy - it's been a while (over 8 years, wow!) but I really liked it. I mostly stuck with a school group so I didn't really get to encounter the people, but I loved how much history there was! I went with a bunch of Latin students from my school and it was amazing going everywhere. I thought it was kind of funny what music I was hearing at restaurants; there was one time where I heard Backstreet Boys and it felt like it was so old.

Costa Rica - I went for a school trip with this, too, and I loved it a lot more than I thought I would. It's honestly not a place I really would have considered going on vacation to by myself, but I really liked the food, and everything was so pretty. I remember the people were nice, too.

UK - Love love love. There are cultural differences between the UK and the US, but I feel like a lot of the cultural differences are things that are similar to me, if that makes sense? I'm a pretty quiet, reserved American and so I got along just fine with just about everyone. I was based in London, but I really liked Wales, too. Everyone was so kind there, and it was so pretty! Everything was beautiful, I loved all the history and culture, etc. I had a wonderful 3 months in the UK.

France - I only spent a weekend in Paris, while I was doing my study abroad in the UK, but it was fine; it was really pretty and pleasant. I preferred the UK, tbh.

I went to Canada when I was 5 but I don't really remember much beyond convention stuff and having fun at museums.

And when I was 16 I went to Scotland, also for a convention. The con was in Glasgow, and then we spent another few days in Edinburgh. There was also a bus tour of the highlands. Scottish castles are freaking amazing, and everything is ridiculously green! We managed to only get rained on once, at Holyrood. Oh and I'll always remember part of the Glasgow tour where the guide said, "These buildings here are quite new, they're from the 1930s..." and we all laughed because 1930s buildings are considered rather old in LA!

There was some good food and some bad food. It is literally impossible (and I'm not using literally to mean figuratively, I mean literally impossible) to find a sandwich without mayonnaise on it. Ick ick ick.

Yep. I haven't visited Europe as much as I would like, but there's still time!

One of my most memorable trips was to Egypt, and I remember being a bit disappointed that the sphinx wasn't as huge as I expected. Also I remember seeing a KFC a ways away, and was just amused at the fact that people could go in there, sit down with their bucket of chicken and just look out the window to stare at a millennia-old monument.

I've both lived in and visited foreign the countries I'd lived in, and let me tell you, there's a huge difference between going when you have a community of fellow expats to support you (including an international school, where your Mom befriends the other expat Moms, all of whom speak English as a common language), and going years later completely on your own, and all the expats moved away. It's still amazing, but... odd.

With all due respects to American (keep in mind that I'm still American), American food... kind of sucks in comparison to a lot of European food. :P Everything here is overgreased, overgrilled and supersized. Sure, food service takes forever in some countries, but you get the meal and quantity you asked for, and it's just... so much better. This isn't to say European food doesn't sometimes suck or that American food is always over-greased, sized, etc., and I will say it was nice coming back home to food service that didn't take three hours... but still, I missed the cuisine. So much.

For Pete's sake, you're American, you know how big America is and how much regional variation there is, so how are you going to act like food and cuisine is the same everywhere in the country?

Re: have you ever visited a foreign country? what was your impression?

(Anonymous) - 2014-06-27 03:41 (UTC) - Expand

Then you are eating at the wrong places. Because with the exception of certain food restrictions like raw milk, any cuisine you can get in Europe you can get in the US. You just need to know where to look. Stop going to chain restaurants and hit the family owned places.

Re: have you ever visited a foreign country? what was your impression?

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Re: have you ever visited a foreign country? what was your impression?

(Anonymous) - 2014-06-27 02:45 (UTC) - Expand

The Netherlands - Jesus, everyone is so tall and looks like an American Eagle model. Wow, the only people in the "cafes" are tourists. That's sad... Flowers! Flowers everywhere!

Germany - Jesus, these streets and sidewalks are clean. Wow, they are really serious here. No one smiles. That street butter advert has a topless woman in it...okay.

Austria - Kind of like Germany but the people are way more relaxed. Better shopping.

Czech Republic - I swear, I am going to turn the corner in Prague and come face to face with a vampire. Who graffitis a monastery? Hey, look, really cheap but delicious pastries. Awesome.

Italy - What's this food? Oh, yum. What's this food? Oh, yum. What's this food? Oh, yum. Man, the men here are gorgeous. Thing is, they know. How many Vespas can a country have? Dude, there's a police boat chase happening in the canals. Freakin' awesome.

Vatican City - Holy sh*t, I'm small. Is this what awe feels like? Yes, this is what awe feels like. I have never seen so many nuns in one place in my life.

Hungary - Everyone looks like the diary of a thirteen year old goth girl. Even this food looks bleak. (tries food) Holy cow, this food is delicious. Hungary is pretty cool.

Switzerland - Why did I think going up this mountain was a good thing? Don't look down. Don't look down. Christ, I looked down. Don't panic. Don't panic. Think about what you are going to get when you get back to town. Chocolate. Yes, lots of chocolate. And I did get chocolate? Lots of it.

France - I prefer the South to the North. No one stops and smells the roses in the North. Though the Louve is bitchin'. Man, the Mona Lisa is small. Notre Dame....St. Peter's was cooler. So much sauce. Can't they just use a little olive oil and call it a day?

Spain - Oh, look Romani kids. Oh, look more Romani kids. And over there Romani kids. Jesus, they're everywhere. And look here they come with their cardboard to pick our pockets. I don't think so. Hey, this guy in the hotel lobby is looking at our luggage. I think he wants to steal our luggage. I'm gonna give him the hairy eyeball. Huh. No reaction. Oh, yeah, he's planning to steal our language. Frick that. I am guarding it like it's my child. Man, this whole place looks like my mom's side of the family. That guy looks like a dead ringer for my Tio Juanito.

England - Jesus, everything is so expensive. C'mon, can't I find a sandwich that doesn't cost me twenty bucks? The London trains stops at eleven? This place actually closes for the night? But this is London! Everyone calls me "sweetie" and "darling." Not sure I can get used to that. It doesn't sound the same as it does in a Southern American twang. Oh, look, a con artist is trying to rip me off. Oh, look, another con artist is trying to rip me off. Frick off, mate.

Re: have you ever visited a foreign country? what was your impression?

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Re: have you ever visited a foreign country? what was your impression?

teaphile - 2014-06-27 01:40 (UTC) - Expand

Costa Rica, and it was absolutely the most beautiful country I've ever seen (in person or via photographs).

I've been living in Korea for a while. Definitely had a good impression at first: I still like it here, but I feel like the most annoying aspects of Korean culture only start to build up when you're staying here long-term, so it's probably amazing as a tourist (although its a lot more fun once you speak some of the language!). It's a bit disappointing that there's so little cool architecture--most everything got destroyed in the war and in rebuilding there were a lot of tall squarish concrete/steel/glass buildings put up that are pretty dull. The food is great--again, only after being here a while does it become really monotonous (do you really use only like 3 spices on EVERYTHING?) whereas at first it was like "Dear lord, Samgyupsal is a revelation, and I need more ShabuShabu rn!" The majority of people are really nice and helpful, once you get over the lack of personal space. XD

Yes! Several. American here, for reference.

Mexico was not all that impressive to me, but then I was living in South Texas at the time and went to a very Americanized part of Mexico, so it was a bit of "...okay, what's different?" I was also 10, so I probably wasn't looking in the right places.

London was great, and I wanted to stay forever. I went as a teenager who, by coincidence, had been on a diet of British fiction for a few years before the trip so it was all "Books! Authors! Places I've read about!" The people were friendly and the city was great. I'd love to go back, especially since it's been 15 years or so.

I wanted to spend longer everywhere in Germany/Austria, the trip I was on only spent about one free day per city and I didn't really get a feel for the places. I'm fascinated by the Weimar era and Secession style (I'm a designer) and am planning on going back to Vienna and Munich and Budapest (see below) to study a bit. I'm actually beginning German lessons in September.

Egypt was MIND BLOWING. Partly because it was the first time I'd been anywhere significantly different than where I came from. And partly because I found Cairo to be fascinating. It was my first experience with the Arabic language and Islamic culture, both of which I think are beautiful, and there was a sort of ... grace, for lack of a better word, to being there. I took that trip at the exact right time in my life for my eyes to be opened, and I'm so very very glad I got to go when I had the chance.

Budapest was like coming home. Which in a way it was, because my mother was born there (I'm from a Hungarian/German family). Another city I could easily stay in for a long long time. I almost can't talk about Budapest as a trip I took, because it was like being back somewhere I belonged. Unfortunately the language is completely indecipherable to me - I've tried learning it and just can't.

Switzerland - COLDCOLDCOLD!!! This is what happens when a sun-worshipper like me goes to the Alps. In winter. But despite the ridiculous temperatures, I enjoyed the country - very clean, very logical, and good design everywhere. I went with some classmates in my grad program and we had a blast! An easy country to make friends in, too.

Paris - honestly, I didn't like it. Not because the people were rude - I live in a heavily-touristed city and it can be exhausting putting up with those people day in and day out. I get how the Parisians are frustrated. But because, coming from a design background, I felt really disconnected from everything I saw. I've seen the Eiffel Tower in so many reproductions that the real one didn't have that much of an effect. Now replace "Eiffel Tower" with any other work of art or building... that was my trip. I was also a little disappointed in the cafe culture - maybe I just didn't go to the right ones, but they were boring (unlike in Berlin and Budapest and Zurich and Vienna). Also, worst hostel ever. Seriously thought I was going to die in the night.

Next on my list, besides the study trip, might be Romania. Or Serbia. Or maybe both.

I've been to Seoul, Korea. It was pretty awesome, and everybody was friendly and polite. I don't speak Korean, but i didn't really need to. My only 'issue' was it was winter, and the air was *very* dry (I had a lot of sore throats/nose bleeds) and the little heaters all the shops had burned kerosene, and the smell made me have a sick headache, so shopping wasn't as cool as it could have been.

But the city was awesome and I really enjoyed my visit.

I lived in Kenya for 2 1/2 years when I was a wee one, from age 2 until I was almost 5. I don't remember a whole lot about it, but the memories I do have are fond enough that I would really love to visit again one day for a month or so. We used to go to feed the giraffes at one of the parks, and sometimes my parents took me to this sanctuary for injured animals, and one time I got to hold a baby cheetah, which was pretty much the coolest thing ever. Also, my dad made friends with a hyena there. She was near the fence of her enclosure and dad baby-talked to her the way he does when confronted with cute (mom and I do the same thing), and she came up and leaned against the fence and let him pet her. She even started doing the happy twitchy-leg thing when he scratched her neck, which was also pretty freakin' cool. :D

Speaking of hyenas, here's a funny story. One time we were on this safari bus with a bunch of the other missionary families, and one of them had a horrible little brat of a kid who was always causing trouble and getting away with it. He saw a hyena taking a dump, and he pointed at it and said, "What's he DOOOIN'?" as though he didn't know perfectly well, to which the tour guide replied, completely deadpan, "He is sheeting." So much awkwardness ensued among the more uptight missionaries.

Also there was (and is) a restaurant in Nairobi called The Carnivore, which had great food and the best playground ever, like for real.

Also also, here's an interesting bit of trivia for my fellow Lion King fans: Kovu is Swahili for Scar.

I've only ever really visited India, and I never got to form a real opinion about the country as each time, it was generally about visiting family rather than tourism/exploring, and those family visits are rather...intense.

I hope to study abroad soon, though. :)

Plenty of people have visited foreign countries. Including myself.

Re: have you ever visited a foreign country? what was your impression?

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