Speaking English in America?

[amoore]

True, some of us don't have money for traveling. My sister Tray has a husband that has been sickly since he had open heart surgery. Tray also has a yard full of stray dogs that she feeds and takes to vets. She even takes in kids that people neglect. She feeds them and sends them to school without being reimbursed by the parents. She does this with the little money she has. Yes, she could choose to travel.

Other reasons that people don't get to travel are jobs and responsibilities.

I'm sorry to get off the subject. I think it is good to learn different languages. I have been trying to learn Spanish. I even bought a book and cassette to teach myself. Some of my friends here speak Spanish.

[Soledad]

Good God.

Twisterdog, I am NOT in any way saying those on welfare, living paycheck-to-paycheck, or responsible for many young ones or disabled loved ones are backwards hicks for not leaving the country.

NOT. AT. ALL.

It annoys me that someone would even think that was my intention. I didn't realize I had to have disclaimers on everything I've said.

What I said before, and what I will say again, is that there are MANY, MANY, MANY Americans who can do this, but don't. Of course there are more ways to learn about the world, but traveling, getting out there and "doing it" are the most direct ways. You can't just talk about other countries or read about them to truly know them. It requires more. Many people here are complacent to just stay here in America. They have the money and resources to do it, but they don't. They put their money elsewhere.

I think we could really stand to learn from other countries like New Zealand, Australia, Britain by vigorously encouraging our young people to get out there while they're relatively unburdened and free.

That was my only point. I was not singling out individual members of PetTalk for their lack of travel.

[Logan]

There is so much of America that I have yet to see, that I don't long for a trip anywhere out of the country until I can take advantage of what is here.

[trayi52]

You know where I have always wanted to go? Colorada, I really don't know why, maybe it was a movie I saw a very long time ago. I am hoping to someday get to see it. Not just the cities, but the country part of it, the trees, the mountains, and the wildlife. That is my dream.

Tray

[amoore]

Tray, I wish I had taken you when I went there . It is beautiful! Those mountains are beautiful. I went up into the mountains and there was snow in June up there. It was hot in Denver, daylilies were blooming.

Denver must have different nationalities from everywhere. It was a very nice place. My brother-in-law is Greek. He took us to a Greek restraunt for Mother's Day. When he ordered our food he spoke Greek. I love that lanquage.

I'm sorry I keep getting off the subject! Here I go again.

[2kitties]

I can never get enough of Colorado. In fact, it's on my list of places to settle when we retire someday. We go skiing in Colorado every March. Every year, we swear we're going to go somewhere else, but we always end up back in Colorado because it's amazing on so many levels. This year I'm extra excited because my dad is coming back with us. He's convinced that by next year he'll be too old to make it down the black diamonds. (No way, he's as chipper as a 20 year old.) So, we're taking him out for a week this year.
In terms of city living, Denver is nice, but I'd choose Colorado Springs in a minute. Pikes Peak scenery and small town city feel- you can't beat it.

[trayi52]

That really sounds so beautiful, make me want to get there so bad, like I said that is my dream. I have been to the Smokey Mountains, but Colorada is where I really want to go.

Maybe one of these days, I will get there. Well after our lives are straightened out anyway. Right now, my husband being ill all the time, just keeps me from going anywhere, I am sort of housebound, and he is afraid to go too far from his doctor. He also suffers from panic/anexiety attacks as well as depression, to go along with the heart and lung problems too.

But as I said someday I am going to Colorada, and see the mountains, and all the countryside. I am and I will.

Tray

[Soledad]

I reallllllyyyyy want to go to Alaska. It looks so pristine.

[Kfamr]

I want to MOVE to Alaska!

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Originally posted by popcornbird
Hopefully.............some day! Hawaii too. I want to see Hawaii!

Hawaii is BEAUTIFUL. If you ever get the chance to go, go!

My family and I are planning to go on an Alaskan cruise either this year or next.

[2kitties]

Chris' mom took an Alaskan cruise with her sisters for her 55th birthday and said it was the most amazing place on earth. The pics are just incredible.

[Cataholic]

I want to EAT baked ALASKA!

[2kitties]

Chris and I went to hawaii this past summer. We stayed just on Kauai, the garden island. It was the most beatuiful scenery I've ever seen. We stayed at Bali Hai, where they filmed South Pacific. Amazing.

[trayi52]

Oh, Alaska sounds like a great place to visit, I want to go there after Colorado. I have heard lots of stories about Alaska too. I had some friends that went on the Alaskan Cruise, they had pictures, it really looked grand.

I think I am dreaming now. LOL.

Tray

[Twisterdog]

Originally posted by Soledad
I didn't realize I had to have disclaimers on everything I've said.

No, not necesarily disclaimers ... but you may want to watch out for pat overgeneralizations that instantly put people on the defensive. Or not, whatever you choose. Just MHO. For example, some things you said in this thread:

Traveling abroad is actually not all that difficult or expensive.

With the amount of crap that most Americans spend on consumer goods, there is no excuse for the lack of travel. It is simply a matter of priorities.

How many of us drop 30 bucks at PetSmart on non-essential items? How many of us buy unnecessary items for our entertainment? No, the issue is not money. It's where our priorities lie. And to many Americans, they see no reason why they should ever leave. And that's the root of many a problem.

People will always make excuses, but where there's a will, there's a way still applies. We just don't have the will.

I'm sure people spend more money eating out and going to the movies in a year than what it would require to get you to backpack through Europe.

They put more value in shopping than saving their money for travel. Oh well. Whatever.

I'm not a spoiled person, but there is such a thing as budgeting and planning ahead if you really, really want it.

I still don't buy it, Gini. Traveling has been something people all over the world have been able to do, and Americans, with the highest standards of living in the world, can somehow not make it out of their country? Nope. Sorry, not buying it.

In America, we have this idea that while it would be "nice" it doesn't really matter, because, well, we're AMERICA.

That was my only point. I was not singling out individual members of PetTalk for their lack of travel.

I never said you were. No one else did either.