"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." Mark Twain
I'm sure that Mark Twain didn't have today's tourists in mind, who are rushing from tourist attraction to tourist attraction, calling themselves "traveller" instead of "tourist".
To get from tourist to traveller, just add 8000km to any flight taken.
All the distance in the world means nothing if a traveler is still mentally tied to their home country. There's a good number of expats in [country] who hang out at Irish pubs with other expats, bitch about [country], and don't bother learning the language.
You have to be willing to unmoor yourself, which I think deep down a lot of people aren't seeking to do.
I like the “unmoor” phrasing. Thank you :).
To truly immerse oneself, primarily communicate in a language foreign to one’s country of origin, and eat local foods (no harm in indulging in foods from back home every once in a while). And give people the benefit of the doubt whenever possible.
Actually, check out his book, "Innocents Abroad." It's a great travel native and lampoon of his cruising companions who manage to stay small-minded in a big world.
