Cultural Conundrums: What I Learned Walking the World

What I’ve Learned Walking the World

Cultural Lesson #1

European Style versus American Pragmatism

American style travel guide uniform

American style travel guide uniform

Pat presents a “thank you” gift to Willi & Yvette

Pat & Denise presents a “thank you” gift to Willi & Yvette

Willi serenading us after the Black Forest walk

Bakery chef making breakfast for us in Palermo, Sicily

A hearty German dinner at Munich’s Hofbrauhaus

German brew in all the colors of the rainbow

Lee & Loraine piling it on at Munich’s Hofbrauhaus!

Shirley helping to measure a jumbo lemon – Sorrento, Italy

The raw ingredients of “slow food”

Enjoy, consider, and compare the values of other cultures and

decide whether you are content with your own or might like to consider some adjustments.

Cultural Lesson #1

European Style versus American Pragmatism

Cultural Lesson #2Window screens: one of

America’s greatest contributions

Ingenious windows of Germany

German cats not so ingenious!

Window boxes of Alpine Europe






Maybe the bells scare them away?!

Cultural Lesson #2Window screens: one of

America’s greatest contributions

Cultural preferences usually have nothing to do with morality or

intelligence

Cultural Lesson #3

The blessing of living in the American system

Scenes from Tallinn, Estonia


Our 2002 group walking Tallinn, Estonia

Our 2002 group walking Tallinn, Estonia

Waiting for the folklore performance – Tallinn, Estonia




The Fat Margaret Tower - Tallinn, Estonia


George in the early years

Crystal factory in Czechoslovakia – mid 90s

Crystal factory in Czechoslovakia – mid 90s

Dan in the Czech Republic in happier times – 2015

Cultural Lesson #3

It often takes more intelligence and perseverance to survive in an oppressive

system of government than it does to thrive in a free society

The blessing of living in the American system

Cultural Lesson #4

National stereotypes are an unavoidable reality

Our reserved but hospitable Norwegian walking friends with our 2012 group

White-gloved “pushers” shoehorning the last passengers aboard the subway

Traditional form of transportation in Beijing

Chinese traditional calligraphy using water, not ink

Respect for authority – employee instructions before start of shift

Cultural Lesson #4

National stereotypes are an unavoidable reality

Awareness of cultural tendencies enables us to avoid both offending

and being offended

Cultural Lesson #5New World thinking is an

ocean away from Old World thinking

Built with future generations in mind – to stay in the family indefinitely

Built with expectation of housing several different owners over time

Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina – destroyed by 3-way religious/ethnic combat

Dubrovnik, Croatia (Catholic)– largely destroyed by Serbian (Orthodox) bombing

Kotor, Montenegro – escaped Balkan violence but formerly aligned with Serbia

Crowded pintxo (tapa) bar in San Sebastian

Yum! Pintxos heaven in San Sebastian

Under the influence of travel, Dan and Pat relax after a day of planning

Cultural Lesson #5

Travel helps us to take advantage of the benefits of both frames of

reference

New World thinking is an ocean away from Old

World thinking

Cultural Lesson #6

The Uniquely American Challenge of the 4Cs

Scenes from our time in St. Petersburg




The ballet theater in St. Petersburg

Cultural Lesson #6

Resist the American proactivity urge to “fix” things while traveling

The Uniquely American Challenge of the 4Cs

Cultural Lesson #7No country or region has a

monopoly on natural wonders

Iceland

New Zealand

Kenya

Australia

Brazil

Canada

Antarctica

New Zealand

Hawaii

Switzerland

Northern Ireland

Iceland

Hawaii

Brazil

Utah

Switzerland

Iceland

Utah

Switzerland

Antarctica

Kenya

Norway

Utah

California

Oregon

Brazil

Cultural Lesson #7

We are grateful to live on an amazing planet!

No country or region has a monopoly on natural

wonders

Cultural Lesson #8Analog East is East and Digital West is West…

and never the twain shall meet

Visiting the Isle of Capri






Indian music example

Western music example

Dan and Robert planning India Adventure

Jaipur Traffic Dance – watch the one with the box on her head

Jaipur Traffic Dance – watch the one with the box on her head

Jaipur Traffic Dance – how is she keeping it upright?

Jaipur Traffic Dance

Jaipur Traffic Dance – entering the fray

Jaipur Traffic Dance – joined by two maidens in orange

Jaipur Traffic Dance – a trio of color

Jaipur Traffic Dance – a trio of color

Safely across…just another day in Jaipur

Our group sampling tapas in Val d’Aran, Spain

Yum! Pintxos heaven in San Sebastian

Cultural Lesson #8

It pays to be open other points of view. Digital, or Western thinking,

does not always reflect reality

Analog East is East and Digital West is West…

and never the twain shall meet

Cultural Lesson #9

Travel is a wonderful antidote to dogma

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness....Broad, wholesome, charitable views cannot be acquired by vegetating in one's little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.“

Mark Twain - The Innocents Abroad

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."

Augustine of Hippo, 3rd century leader of the Church in northern Africa

What I’ve Learned Walking the World

Bonus Cultural LessonA “toilet” by any other

name is still a “toilet”

On the trail in Spain…in search of a toilet…or a bush




Success! An pilgrim’s albergue (inn) took pity on us!

Another success – a beer or a Magnum bar is a small price to pay!

Our Chinese hosts now rate their public toilets – 4 stars!

Our Japanese hosts recognize our fraility

The other end of the spectrum – Japanese hotel bathroom

Comes with an owner’s manual and a YouTube demo

Bonus Cultural LessonA “toilet” by any other

name is still a “toilet”

When in Rome, do as the Romans do…and always have hand cleaner and a wad of toilet paper in your

day pack!