"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness"

Hi Jim- I am a city girl from the south. And while I have not traveled a great deal, I feel lucky to have grown up in diverse cultures...Texas, Chinese, big city with a small town atmosphere and a very diverse family. It's so important that we take the time to learn about other cultures and not just in other countries but our own country. 

I agree, Jim... I grew up in New York City and have lived my life in major world cities like NYC, San Francisco, Washington DC, Boston, London, Paris, Abu Dhabi. Charlotte is actually the smallest city I've ever lived in. I've travelled all over the world both on business and personally. Travel and exposure to other cultures totally broadens one's mind and appreciation for people and places that are different from what we grow up knowing. Gustave Flaubert's quote has long been one of my favorites:

"Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world."

Now isn't that the truth?

Jim Paulson good morning, Jim... Abu Dhabi is a place I never need to return to. If you are motivated to travel to the Emirates you should go to Dubai... I call it the Las Vegas of the Middle East. Charlotte, a whole other story, and I do hope to see you here one day!

Good morning Jim. I was in the first "At Home With Diversity" classes offered in Ft. Myers, Florida. Would have had even more meaning if it were taught by someone of your life experiences. Enjoy your day.

Jim - this is a wonderful post.  One of the HR core competencies is global perspective.  And travel is one of the biggest ways to increase that.  Today, as opposed to the 60's and 70's we have higher mobility and our world has shrunk.  The provincial thinking I saw when traveling then are not as great now.  A work in progress!

Thank you very much, Jim, for sharing some of your personal experience.

Dolores and I have not lived in another country but have enjoyed our visits to many.

Good morning Jim,

I'm so glad that Kathy Streib featured your post in her "Ah-ha" moment for the week, as I missed it. Traveling abroad and even in the Unites States opens ones eyes to other cultures, thoughts, ways of thinking and helps us understand others. I loved the quote that Nina Hollander, Broker shared. Every time we'd fly back to the states from a trip abroad, landing in NYC (usually)  I couldn't help but think what a young country we are. Thank you for your perspective.

Hello Jim - your post certainly rings true.  Sometimes you may not need to travel far to discover a different way, a new path or be introduced to a previously unknown concept.  A walk on the other side of the street can open possibilities and perspective.  

Thank you for the perspective Jim Paulson When I was teaching back in NW IN, I learned there were students who had not ventured out of the county. This was due to low incomes as well as it was a farming community. I then devised a field trip to take them two counties to the west to explore a local art museum. It was indeed fascinating to watch these young students see just the difference two counties away could make.

Hi Jim:

I wasn’t aware of the diversity of your life experiences and all the places you have lived. That will certainly be a benefit to those taking your At Home WIth Diversity class. I look forward to your Zoom presentation, too.

Traveling abroad certainly opens ones’ eyes to the diversity of our world’s cultures and people. I hope to do some more before I no longer can, or want to.

Jeff

I will put your Zoom on the calendar and if you class comes to the DMV area I'll try to attend. I agree the more you travel and experience other cultures and areas of the country helps yo as a REALTOR. I was lucky my Dad loved to travel and have been to all 50 States.

Travel can open one's eyes to differences in culture and way of life. We are born in places and cultures that are not of our doing, but of our parents. We could have popped out anywhere, and life would have been so different. Better? Worse? Maybe neither -just different.

Enjoy your day!

Hi Jim,

The NAR picked the right person to teach or, as I like to say "moderate" "At Home With Diversity" classes.  A good teacher is more of a discussion leader.  Coming from an HR background, diversity training was part of the job.   I lived in very diverse areas throughout my life.  Some might say that Sedona is a small town, but people come from everywhere to live here.  It is a great experience to get out and travel the world.  Getting a local guide to show you the area is always a wonderful learning experience.

Interesting viewpoint. I grew up outside of London and had the privilege from an early age of travelling a great deal with my father on business and vacation trips. It allowed me to see how everyone was the same, they may look a little different but ultimately the same and they generally want the same for their kids etc. 

There’s a lot to be said about travel and expanding your base of who you know and wh we can make connection with

I’m coming back to this because I was talking to somebody about this quote and I couldn’t remember it but thank you for writing it

Jim Paulson - speaking of small town mentality, I was reminded that even though Chicago is a big city, I also had small town mentality because as a family, we did not take vacations and stayed close to other family members. It wasn't until I moved away to Maine with my kids and lived/worked in a rustic environment; then went back home I realized how much I had grown, and others did not. When I talked about my experiences of depending more on a flashlight than my wallet, others did not understand and followed up with the new Walmart store or something irrelevant. So when I read your post, I thought to myself, this is good. I am glad Jim brought this topic up. It is worth pondering.