Usually in your home country, it is common for you to like the same things as your friends--that is why you are friends! And you might have smiliar views as well. However, things can be different when you move to a new country. Something that I always try to remind myself when I travel somewhere new is that everyone has a life that I do not know about. Different people and cultures see the world in different ways. In fact, this difference is what makes the world such a wonderful, fascinating place. However, when you go somewhere new, this can sometimes be difficult to remember.
For example, in Mongolia lots of people dislike Halloween. Death is considered a taboo topic here, or something that is rude and inappropriate to discuss. Due to this belief, children are discouraged from celebrating Halloween, and the government even banned school Halloween parties this year! I have met lots of Americans who disliked this decision and thought it was silly that Halloween was cancelled. However, it is important to remember that different people see the world differently. While Americans might see Halloween as fun and harmless, older Mongolian people see it as a holiday that celebrates a very sad, inappropriate and uncomfortable topic.
