For example, it is normal not to leave a tip for your server at a restaurant in the Netherlands, but leaving a tip is expected in the U.S. I wondered how this difference in tipping changes the way we think about going out to eat and how we treat servers.
Living in a new place allowed me to observe new ways of organizing a society. In the Netherlands, cities are designed with bikers in mind. There are bike lanes, bike parking structures, special stop-lights and hundreds of bike shops. By encouraging people to bike, Dutch cities have less traffic, use less gas, and have physically active citizens. See this made me wonder: do we design our American cities with cars in mind? How would American cities look if we encouraged other modes of transportation?
Most importantly, traveling abroad has exposed me to people who think and act and look differently than I do. When I interact with people who are different from me, I can learn to overlook these differences and focus on what unites us. People everywhere love to laugh, love good food and want good friendships. Different perspectives make the world a more interesting place and traveling has exposed me to people who view the world differently than I do.
Sometimes, living abroad has made me feel uncomfortable, frustrated or homesick. For example, when I go grocery shopping, I can’t read the labels on the food since they are written in Dutch—it’s always a surprise when I open my packages of cheese because I can’t tell what kind I’ve bought. Sometimes, my Dutch friends question me about American politics and I feel defensive or embarrassed. Sometimes, I miss home, I miss my family and friends, and I miss feeling like I belong somewhere.
