One of the enjoyable aspects of going out traveling is simply observing the cultural and social norms of different areas. And this goes for traveling to tourist locations, out of the way spots, going places during certain events, and even just exploring specific neighborhoods in different places. Everywhere you go, people are different.
So, if you sit back quietly and do things like look for counterculture, think about human rights, consider moral compass points about food and nutrition, learn about methods of respect in different cultures, and notice how technology fits in, you’ll not only enjoy yourself for personal reasons on vacation, but you’ll also have a deeper human experience regarding the trip as a whole.
Looking For the Counterculture
Counterculture is everywhere to one degree or another, and certain places are famous for it. Take a place like Las Vegas for a minute, and think about what some aspects of the culture there promote. You can walk through the Strip, and end up asking yourself a question if people are born with addictive personalities, and that’s why they gamble, or if you see some aspect of drug culture, wonder where they came from, and if the culture of the place, affects the culture of the person.
Thinking About Human Rights
When traveling to different countries, there’s always going to be a bit of a culture shock, but depending on how much of a humanist you are, you might run into some issues regarding human rights themselves. Places like China and Russia can be a little sketchy about what the governments believe natural human rights are, and as an observer, you can come to your own conclusions about these things.
The Moral Compass About Food
Western and Eastern cultures can have some very different ideas about food. And animals that are pets in some cultures are cuisine in others. It makes a lot of people uncomfortable that they’re eating things like dog or horse, when in some cultures, those are pets or sources of pride. The important thing is to keep an open mind, and don’t be aggressive about your judgements.
Methods Of Respect
As you’re out traveling, you’ll see a lot of very different approaches to methods of respect as well. Even a short bit of research about how respect works in Japan will give you some amazing insight into what it would be like to visit there for a pleasure trip.
How Technology Fits In
And finally, technology makes a big difference when it comes to social norms as well. Think of a place like North Korea, where technology is severely handicapped, and the way that people go about life is much different because of the overall lack of universal information flow.