I have a German passport and I think the amount of Germans that don't must be single digit %. I think that goes for most people in the EU.
Do you hold a passport? Roughly 42% of Americans currently do.
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I don't know a single person without a passport, in Western Europe it's quite rare these days.
There's nothing better than travelling, if I had more cash I'd travel all the fucking time.
There's nothing better than travelling, if I had more cash I'd travel all the fucking time.
You gotta get to the coast (or other international hub) first.
Fun fact: Boston bouncers will insist on passports rather than drivers licenses for international ID, and even then sometimes deny that provinces like Alberta exist
Source: me at PAX East over many years
Boston is the only US city where I've seen this happen
Source: me at PAX East over many years
Boston is the only US city where I've seen this happen
Just got mine renewed a couple months ago. Definitely worth having around even if you're not currently planning on traveling internationally. You never know when an opportunity to travel will pop up.
Yeah, taking a year+ off to do a OE (Overseas Experience) is a big thing in New Zealand. There's even a Wikipedia article about it haha. I mean, like everything, not everyone can afford to do it for various reasons (not necessarily money, since a lot of people do work during their overseas stay), but you do hear about a lot of people doing it.
A lot of it is motivated by the fact we're a very small country literally in the middle of nowhere. I can't say what it's like from personal experience since I'm an immigrant myself, but what I see is that a lot of people are just raring to go explore the world after having lived in the same small country for 18+ years.
For a lot of Americans traveling outside the country isn't so simple. It's either a super long drive or a long (expensive) flight. This is one reason that I would consider to be fairly reasonable. You also need to jump through some hoops, produce documents, and pay a fee which poor people might be more hesitant to do.
On top of this there is a weird hesitation/fear with older Americans about leaving the country. My grandmother would have anxiety attacks about me going to Europe or Asia whenever I went. No matter what I said or explained she wouldn't come around about other places being safe. It's strange. My grandpa would even get that way about places in the United States so it shouldn't be surprising. When I got back from San Diego last summer he was asking me questions about "how bad" it was or if it was worse than I expected. I had no idea what he was on about until I realized he was watching Fox programs about California "sanctuary" cities. :/
It's getting better. Younger Americans want to travel more and I think it's making a difference.
On top of this there is a weird hesitation/fear with older Americans about leaving the country. My grandmother would have anxiety attacks about me going to Europe or Asia whenever I went. No matter what I said or explained she wouldn't come around about other places being safe. It's strange. My grandpa would even get that way about places in the United States so it shouldn't be surprising. When I got back from San Diego last summer he was asking me questions about "how bad" it was or if it was worse than I expected. I had no idea what he was on about until I realized he was watching Fox programs about California "sanctuary" cities. :/
It's getting better. Younger Americans want to travel more and I think it's making a difference.
If you live in one of the big states like Alaska, Cali, or Texas then this is actually true as the landscape and environment can differ from where you live.
Back on topic, I have a passport and my kids have the card version. I travel out of the country for work and plan on getting the books for my kids to take them to new countries as well. Don't want them stuck in California all their life.
I finally got one this year to travel abroad and the amount of perceived freedom I have now is a kinda silly versus what I had before.
Everyone should have one where possible and we should make it cheaper and easier to get one. Plus it adds up to a bunch of points for confirming your identity if nothing else.
Everyone should have one where possible and we should make it cheaper and easier to get one. Plus it adds up to a bunch of points for confirming your identity if nothing else.
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I can see that as a major driving factor. Makes a lot of sense. NZ looks like it's at the world's edge. But beautiful. I would very much like to go there myself to explore! Would you recommend renting a car or could I get by thru the 2 islands without one effectively?
I don't have enough money to live on my own, why would I try to go international?
Naw, there are different regions in a state. Just look at how different Miami is compared to the towns that border Georgia. Also, never met anyone who considers interstate travel "abroad," let alone discussing county lines.
Here is the part where Americans tell us that no other countries in the world offer as much diversity in culture and landscape and food as their home states
(Fun fact to foreigners: Americans are REALLY passionate about how special their home states are -- that is why they try to make OT's for Iowa and Nebraska here on Era)
(Fun fact to foreigners: Americans are REALLY passionate about how special their home states are -- that is why they try to make OT's for Iowa and Nebraska here on Era)
Not really. You only need it to travel abroad. And in Europe you don't even really need it to travel within the Schengen Area.
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Thanks, can't believe I missed this.
So per capita, a higher percentage of the Australian population holds a passport than does the American population.
Roughly:
66% of Canadians hold passports
56% of Australians hold passports
42% of Americans hold passports
American, and Yes. Although I think it expires this year and I've never used it. I had to cancel an opportunity to perform in Germany with my college choir, that was the reason I got one.
I'm not one of those people, Americans should definitely travel internationally.
However there is some truth to that mindset. Texas alone is nearly as big as Europe.
Edit: exaggeration above but check out an overlay. America is gigantic.
Yes of course. I've had one since I was a child, when we immigrated to the US. I have to renew it soon enough, only have 1.5 years left on it.
We travel quite often. Doing two, maybe 3, international trips this year.Feel lucky. Wish more people were able to do so.
But the US is beautiful and varied as well. Maybe some people just keep it in the US.
But that rise in passport numbers...travel is easier and cheaper then ever. At least from the coasts.
We travel quite often. Doing two, maybe 3, international trips this year.Feel lucky. Wish more people were able to do so.
But the US is beautiful and varied as well. Maybe some people just keep it in the US.
But that rise in passport numbers...travel is easier and cheaper then ever. At least from the coasts.
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The blue outline is the area of Texas laid over part of Western Europe:
I grant you that Texas is a big chunk of Europe size-wise. However, look at this another way: For the same time it takes to drive the longest length of Texas, in Europe you could drive through like six different countries, six different languages, six different cultures. (If you overlay that Texas shape over Southeastern Europe in the Balkans).
Europe's kind of unique in how compact yet diverse it is. Within a 1-4 hour plane flight on that continent, you have the choice of more than a dozen countries. They're lucky.
Flying to Europe isn't expensive with time. Look for tickets a few months out, and go with economy, and you'll be surprised.
Wouldn't your parents be the first generation immigrants since they're the ones that immigrated? Pretty sure you (and me!) are second gen immigrants
Yeah. Haha that's why I put my edit in, but it really shows the size of one state, and Texas is only a portion of Alaska
Just please note: I am not someone arguing for those knuckleheads that say there is no reason to leave America. I'm just saying it's nearly as silly to downplay the regional differences between the states.
While you can see definitely find flights to Europe in the $300 dollar range, LA is regularly $200 out of NY airports. That sub $300 range is possible, but tough to Europ imo. But it can happen! I striked immediately last time I saw those.
This. My partner got round trip tickets form LA to Madrid for 400 dollars. Def. cheaper than trying to fly to non-hub destinations on the East Coast.
It's been -40 in my part of Canada (at least) for the last week straight. I can't believe only 66% of Canadians have a passport.
I'm only half serious. I know a lot of people from where I'm at in the middle of Saskatchewan who have never left this province and whatever, some of them couldn't afford to if they wanted to, but others are just set in their ways and think they have everything they need so, why ever leave?
I'm only half serious. I know a lot of people from where I'm at in the middle of Saskatchewan who have never left this province and whatever, some of them couldn't afford to if they wanted to, but others are just set in their ways and think they have everything they need so, why ever leave?
Californian and yes I do. My wife is Japanese so it's mandatory though I've had mine for well longer than knowing her.
