Humans are well attuned to ways we are different, especially the negative differences.  Experiencing new cultures yields a crop of shock and disapproval.

Example: My current explorations of France have shown me that bread and hygiene have no connection here. Baguettes are handed over the counter with no bag or tissue by the same bare hands that handle the money. They are often set on the dirty counter while I pay. Then I grab up the baguettes with my dirty paws and carry them home.

I’ve been part of ex-pat groups over the years and one of the things we all is gripe about the way “they” do things. My daughter’s multi-national high school segregated themselves into compatible alliances based mostly on country of origin.

Why do humans travel then? It is just to remind ourselves how “we” do things better at home? In the end, most travelers register the negative differences, and choose to focus the delightful ones. Like: French bread is delicious. (And the cheese, butter, beer and wine…and just about everything else.)

Most ex-pats end up longing for many aspects of the countries they’ve left. International students end up appreciating the diversity of their experience. Even if we did build a sense of community around “us and them,” we all know and cherish that we are part of a bigger world-wide family, and as we grow and are encouraged by others, we come to embrace differences with joy.

Can someone hand me that baguette?