Well, the trip through Europe's done, and I'm back home. The question, then, is what have I learned from my first-ever trip outside the states?
Well...
1) If you're changing planes at JFK, you need at least two hours between flights. If you're going from an international to domestic flight, you need at least three
2) There's more than one way to do things, and they're mostly all right. There's no One True Way to make a plug, or a light switch, or a bed, or bedclothes, or a bathroom, though some ways can be better than others.
3) Culturally, nobody forgets anything. It's been more than fifty years and nearly three generations, but lots of folks are still pissed at the Germans for World War II. And WWI. And quite a few other things amongst other countries. I swear, I was waiting for someone to just haul off and belt Jos at YAPC::EU.
4) Larry really is as nice a guy as he seems, but he's human too.
5) It's appallingly easy to be provincial if you're from the US, or another country where you've not had to deal with the rest of the world in any sort of equal way. (I'd bet its the same to some extent with folks from China, India, or Russia, but the US entertainment hegemony works against that to at least a little extent) It's interesting, and a little embarrassing, to watch it in other people, too.
6) It's way too easy to get hung up about your potential provinciality. The world's a big place, and if you head out into it sometimes you just need to say "fuck it" and deal.
7) You know those obnoxious American Tourists? Well, they're just as obnoxious when they're here and not tourists.
Anyway, I'm damned glad I went, and I'm really looking forward to being able to do it again.
Posted by Dan at September 23, 2002 01:50 PM