> but about experiencing other cultures and having your world-view widened beyond what you see every day. I think if you want to experience what a country is r

> but about experiencing other cultures and having your world-view widened beyond what you see every day. I think if you want to experience what a country is really like you need to learn the local language, or find a guide who understands that you want a "real" experience and that you are OK with going out of your comfort zone. Otherwise you are going to end up in one of the tourist containment zones around the world where every local speaks sales-oriented English, is hawking some trinket with the country's name on it, and the available food is pizza, fries, McDonalds, KFC, Starbucks and if you're lucky, an inoffensive variation of a local dish.