Hi All,
Not too long ago, the wife and I tried something new out in life. We decided to crew on a stinky, ugly motor yacht in order to minimize expenses and maximize savings... getting us off to cruising full time faster. We had a horrible experience. So bad I don't even want to get into it here.
Anyway, we also kept a web log and found that while some people were nice, and gave their words of support after our ordeal, others questioned our moral character, made wild accusations and assumptions, and generally berated us because we were not old.
I belong to "Gen X", and my wife just barely makes it into that category. I just want to stand up here and in solidarity with the cruising couple in question. While they may have a pile of money and may not have had enough worldly experiences to learn how to appreciate other cultures and food yet, they do appear to be enjoying themselves. In the end, is there anything else that really matters, other than enjoying your time on this earth with your wife? They are living the dream, and even if their lack of experience causes them to die tomorrow, they will have done more than most people I know.
Also, I can even understand their bizzare points of view on the world. If they were urban people with a lot of money, they were brought up differently than a lot of the "down home" people on this board. The same thing happened to me living in NYC. You start to view the entire world as "simple" after you live in a large city like that. You think crossing the Pacific is something you can do because you face so many other challenges on a day to day basis... what's another one? You become very confident. And... if they were flush with money, they are used to buying expertise. They continued in the only pattern they knew. Over time, as their adveture continues, they will learn all of the wonderful lessons of life. Actually, it appears (unfortunately for them) they are in the accellerated course..
But it's just that... they are learning. Don't fault them for that.
The people on this post who say they are so great at understanding other cultures should take a long look at themselves and do a mental reset, because if you are great at understanding cultures, why don't you understand the culture this couple comes from?
Food for though... no ill will intended.
My 2.... no 75 cents.
Sean