What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations?

[mella2007]

Soo....I have spent around 1/2 hour thinking about how to word this and in no way whatsoever do I want it to be interpreted into something that it's not.

What background are you from and does it factor into where you choose to travel?

I'll start.

I am in a reflective mood this evening (Happy Easter to those of you that celebrate it today) and it got me thinking about an upcoming trip this year to Europe.

In a week's time I have an appointment at the Italian consulate in Melbourne to get my dual passport. I have been waiting 18 months for this appointment and very excited that it's finally happening. To me getting an Italian passport is not about how much easier it will be to get around Europe, but more of the fact that I will feel that bit more "authentic" by having the document. (and the choices if I want to in the future to live there part of the year etc)

I have spent the last 4 European summers in Europe including a lot of time spent in Italy. When my Father passed away almost 7 years ago (and with all his family still in Italy) I wanted to ensure that while I was physically and financially able to, that I would go at least once a year to spend time with the family, learn a lot more about my family background and absorb myself in real Italian life (not living like a tourist).
This has brought incredible joy to my life and has taught me lots of life lessons that I know wouldn't be possible if I didn't.

So yes being Italian makes Italy at the top of the destination list every year (or I least work it in somehow to other travel plans I have to do). I have many friends of various ethnic backgrounds.....many have no interest to travel to where their origins come from; some however like me, love to make that yearly trip to Greece, India, Malaysia, UK, USA, Canada, etc etc to either see family or just explore their roots more.

Your thoughts?

 

[Simo]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

Wow,

Very reflective but as an Aussie I can see what your are saying in your overseas heritage.

Wanting to explore the different things that happen in there lives.

As an Aussie I probably don't value the family thing as much as for me to visit my parents on a cheap day it will be app $100 each way and can be there in app 1 and a bit hours flying.

 

[Simo]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

Soo....I have spent around 1/2 hour thinking about how to word this and in no way whatsoever do I want it to be interpreted into something that it's not.

What background are you from and does it factor into where you choose to travel?

I'll start.

I am in a reflective mood this evening (Happy Easter to those of you that celebrate it today) and it got me thinking about an upcoming trip this year to Europe.

In a week's time I have an appointment at the Italian consulate in Melbourne to get my dual passport. I have been waiting 18 months for this appointment and very excited that it's finally happening. To me getting an Italian passport is not about how much easier it will be to get around Europe, but more of the fact that I will feel that bit more "authentic" by having the document. (and the choices if I want to in the future to live there part of the year etc)

I have spent the last 4 European summers in Europe including a lot of time spent in Italy. When my Father passed away almost 7 years ago (and with all his family still in Italy) I wanted to ensure that while I was physically and financially able to, that I would go at least once a year to spend time with the family, learn a lot more about my family background and absorb myself in real Italian life (not living like a tourist).
This has brought incredible joy to my life and has taught me lots of life lessons that I know wouldn't be possible if I didn't.

So yes being Italian makes Italy at the top of the destination list every year (or I least work it in somehow to other travel plans I have to do). I have many friends of various ethnic backgrounds.....many have no interest to travel to where their origins come from; some however like me, love to make that yearly trip to Greece, India, Malaysia, UK, USA, Canada, etc etc to either see family or just explore their roots more.

Your thoughts?

Congrats on your 1000th post

 

[mella2007]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

Congrats on your 1000th post

LOL Thanks Simo...and thanks for your posts and great advice over the years

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

I'm a little bit similar to you. I'm Scottish, a dual citizen / passport holder and I go back to the UK at least once a year. I've always had wanderlust and travelled far and wide even when I had neither the means or time to support that.

 

[Katie]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

Hmmm, well I haven't yet travelled to countries where I know my forebears are from (min. 3-6 generations ago). The countries are Ireland, Scotland, and Denmark. There are very few remnants in my family of these countries. My Mum has the Danish for mother's mother as her name from my child, but because we researched it, not because she herself lived it.

I would like to see my clan's land in Scotland. And see if anyone can actually read the immigration details fro. Ireland and figure out which county my family is from.

 

[Storyteller]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

African background, been back once as a teen & x 5 as an adult. I try to cook some of the food regularly, other stuff as a special treat. Keep a bit of the language. Decoration in my home reflects this, as well as other travels. My home could look like an Anthroplologist's collection, however I find it comfortable.

My plan is to touch on Africa at least every few years. ...

Because of understanding where I came from, being an immigrant, & having my new very rich culture here as well as the old, I think I understand where you are coming from. I guess many of us are the same

Later this year I plan to go to Italy. Australia has a heap of Italian immigrants & we enjoy that with great food & other influences everyday. Over the years it would be nice to enjoy a small taste of a lot of the makeup of Australia with visiting places both local, as well as overseas.

Are we lucky or what!?

 

[whatmeworry]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

As I am from a Croat background, I have been a number of times to Europe primarly to Croatia. I took out Croatia citizenship a couple of years ago but still have not taken out a passport. While in Europe, I tend to go to Germany to see relatives.

Although I was never born in Croatia, something draws me there, however whenever overseas I miss Australia. I guess it is the tyranny of distance!

 

[casanovawa]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

Well i am several generations aussie on both sides of my parents, so unfortunately no dual citizenship/passport for me (even though i would do it if one of my parents were of European or some other extraction) just so i had a slight option to work/live overseas (probably never will)...

But without any exotic background to go explore, i usually describe part of the reason i travel, and where i go to, is that here in Australia we have many great things, i love the beaches here in WA and tell people i rarely if ever travel to find a better beach anywhere... But as a relatively young society what we don't have is a lot of history (i guess you could put indigenous history here but not quite as tangible as in other locations), in terms of great events that have happened, history that has been made, landmarks, magnificent cathedrals, castles, monasteries etc... WA being pretty flat doesn't even have great mountain ranges or waterfalls etc.. So when i travel i often look at a list of the 100 greatest locations or to travel to see amazing buildings and architecture or significant locations....

When you talk to people from Germany and UK etc and they have a 700 year old cathedral in ever second town and heaps of significant battle fields or places where history was made, the greek empire followed by the romans plus the french, the british etc, etc... its all a bit ho hum i find...

So that is part of the back ground of mine that makes me think i want to see what we don't have here...

 

[Awesom Andy]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

I was born in HKG, and spent the first 10.5 years of my life there. These days, I head back there a few times every year, as I still have relatives and friends there. I think it's quite scary that 1. I still know my way around without using maps, and 2. I hang out in Causeway Bay more often than Marina Bay, despite where I'm living these days.

 

[knightman7]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

My wife was born in Europe so it's a yearly trip to visit her family with a side trip to Italy, as Capri is my favourite place in the world. I was born in Australia but of Asian heritage so every other year I find myself going with my parents back to Malaysia for Chinese New Year. So my leisure travel is largely the same every year because of family. If only work travel was as predictable!

 

[Mal]

I'm Australian (both parents born in Australia) but my heritage is uk and maybe Dutch based (not sure about the second bit... is quite confusing and I'm not the type of person who delves into family trees).

Doesn't really affect my travel. Does affect where I live (thanks grandma on mums side who enables me to live and work in the uk).

Both of my parents have passed away, all grand parents have also passed away. Some of my parents siblings have also passed away, so there isn't "family" per se to visit overseas, bar my sister who has a family in the uk. Everyone else in the close tree lives in Australia.

 

[Fifa]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

What a great thread - thanks for starting it mella2007.

I'm an Aussie but great grandparents were born in Scotland, Ireland and England. I'll be visiting Scotland and Ireland later this year for the first time and can't wait!

 

[sergeyvzn]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

Russian background (dual Russian/Australian citizenship) so I do get to travel to Russia often. For the first few years here (I landed in Oz 11 years ago) I did it every year so I knew all nooks and crannies of the Narita airport (QF + SU via Tokyo was then the cheapest and fastest way to get to Moscow or St.Petersburg, now it's all changed) like the palm of my hand
I tend to travel to Russia less frequently now because my family in Russia (mum, brother and sister-in-law with a niece living in Prague thrown in to complicate things further -) and I realised at some stage that catching up once a year somewhere in between Australia and Russia is more interesting than going to Russia in the middle of winter so now we catch up in Asia every year. Twice in Thailand and once in Bali. Next year it will probably be Vietnam
I'm still going to travel to Russia often as I still got property there, friends, family etc but will try to combine with with other parts of Europe or do it as a RTW trip going back via the US
going to St.Petersburg in July this year and will do a side trip to Austria and Poland to see how it goes

 

[crm911]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

Born in India, but left 40 years ago for NZ, became a citizen and automatically lost the Indian one. Then came to Oz 33 years ago and joined the RAAF, so obliged to become an Aussie citizen (dual NZ/AU). Recently I obtained an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) only to avoid getting a 5-year visa at some ridiculous cost and a ridiculous clause where a tourist cannot reenter within 3 months. The latter does not entitle me to an Indian passport but lets me work in India, but I can't vote or buy agricultural land.

How has this affected my travels? I didn't marry an Indian, so I have only gone there 6 times in 40 years. Otherwise I'd have had to go back every year. I have no wish to see Indonesia or Thailand as I view them as distorted Indian cultures - not in a pejorative sense but that I don't need any more "cultural infusion". The Hinduism in Bali looks so unlike the one in India -- the chicken sacrifice would horrify many Indians.

I grew up vegetarian, so it was a struggle to become a meat eater, which was essential to survive in 1970s NZ. Even now I can't like the taste of fish or bacon, which has reduced the appeal of Japan as a travel destination.

I enjoy travelling in NZ but don't go as often as I would like. Wife's a kiwi whose extended family followed us to Oz, so no hope of retiring there. I enjoy going to the US, which has been my main travel destination close to 50 times (lost count). I saw most of Oz thanks to the RAAF, other than Tassie and a nice B707 trip around the world.

I haven't seen much of continental Europe, so have booked a river cruise for my wife's 60th next year. Definitely looking forward to European cultural infusion.

The thought of going to polluted cities such as Beijing reduces the appeal of China. I was in Washington DC last week and my white collar turned black within a day, which reminded me of an earlier trip to London once. The Islamic countries don't appeal to me and I'm happy to have seen the pyramids from 30,000 feet.

With age, the number of medications increases, as does the need for my sleep apnoea machine, which I don't mind, but it becomes an additional power point to find in hotel rooms that sometimes don't have any to spare.

 

[JohnK]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

I was born in Greece, so I am Greek and that will always be a part of me, but I have lived for ~41 years in Australia. I consider myself an Australian and most people overseas see me as an Aussie right down to the accent.

I am a dual citizen and can easily get a Greek passport but I am more than happy with my Australian passport so no real need for a Greek one as well.

I love to travel but have a basic rule of trying to avoid places where I feel I am likely to be in trouble. Unfortunately that rules out Central and South America, Africa and parts of Asia. Perhaps one day but for now I do not want to take any risks. And yes I know there are people that travel there all the time without incident.

I love travelling to Thailand and Europe, and more specifically Greece, is also a favourite destination with trips every 3-5 years. Most of my relatives are in Greece with a few in the Germany and USA but we do not have any contact with them.

 

[MTAB]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

I was born in Scotland of Scottish parents and lived there for five years (with two years in Kenya and six in England) , lived in Canada for sufficient years to pick up a wonderful wife and acquire citizenship, but have lived largely in Australia for the last forty years (except for seven yrears in the Middle East). We are bot Australians now. I have triple citizenship ; however being Scottish I only pay for one passport (Australian) even though at times in my travels a UK or Canadaian passport would have been helpful.

In the last dozen years my wife and I go on an annual pilgrimage to our folk (mine in Scotland and hers in Canada) and always visit a spot or two in between. We also take overseas holidays always looking to get to somewhere different.

We are both proudly from working class roots but, through hard work and the supportive social structures provided by Canada and Australia,we now enjoy the immense privilege of being able to experience just some small part of this wonderful diverse and rich world. As we grow a bit older we will do a bit more cruising but will always try to maintain the connection with our friends and family overseas.

 

[ShaneN]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

I am at least 4th generation Australian, with ancestors from Germany, Ireland and England. I am looking forward to my first visit to Ireland in September, and will pay a visit to County Cavan, where my great grandfather was born in 1854.

 

[legroom]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

Maybe I am a tech paranoiac, but somehow I try to refrain from posting on public forum info that somehow could be traced back to me.

See here and here

YMYV, of course.

 

[anat0l]

Re: What background are you from and does it factor into your choices of destinations

My background is unusual - my mother is Chinese from Malaysia, my father is from the Philippines, and I was born in Australia.

One of the embarrassments I bear continually is that I can't speak any of my mother tongues fluently. I can speak a bit of Mandarin, a couple of words of Hokkien and I'd be lucky to know two words in Tagalog. I speak better Japanese (learned through schooling) than all those three languages put together (but even that can't be regarded as proficient). That's an aside.

When I was much younger, we used to go to Malaysia and Philippines every year (yes, even when the return air fares for such trips was measured in thousands, not like now in hundreds, of dollars). Combination of Dad starting a business and as we advanced through secondary and tertiary education meant that not only did we stop travelling as a whole family (i.e. four of us), but our trips to Malaysia and Philippines also started to go from annually to maybe biannually.

I didn't start travelling truly by myself for myself until around the time I found AFF, which is also when I had my first work-paid trip (it was only to ROK and GLT, but still!). I had one flight where I travelled on my own before (incidentally, in QF J would you believe), but other than that all my air travel to that point was with family.

In short, my background doesn't really dictate my travel. In a way...

Work started dictating most of my own air travel, but when I found AFF I started to think more laterally. At first, I never thought I could ever afford to make useful and/or interesting trips, but that was probably because I never really bothered to look at airfares seriously before.

Now, if I have work related travel, I always try to tack on some leisure travel with it. So work has a moderate impact on where I end up going.

Having gone to Malaysia and Philippines many times, I don't get the want to go back on my own accord frequently. I know that sounds unusual, and possibly even heartless / selfish, but there are some practicalities in that, too. I think I might be fine going to Malaysia (particularly if I try to visit my cousins - haven't done this yet), but in the Philippines I'm not sure I'm trusted to manage myself whilst in Manila, let alone find my way to my Dad's village. Time will come, but as long as my folks are still travelling actively and we go with them when visiting the extended family......

As a corollary from all that, you could say that my background has a marked impact on my choice of destination, but in a reversed logic, viz. I don't normally choose to go to Malaysia or the Philippines. Next month, I'll be seeing more of the Philippines than I've ever seen in my whole life (with my folks also coming for the ride). Once again, not my initiative!

Apart from work and the "incidental" travel resulting from the necessary, my main factor (out of a bag of them) for choosing destinations is somewhere I haven't been to before.