Summer vacation is the best chance to travel to other cities or countries. Where did you go and what did you enjoy this summer vacation? Many Koreans usually like leaving on a trip overseas to take a rest. However, every year there are many negative mentions about the attitudes of Korean tourists. Why do they have complaints about Korean tourists’ attitudes? Why do many foreigners consider Korean tourists as just financial backers?
I found the answer to this question through my India travel. This summer, I traveled to India alone. I went to some cities in India and met many people. When I went to Kajuraho, a city in India, to see the Group of Monuments, I accidently met an Indian, Min-su, who worked in Korea for a while as a tour guide. Before I met him, I was a normal traveler who wanted to look around the famous tourist attractions and to eat delicious foods. However, after I met him, I realized that many Koreans’ traveling methods are wrong. He said to me, “I cannot understand why many Koreans come to India although they are not ready to travel to our country. I believe that when in Rome, do as the Romans do. As this proverb goes, it is right for many Korean tourists to eat Indian foods and follow the Indian rules.” Adding to this, he insisted, “However, most Koreans consider our culture as dirty and strange, and they don’t try to feel our culture. Koreans usually meet together and share information about great Korean restaurants and nice guest houses. If you want to take a rest in a great hotel and eat delicious foods, you didn’t have to come to India. You can do these things in Korea. If you really want to enjoy our country, why don’t you try to live such as Indians?” After I listened to his words, I was stunned for a while.
I considered all Indians who approached me were touts, so I didn’t want to communicate with them. In addition, I thought India’s local restaurants’ foods were not clean to eat. However, when I went to Varanasi after meeting him, I opened my mind to them and enjoyed wandering around alleys and talking with them while eating meals in local restaurants or shopping. Following his advice, I could understand something while feeling a different culture. Of course, there is a purpose to take a rest through traveling. However, I think the real purpose we go to other countries spending much money is to enjoy their culture that we can’t feel in Korea. How about trying to live like a native while abroad?