I probably shouldn't get involved, but . . .
It's one thing to know a person from a set culture, and another to know that culture itself. I have a friend - for example - who is Indian; I've known her for ten years, I've babysat her sister, ate dinner with her grandparents, met all her neighbours, watched her movies, helped her with the language . . . so I can safely say I know an Indian family very well, but do I know what it's like to
live in India? Do I hell! I've never been, I've only seen it on television, and if I ask her it'd be a very narrow view as she's from one caste and has only seen one aspect of it.
If you think about yourself going abroad, how much do
you represent an entire culture? Sometimes people ask me about England, and I get so stuck because it's like "well, I'm one person, I can't define a whole culture, you just have to experience it". So yes, you may know about Asian culture but you will not know what it's like to
live their until you
live there. So just hear everyone out, they've experienced more of it than you - or I - have.
You're right, the only way to understand it is to be there yourself, but surely you'd want to go there as knowledgeable as you can? It's an entirely different place, it has good and bad, and if you can learn
as much about the good and the bad as you can you'll be far better prepared. No one is saying 'don't go', merely 'listen and learn', so that way you won't get there and have a panic attack at the airport or leave after a month completely dissapointed, you know? I hope you do go. I hope you love it. Until then, just hear what more experienced members have to say. What do you have to lose from hearing them out?
