Originally Posted by
deniah
americans arent blessed with the holiday allowances of typical europeans.
(2 weeks was the norm for most industries. though i believe tech is helping change that). the gap year is also not a thing.
whereas a belgian can hop on a train to germany, france, netherlands, at his/her whim... to a working-class american, just making it over the pond is a difficult proposition, hence the need to be opportunistic with the sightseeing.
i just hate the extreme notion that one needs to have rented an apartment and be on a first-name basis with the local baker, cobbler, and blacksmith, to qualify as having experienced a place.
I live on Vancouver Island. I see middle-aged European couples and families come here, rent a van or RV and spend 2 months cruising the Island and the coast of BC. This is normal for them; they go to a different country every year and spend 2 months. This is not even remotely imaginable for a non-retired person in North America. If someone can come out here for 2 or 3 days, they will not see everything, but they can still have a good time and appreciate a new place.