Don’t judge a book by its cover... or in this case - a country
We mustn't be closed minded about visiting new countries and experiencing other cultures
I writing in response to the Young Post article “The adventure of a lifetime”, dated February 5. Reading this article has completely changed the way I perceive India as a country.
Before I read this article, I thought India was a very underdeveloped and conservative place. I based my perception on other people’s negative opinions, and on some photographs I had seen before.
I didn’t realise that India has changed a lot, and actually has the sixth largest economy in the world. Learning this made me realise how wrong I was to make such negative assumptions about an entire country. Now, I found myself fascinated with Indian culture, and I would love to experience it first hand. I am especially interested in the historical and religious aspects of culture mentioned in the article.
I believe the only way you can truly get to know a country is to travel there and experience it first hand. For me, it’s time to make a journey to India and, hopefully, have an amazing experience during my time there.
Lastly, I would like to travel more and learn more about not just India, but the entire world, so I can become a truly global citizen.
Chloe Kwok Wing-Lam
From the editor
Thank you for your letter, Chloe. India is one of those countries that has surprises around every corner. It’s also so huge that there are many different landscapes and biomes to explore. Ancient and new seem to blend seamlessly in modern India.
Yes, there are parts that are not very developed, but they too can have their charm.
You’re right in saying that only by travelling to and exploring other countries, meeting local people and speaking to them, can we truly become global citizens. We need to see things on the ground, taste the food, and smell the air to become fully engaged with other cultures.
These days travel is very easy if you are lucky enough to afford it. So if you ever get the chance to travel to India, you should definitely take it.
Susan, Editor
Edited by Ben Young