Rick Steves

I found Steve's chapter to be very impactful. Two phrases that stuck out to me were "cultural chameleon" and "cultural lint brush." These statements emphasize how people traveling must be open and adaptable to new experiences. The story about people eating with their fingers also made an impact on me, especially when Steves wrote, "That professor's hunch was right: I thought less of people who ate with their fingers. Then, through travel, I learned otherwise." Steves had been subconsciously thinking less of others for eating this way, until it was pointed out to him and he experienced the different culture for himself. However, the most impactful statement to me was "The very people who would benefit most from international travel- those who needlessly fear people and places they don't understand- decide to stay home... When we travel, we build understanding." Misunderstanding tends to stem from limited interaction and/or ignorance.