re: What's the biggest eye opener that you've had while visiting another state/country etc?

Visited Pennsylvania once, mostly rural areas. I saw more confederate flags than I have seen combined in my entire life traveling through Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

Visiting the interior of Jamaica (away from the ports and resorts) and seeing what poverty actually looks like.

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What's the biggest eye opener that you've had while visiting another state/country etc?

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rocky mountain way

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Everytime I return to Louisiana to visit family it shocks me how incredibly dirty everything is.

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This.

We are so unbelievably fat and disgusting here

Mexico City, poor neighborhoods with walls around each little 4 room apartment.

Every wall and window sill was covered with broken glass glued down. Prevents thieves

I was surprised by how much poorer France felt.

My brother in law posted this a few years ago on instagram.

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I know this is going to irritate some of my progressive friends and I consider myself a progressive, but I must document my first hand observations here in Paris. I noticed this in both Austria and Germany but as Paris is my favorite place on Earth I am dismayed considerably by what I have seen.

Frankly, some parts of Paris that once were vibrant, lively, seemingly safe and clean have become 100% SHITHOLES. It appears that the vast "immigrants," "refugees," or whatever they are called, find that they can establish "homes" with "make-do" tents, set up illegal sales tables(street sales requires permits, but that would require giving a shite and knowing French which, apparently, neither exists and neither is an interest or concern) with God knows what, and the most agregious of all, they appear to have no sense of decency, self-worth or hygiene. I'm talking about garbage, trash, human urine and feces abound. I'm talking about block after block and mile after mile. Most of this filth that I saw was in the Eastern part of the city on my trip from the train station to my hotel.

The Eastern portion being described, I also noticed considerable changes on the Champs Elysees--from the Arc de Triomphe to near the Place de la Concorde....Naturally, since the Presidential Palace is just off the Champs Elysees near the Place de la Concorde, the clean up of the filth is stricking.

From some of the people I spoke with at my friends of Bill W. meeting, they are all even more disgusted that I am and I've only been here two weeks. They offered that there is not readily solution--when a purge of the make-shift homes, illegal sales bizarres and the filth is made, these people just move to another seemingly accommodating area.

NOW, from having seen this first hand and only two days of it, I understand FULLY the vote for Brexit---the UK wants control over their immigration laws which they don't have as a member of the EU.

The EU needs to take action---swift action to address this crisis--yes, it is a crisis for the immigrants as well as for the tax paying citizens of France and the remainder of the EU. Without action, more EU member states are going to exit, the EU will fail and along with it, if not before, the Euro.

I still love Paris. It is still my favorite place on Earth. I am greatly bothered by what is happening.

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as a 21 yr old I moved to Va. Beach. I was was having brews on the beach. My empty cans were all around my cooler, the beach cop drove up shaking his head, "what are you doing?" Me: I'm just drinking some brews.

He was like pour it out, it was empty, thank goodness or I would had a ticket. He was cool, he said, bring a cup next time and I can't bother you.

I had no clue back in the early 90's Va. beach didn't allow beer on the beach.

Visiting England and seeing the baths and villas the Romans had built over 2000 years before. Made everything in our country seem young and trivial historical wise.

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LSU Grad Alabama Fan

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Some immigrant bitch stabbed me with a pen within my first 30 minutes of getting off the train from the airport.

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Karma bitch.

RTR!