I believe our beloved TimeBeing is a Mexican citizen attending graduate school in the USA. I'd imagine he looked at a map once or twice before journeying north.

There is something positive to be gained by having friends from other cultures. I have been invited to several Bosnian and SE Asian get-togethers here in Rochester, and have found the food, the coffee (one Bosnian lady I work with used to own a coffee shop in Bosnia...can you say sugar overload?!?!?), and company to be very enjoyable. However, after I was able to visit Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico last year (my first trip outside of the USA), my appreciation for that culture grew enormously! I thoroughly had a good time, and fell in love with the culture, the people, the food, the beer ;) ...you get the picture.

There is always something to be gained by exposing yourself to different cultures. But based upon my one trip outside of my country, nothing beats the first-hand experience of travel. Now to win the lottery!