As we travel, inevitable clash of cultures and points of views occurs in various kinds of circumstances. The topic of the Seminar is “When in Rome, should we do as the Romans do?” I think the topic might gathered inspiration from the old proverb of “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”, tracking back to the 4^th century AD. The bishop of Milan at that time named St Ambrose, offered up some sage words: “When I go to Rome, I fast on Saturday, but here I do not. Do you also follow the custom of whatever church you attend, if you do not want to give or receive scandal.” When you are at a foreign place that’s completely new to you, what you should do is observe and take notice of the place. Visitors have responsibility to be mindful of local issues and consider how their actions may impact the community they are visiting. While it is important to respect local residents in addressing their own problems, visitors can contribute positively by supporting local initiatives, respecting local customs, and engaging in responsible tourism practices. We, as travelers, can play the role of fostering sustainable relationships with the communities visited.

Respecting foreign ways of doing things that may be perceived as abhorrent can be a complex issue. It is important to approach the problem with cultural sensitivity and understanding. While respecting cultural differences are still essential, there are still values and human rights that should not be compromised. When something’s violating fundamental human rights, I guess people should at least do something about it, without letting it go. Ultimately, finding a balance between respecting cultural differences and upholding universal values is key in navigating such situations.

During the second seminar we’ve just had previously, we had what’s considered quite philosophical discussions about Dark Tourism. Dark Tourism is when people visit sites or places that have been destroyed or where terrible things has happened before. People might wonder: What’s the point of visiting places where something considered so negative has happened? 

To answer that question, let’s find out first what kind of sites would be considered a dark tourism site to visit. Here we got Hiroshima, Japan, who got nuked in WWII, was greeted by an atom bomb produced in the States. Which surely provide the title of a dark tourism site to the unfortunate city. Some might say: What did JP do for them to deserve that kind of treatment? Well, the three hundred thousand who got brutally massacred in Nanjing is enough to shut them up.

Dark tourism is often motivated by a desire to learn about history, pay respects to victims, gain a deeper understanding of the human experience, or even just to satisfy morbid curiosity. Some may find value in these visits for educational or reflective purposes. Dark tourism can serve as a form of remembrance and a means of reflecting on the impact of tragic events on society. Ultimately, the motivations for visiting such sites vary from person to person, based on their experiences of a lifetime.

Image arriving a foreign country overseas, you encounter a mob of people spitting all around the place, and unfortunately that’s your first impression the country, what would you think of it? Apparently, for most people, even after years their opinion to this country is going to be biased, in an involuntarily way. It goes the same when you are the traveler to other places instead.

Active engagement, such as asking questions, sharing insights, and participating in discussions, really improves one’s understanding of the topic and foster a sense of connection with the material. For me to improve personal participation in the future seminar, it is important to come prepared by familiarizing the content beforehand, actively listening to others, and being willing to contribute ideas and perspectives. Additionally, setting specific goals for participation, such as asking certain number of questions or sharing personal experiences related to the topic, can help increase engagement which heats up the seminar for everyone, definitely significant.

 

 

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