Nowadays, there is an abundance of books, films, and websites on
the internet that teach us about the world and other cultures.
Some people believe that it is no longer necessary to travel to
other places to learn about culture. However, I believe that it
is essential to travel to truly understand other cultures.
On the one hand, books and films are an exhilarating way
to learn about other cultures. They have the power to transport
us to new places through our imagination, allowing us to experience
a plethora of cultures without ever leaving home.
Moreover, accessing books and films is much less expensive
than traveling to another country. Therefore, it serves as a
more accessible means for people to engage with and experience different cultures.
However, there are also disadvantages to learning about
other cultures through books and films. Firstly, books
and films are created by an author or a director,
which means we experience other cultures from the perspective
and opinion of one person, which can be biased.
Secondly, when individuals travel directly to different places,
they can experience other cultures firsthand and unmediated.
It is a more profound experience because we might quickly forget
what we read in a book, but memories of the actual experience will linger for a long time.
To conclude, although books, films, and the internet provide
a cheap and easy way to access other cultures, they cannot
compare to the authentic experience of traveling to new countries.
Therefore, I maintain that it is still necessary to travel to other places
to learn about other cultures.