Why foreigners like our country more than we do?

The previous posts were about events held in Africa. I don't know much about the culture, but now I am very interested in going there, specially after watching the video.
Thanks to Taptrip,  I could make friends in many countries and I can count on them if I need someone to introduce me the place. This year I've been in France and a brazilian friend took me to hang out in Paris. In Japan a chinese friend went with me to show the shopping area of Tokyo. And both looked more excited than in telling me things about each country people from there. Then, we think: why foreigners like our country more than we do?

This is me with friends. We are all foreigners who love Japan.

According to Ana Gasparoto, Taptripper and student of Tourism in the University of Sao Paulo, people interested in some other country can fall in love for its culture, maybe much more than locals. 
"In Brazil I've met two argentinians who decided to open a youth hostel in Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte. I think both know the city much better than any person who was born and raised in there. (...) After all, outsiders can see things that insiders cannot see." - she said.

And this is me with foreigner friends who live in Brazil and love it much more than I do.

So, maybe I will not be surprised if, after landing in Africa, a russian takes me to have a walk around. Have you also introduced another country to someone or had an outsider who did that for you? So, share your story in the comments! 
Download Taptrip App and make friends in more than 200 countries worldwide!
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Do you really know your country?

Do you know why Sugar Loaf, a tourist attraction of Brazil famous in the whole world, has this name? Because it has the same form of refined sugar.

yummy?

And do you know why Aomori ("Blue Forest" in japanese), a tourist attraction of Japan, is called like this? A forest is supposed to be green, but a long time ago, blue and green were the same color for japanese.

is this forest really blue?

And the big surprise is: many brazilians and japanese people don't know it. Only if someone - normally a foreigner - asks and, then, they need to search for the answer. That's why introducing your own country for people from another countries can be so fun and interesting. You can learn things that even you didn't know.

"so, let me tell you about my country..."

I have no more time to hang out with my foreigner friends so often, but I can still introduce my country to then through Taptrip app. And you can do the same. It’s very simple.
After you choose ‘Make a tour’, you can upload pictures and information of your country and share with people from the whole world. The same way my Asian friend was very glad to know my place, many other people will be happy in knowing yours too.  So, be a Taptrip guide and introduce your country to the world. Download Taptrip App and make friends in more than 200 countries worldwide!
Download Android Version on Google Play!

Download iPhone Version on App Store!

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What are you doing in your country right now?

September 22th (Sunday). Mike, who lives in New York, came back home just in time to watch the Emmy which started at 08h00pm. He couldn't wait to see and discuss the results with his friend Paresh who lives in India...but, he had to wait a couple of hours because was 05h30 am in New Delhi and his buddy was still sleeping.
A few hours after, Paresh woke up at 09h00am as usual to have a traditional indian breakfast: eat idli, vada and dosa coupled with chutney and sambar. At this same time, Mike was starring a view of the Big Apple from the window.
It's funny how our activities can change according to the time zone and how they can change according to each country. Mike doesn't have breakfast at same time as Paresh and probably do not eat the same thing. Paresh also cannot appreciate a night view similar to New Yorrk at same time as Mike. 

For this reason, Taptrip wants to know what users are doing according to their time zones and the place where they live. From today on, your virtual trip`s screen will change the color if it's morning, afternoon and evening. This way, when you join or guide a tour, you can upload pictures of activities done in your country during the day and night.
Then, you can check what Paresh is eating and what Mike is staring at same time. Download Taptrip and have fun all the time! 
Download Taptrip App and make friends in more than 200 countries worldwide!
Download Android Version on Google Play!

Download iPhone Version on App Store!

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3 places to go if you feel homesick.

Have you traveled somewhere for a long time? During this time, have you felt homesick? It`s not unusual to miss home when we are very far from it, and sometimes doesn´t need to be for so long. I´ve met people who were homesick after being just two or three weeks far from home.

Anyway, if you feel like that and want to feel again the warmness of your country, there are 3 places where you can go:
1) Shopping Center. Doesn´t matter where you are, they are always the same. The architeture is the same (just a few different details), there is no clock (this way nobody knows the time is running and spend more time and money in there), the most expensive stores are near to the escalators and that´s where many women like to go. I´m pretty sure must be the same in your country.
2) McDonalds. Ok, maybe it´s not the same in many places. In Japan, they offer hot dogs. In India, they offer curry. In Brazil they offer salad. In France they may offer the same as everywhere else, but instead of yellow and red, the logo´s collors are yellow and black. But, you still have the big M and advertisement with Ronald which can make you feel like if you were at home.
3) Dancing Clubs. Dark, loud music and drinks. Wherever you are, all the night clubs maybe like this. The language people speak can be different, but if the music is too loud, then it doesn´t really matter. You can not hear what people say, even if you were at your home country.

After it, you will not feel so homesick and will enjoy your destination much more! By the way, you can also enjoy the virtual travels of Taptrip! The link to download is below.
Download Taptrip App and make friends in more than 200 countries worldwide!
Download Android Version on Google Play!

Download iPhone Version on App Store!

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Foreigners as guides of your country: is that really unusual?

Salvador, Bahia, one of the most famous tourist destinations of Brazil. My parents went to watch a presentation of Olodum, an afro-brazilian music group which became popular in the whole world after making a video clip with Michael Jackson. After watching the show, my parents were attended by a guide who was going to tell them more details about afro-brazilian culture. They were expecting to meet someone local, but surprisingly the guide was from Netherlands and spoke a very good portuguese.

For some people it may be strange to have the own country introduced by a foreigner, but for other people it's not that unusual. According to Ana Gasparotto, student  of Tourism in University of São Paulo, ''people interested in knowing more about other country can end loving it''. 

For her, there are many reasons why a foreigner decides to be the guide of some other country, like: the opportunity to show the country from other point of view, having a public excited to hear his / her stories or even giving something back to the country which welcomed him / her very well. 

Mariano Copes is one of them. He is from Argentina, but has been living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for four years. According to him, the local geography can be the main influence when someone decides to live somewhere abroad. His cousin, for example, went to United States to be a temporary ski instructor, but liked it so much that decided to stay and guide people who go there to practice this sport.

So, you don't need to be a native to be a guide of somewhere. You only need to like, have a good knowledge and interest about the place. 

Are you currently living abroad and would like to show how much you admire the country where you are staying in? You can be a guide in Taptrip and show it to the whole world! Many people are looking foward to read your stories too. 


Download Taptrip App and make friends in more than 200 countries worldwide!
Download Android Version on Google Play!

Download iPhone Version on App Store!

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Introduce your country to the world!

A couple years ago I've met a traveler who went to my home country. She was from Japan and was traveling around the world alone. Everywhere she traveled to, she had to make new friends and find a way to enjoy the destination, which sometimes was hard.

We've met by the chance and I took her to meet many places. When her few travel days were over, she was very glad for the awesome time she had at my hometown. Actually all the places we went to (beach, parks, historic centers, etc) are just ok for me because I've lived there during my entire life, but for her everything was new and exciting. That’s when I realized there are many people in the world interested in knowing my city, my country.

And it’s just the same with your place. There are many people interested in knowing more about India, Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Algeria, Cote d’Ivore, Morocco, Philippines, Ghana, Iraq, and so many others.  

I have no more time to hang out with my foreigner friends so often, but I can still introduce my country to then through Taptrip app. And you can do the same. It’s very simple.

After you choose ‘Make a tour’, you can upload pictures and information of your country and share with people from the whole world. The same way my Asian friend was very glad to know my place, many other people will be happy in knowing yours too. So, be a Taptrip guide and introduce your country to the world.


Download Taptrip App and make friends in more than 200 countries worldwide!
Download Android Version on Google Play!

Download iPhone Version on App Store!

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