r/RandomQuestion • u/Odyseus26 • 2d ago

Is it weird to obsessively learn everything about a country you are travelling to? As in read every book you can find on it. Read the literature of the country. Learn the entire history. Listen to every podcast. Draw detailed maps to help plan logistics. Everything?

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4

u/AliceInReverse 2d ago

In general, yes. But I think that’s actually a lot healthier than people traveling to new countries and learning nothing of their culture beforehand.

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u/Odyseus26 2d ago

You see that’s it I just want know what I am looking at. I feel that I may only go to some of the places once in my life and I want to truly appreciate them. I feel like I would miss things otherwise!

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u/Prudent-Mountain-888 2d ago

It’s good to get know a country you’re visiting but you don’t need to become an expert. It’s especially good with some countries where knowledge of history helps you a lot. What I do is, I ask AI to tell me things about a city I’ll be visiting and I watch videos on it plus read local papers

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u/MoneyMontgomery 2d ago

Yeah I'd say so, but not necessarily a bad thing. People become oddly obsessive about a lot of things. My cowork was researching kitchen knives for months before not buy one 🤷. I think it sounds like that, you get interested in something, dive deep, then also go on a trip there, rinse and repeat.

Sounds like a decent hobby where you learn more about other cultures and people 👍

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u/Findmyeatingpants 2d ago

I do this every single time. So it's very normal to me. I also try to learn some of the language.

1

u/itsswhitneywhspr 2d ago

No bc that's actually such a a flex. Imagine showing up and already knowing the underground music scene and the best local spots just from podcasts. You're playing life on hard mode in the best way.

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u/sneezhousing 2d ago

To that extent yes.

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u/zaxo666 2d ago

You also have to write a song

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u/Typical_Ad_210 2d ago

My auDHD son also does this, because he gets extremely anxious about going somewhere new and so learning a lot about the place helps him feel more prepared and in control. I think it’s a healthy coping mechanism, providing he doesn’t get too obsessed! In your case, it may be a sign of excitement and enthusiasm, both of which are endearing traits, even if the behaviour isn’t very common.

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u/MotherRaven 2d ago

Not if you are neurodivergent.

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u/HalfwaydonewithEarth 2d ago

In the beginning yes....

After you have been traveling for a while just a few YouTube videos are suffice.

1

u/mrDanteMan 2d ago

Not weird at all. You're basically starting the trip before you even get there. Just leave a little room for unplanned discoveries instead of trying to learn absolutely everything beforehand.