It is true that the experience of getting out of the country for the first time can be very different for Latin Americans and Americans. While both groups may experience a sense of excitement at the prospect of visiting another country, the kind of traveling that each group does and the impact it has on their experience of new cultures and environments can differ greatly.

When an American visits another country for the first time, their travel experience is often focused around organized tours, group activities, and luxury accommodations. Especially for younger Americans, this kind of travel can be a great way to explore a new place in a relatively controlled environment. With the help of well-travelled tour guides, Americans on vacation can see plenty of sights, shop around at tourist-oriented stores, and get a feel for local life without the risk of getting lost or stuck in a complicated situation.

However, when Latin Americans travel abroad, they are often more likely to explore independently, often with limited resources, and without any preconceived notion of what their travels should look like. For poorer Latin Americans, traveling far from home may be more of an endeavour than an enjoyable experience. It is also more likely that this kind of independent travel is done mainly for economic reasons — to visit relatives abroad, to search for better economic opportunities, or to return to their home country in order to take care of medical, family, or legal issues.

Given these differences between American and Latin American experiences, it is clear that the kind of culture shock one receives from leaving their country for the first time will be different for each group. While an American may feel overwhelmed by the new sights and sounds of a foreign culture, a Latin American might feel disconnected from the same environment, due to the all-too-familiar financial and societal issues that may be present in the host country. What’s more, for Latin Americans, travelling to a new country may bring about a whole different set of emotions, ranging from relief that their troubles will be left behind them to anxiety of the unknown.

Thus, it can be concluded that it is indeed culturally different for Latin Americans and Americans to get out of the country for the first time. When we look at the differences between the two groups in terms of their economic and financial circumstances, the kinds of travel they are likely to undertake, and the kinds of emotions and culture shock they may experience, it is clear that there are important distinctions between the two experiences. For this reason, it is important to be mindful of the distinct travel experiences that Latin Americans likely have when they first leave their country.