>Hi Kai,

>> There is one thing I want to know, but I feel unhappy to ask.
>> Because our cultures are difference and I am sure my question is impolite.
>> Now I decide to ask this question. Please excuse me if my question annoy
>> you.

>We are friends here, wanting to learn about each other and our cultural
>differences, so I don't think any of us is offended by your question.

>> What is the average age of all members?. I think most members have retired
>> and age more than 60

Am I the baby on the group then? I think I'll throw that average off just a little bit because I'm only 19. I'll be twenty in May (May 17th, to be exact...gifts and money can be sent to...just kidding!)

I have to say, you guys are certainly some of the coolest people I've met in a good while...I wish people my age were like that.

>> The reason for my curiousity is:-
>> I am 43 and I want to be a travel expert , but I can not because I have to
>> work and make money. How can most members be travel expert and work at the same
>> time.

>In our case, when Don was working we could only be away for short periods of time
>and most times opted for visiting our families as we never had the luxury of
>living near them. But all the while, we fed our need to learn about other places,
>by doing lots of reading - and dreaming. Then finally retirement came and the
>adventure began. Our dreams have become reality and the internet has added a
>dimension we'd never even contemplated. We are indeed lucky to be living in these
>times.

I am not retired...I haven't had a chance to get a job beyond working in a bookstore, drugstore, or printshop for longer than a summer or Christmas holidays. I thnk that it does not matter how old you are, how much money you have (you don't have to be rich, you just have to have some source of income, I would think), to become a travel expert. If you are curious, if you are open to learning about other cultures, if you are tolerant of beliefs that are different than your own, and if you are willing to try something different, then that's all you need to become an expert.

Since you still have to work, plan to travel during holidays or during your annual vacation. If you don't have a week off or much time (or much money), take trips around your home. I don't know where you're from, Kai, but perhaps there are countries or regions that you have never seen right around you. Decide on where you want to go one day, and read all you can about it. There are literally hundreds or thousands of books out there about just about any place you can visit in the world. The more you read, the more questions you ask, the more you know and the better you can plan your travel trips. I think it would be quite possble to take a week from work and do just about any travel that you want to (just about)--and if you have a family, plan to take them with you as well, if that's what you want. Kids can learn so much from traveling, even if you think they are too young.

I hope that you have a chance to make your dream of becoming a travel expert true, Kai. Perhaps we'll both be able to trade stories in the near future!

Mandy Huffman