Abroad Quote by Lionel Shriver
““...Remember that nutty little story I told you about the first time I ever went overseas for my junior year abroad at Green Bay, and I stepped onto the airstrip in Madrid to be obscurely disheartened that Spain, too, had trees. Of course Spain has trees! you jeers. I was embarrassed; of course I knew, in a way, it had trees, but with the sky and the ground and the people walking around--well, it just didn't seem that different.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, “Lionel Shriver on Travel and Perception”, 2015
The narrator expected exotic differences abroad, but ordinary features like trees felt surprising, highlighting how expectations shape perception.
In simple terms: Expectations can make ordinary things seem unusual.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about what makes a place unique.
Themes
expectations
perception
travel
culture
surprise
Mood
reflective
amused
curious
Type
anecdotal
observational
humorous
When to use this quote
- first overseas trip
- travel planning
- cultural immersion
- learning about expectations
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
contextual awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your expectations alter your travel experiences?
- What ordinary details have you overlooked abroad?
A Different Perspective
The anecdote may overstate personal surprise, not reflecting broader reality.
