Strength

“The man who finds his country sweet is only a raw beginner; the man for whom each country is as his own is already strong; but only the man for whom the whole world is as a foreign country is perfect” (Todorov 250).

I agree completely with this statement by Todorov and think of it as a theory in my own life and one that should affect effect everyone in this world. The man who finds his own country sweet is a beginner because he is happy in his own country, comfortable with the customs, language, and his life in general. He does not know what else exists, how traditions in other countries could differ from his own and therefore remains within a small bubble. As Rachel mentions, it is impossible to see the flaws of your own country in any comparison to the rest of the world as well as the benefits. Most of the world lives as beginners in this world, happy with each individual place without exploring any further.

When travelling, it is possible to see how enormous the differences are between cultures. Only from traveling and living in another place is it possible to understand these differences. Perhaps Cortés can be distinguished as a 'strong' man for his ability to think of the Aztecs and their land as a comfortable place: somewhere where he intends to conquer and make his own, which is essentially what happened. If you feel at home somewhere, it does not stretch the possibilities to the end. From my experiences, it is pretty much true that if you feel comfortable in another country, you are not experiencing the most of the culture. Of course, sometimes a 'culture shock' does end, but there are many factors that distinguish two cultures, one from the other.... this has to do with history, native people, customs, and a 'collective knowledge' which is acquired through everything mentioned before. This is where the last option, the 'perfect' man comes in.

I agree with Todorov's quote that the perfect man still views the world as foreign. To have this perception, you must recognize that there are differences. When you land in a new country, you will feel uncomfortable, yet you can hopefully appreciate the differences. Being 'foreign' gives something a mystique that allows for discovery... in this way, the perfect man will continue to learn and understand other cultures, yet the world will continue to remain foreign. It is not a positive or negative thing in all situations, yet normally it is better (and the only way) to remain slightly outside the comfort zone, learning new languages and individual differences between cultures. It is not necessary to lose oneself in order to view the rest of the world as foreign.