Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yesanman]

Ok, I know that on this site there are some serious travellers who have been to a number of countries. I also know that many people, myself included, like to brag about how many countries they've been to.

I was talking about travelling with my students on Friday. I told them how many countries I've been to and they wanted me to write all the countries on the board. I did, but while looking at the list I began to feel that I was being a bit dishonest.

My question is: When you count how many countries you've been to, what qualifies?
1) Changed planes in Heathrow- can I count the UK?

2) In 1988 went to West Germany for a week and then crossed through Checkpoint Charlie to East Germany. Years later went to a unified Germany. So does that count as three countries or one?

3) Went to the USSR and years later went to Russia. That's gotta count as 2, right?

4) Took the train through Belgium. Never got off the train. Count- yes or no?

5)Abu Dhabi and Dubai? Same country or not? Does an Emirate count as a separate country?

I was thinking that perhaps I should only count the countries that I actually stayed over night in but then that leaves out small places like Monaco, Vatican City.

I love telling people I've been to 51 countries but I know that if I was challenged by someone I wouldn't be able to truthfully back them all up.
So what do you think?
When you count how many countries you've been to what do you include?

[laogaiguk]

I can't answer as it is so subjective. Like you said, what does "been to" mean. I lived in Japan, China, Canada and Korea so I have definitely been there. I went to Thailand for a week and a bit. I consider myself to have been there, but I don't really know a lot about it (I know more about it from a Thai friend and people who lived there than my visit there ).

I hate people who go somewhere, eat something or do something not to go, eat or do it, but to say they went, ate or did it. These people tend to be quite annoying.

[ttompatz]

[ajgeddes]

I agree with ttompatz about what going to a country is. I think your Abu Dhabi/Dubai thing is really pulling it. They are in the same country. Maybe if you were talking about how many emirates you have been to, than you could count two, but you are counting countries.

[xtchr]

I take it you're counting South Korea as 1/2 a country then?

[ajgeddes]

[xtchr]

Oh sorry ajgeddes, my post was responding to the OP.

[Yesanman]

Ok, Ok. Suitably chastised.
I always felt that maybe I was pushing my count up unfairly but wasn't sure how others counted.
But ttompatz did confirm for me that many of us do keep count.
74? Good on ya!
Guess I fall down to 39 then. Damn, got to get one more to make a nice round number.

[baldrick]

Yesanman you're in Yesan? I'm so, so sorry.

[ajgeddes]

Another issue is a place like Hong Kong. Some people think of it as a seperate entity from China. There is a border between the two, they have different passports and immigration policies. However, Hong Kong is sufficiently controlled by China, especially aside from the economy. What do you think? 2 or 1?

I personally think they are 1 place because they have one military and there is no protests about it.

[bucheon bum]

[laogaiguk]

How about Antartica? Is that a country, or only considered a continent? I haven't been there, but who knows