> > > I wish I could go to France for the day that easily. :P That's one thing that America isn't any good at... being able to easily reach many interesting, different-cultured countries within the span of a few hours without having to fly there.
> >
> > That's so funny to me. One of the features of America, to me, is that people who live there *can* easily reach many interesting, different-cultured countries within a few hours. Europe is *right next to you*. The "without having to fly" part never crossed my mind, since flying is ingrained in my mind as the only way anybody can go to any other country.
>
> Sure. If a 12-hour flight counts as right next to you. I imagine you could go anywhere in East Asia with a 12-hour flight from NZ. And I'll wager there's a lot more cultural difference between NZ and Malasia than there is between America and Spain.
>
> winter"New Zealand. That'd be fun..."mute

Heh. You're right, of course. However, Asia is not a bazillion miles away (and therefore exotic and mysterious), whereas Europe is. So there. :-P