There’s a very particular type of backpackers and travelers. They’re the ones that, taking as an example the people from my country, venture to travel through Latin America with very little money and do nothing but complain. “Everything sucks”. Trains are ugly, people smell, the beer is served warm or tastes bad, hotels are in ruins, the roads are a disaster, etc. The complain list is absolutely unending. Chances are, more than one of us might have crossed our path with one of these specimens. I had my own share. And when they happened to be argentineans -honestly, I couldn’t help to feel ashamed of my people- I ran away like they were the pest. Sometimes I just wanted to tell them “if you hate all of this so much, why didn’t you just take a damn first class Air France trip to Paris?” Of course, they might answer they cannot afford it. Then, guys, don’t complain, stay home watching Videomatch (a popular local tv show in Argentina). They travel cheap and they protest as if they were paying a fortune.

It’s not about being intolerant with criticism, but to stay firm and not to cede to certain ‘common senses’ that naturalize racism. These are those who put their town or their country -doesn’t matter where it is- as the parameter from ‘normality’ is measured. There’s nothing more ridiculous than someone who travels only to confirm what he already knows: that the place he lives at is better, that common sense is property of his people, that certain things “wouldn’t happen in his country”.

Do the rest of the travelers and backpackers of the world a favor and stay home. You will not disturb anyone if you stay home watching TV.