When thinking of the word “tourist”, one would think of a person visiting a big city to sight see and visit popular attractions. This is exactly what went through my head when thinking of a time I was a tourist, but after thinking deeper, being a tourist does not mean just visiting big cities with large, popular attractions, it also refers to visiting a place different from what you call “home”. After reading “A Small Place” by Jamacia Kincaid, I have gained a different outlook on being a tourist as well as being a native. I realized that I have been a tourist in many situations, not just when I visit large cities. I call New Orleans home and admit to thinking of myself as superior to those who live in small, less populated cities or towns. I also admit to not thinking twice about the privileges that come with living in a large, developed city. Both of these things are subjects Kincaid speaks about in “A Small Place” that I did not completely realize I do before reading the story and having them pointed out. I vividly remember when I visited my best friend for the first time …show more content…
I never realized that where I lived made me privileged, I thought it was normal because it was all I knew. Visiting a place like Carierre, Mississippi completely changed my mind. Just like the tourist, I never thought about what it would be like to live in a place where everything is not at the touch of your finger tips. Carierre is not oppressed by any means, but they have to go out of their way to be able to do things or go places. This also does not make the people of Carierre inferior to the people of New Orleans, it just means that we go about doing things in a different way. My previous experience and reading “A Small Place” has taught me a lot about my visit to Carierre as a tourist and how to be a better tourist the next time I go to a place I have never