[badpun]

I suspect six months of working in a blue-collar job (say, construction) in an area of the country you're not familiar with would be much more enriching than 6 months of traveling in SE Asia, at least for college-educated young people.

[Existenceblinks]

Yeah likely. My city attracts tourists/backpackers too. As local's perspective, I'm glad they enjoy the difference, but I don't think they have changed at all. It's not like bathing holy water of experience, suddenly you come out pure. No!