One of the most exciting parts of life is having the good fortune of traveling to different countries and cultures. Even so, some people can be critical of other countries.

For example, when I was in a van in Turkey, I was gushing with enthusiasm about the country. Behind me, two women were discussing why they didn’t like Turkey. “What kind of country is this?” one of them said. “They don’t even speak English and expect us to speak Turkish. And can’t even get a good piña colada here. At home, they have them everywhere.”

In Brazil, I heard a religious leader speak very frankly to a group of complaining tourists when he said, “If you want to get along with Brazilian people, don’t criticize their country.”

In the U.S., visitors from abroad sometimes vent about Americans speaking too loudly or obsessing about money or wanting them to tip if someone hands them an ice cream cone.

In China, travelers I met were appalled by squat toilets and refused to use them. In Paris, visitors complained that locals were condescending if they didn’t speak French.

I contacted a cross-cultural expert about how our mental health is affected when we are judgmental and critical about places and customs we........

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