n. A person who is especially interested in foreign cultures, languages, and people. This usually develops through education and research about the varied accomplishments--artistic , linguistic, political, martial, architectural--of cultures not their own. Unlike such specimens as the Wapanese or the rice queen, xenophiles are not motivated by
jungle fever,
yellow fever or spice fever. Of course, xenophiles often display some romantic
appreciation for the denizens of the culture/s in which they are interested.
An Orientalist may be a xenophile, though not all xenophiles are Orientalists. Xenophiles are often polyglots and learn different languages and writing systems. A xenophile is the opposite of a xenophobe.
Much to their chagrin, xenophiles are commonly asked such
questions as "What do you see in (
insert name of country)?" or "Why do you like ________ people so much?"
Being
extremely old, full and varied, the cultures of India and China are popular among xenophiles.
