The lure of travel abroad is that people get a chance to experience first-hand the beauty of other cultures. Many would attest that their knowledge is broadened and that they develop a deeper understanding of other people. Although traveling abroad can be an enriching experience, sometimes we encounter strange customs and traditions that we have a hard time understanding. Even those who have been to many places in the world have experienced culture-shock in one way or another.
Many would relate experiences in their travel abroad wherein they were annoyed, insulted or even scandalized by certain practices. There are also instances when we were unable to explain why we have angered some locals with a seemingly harmless action. Experiences such as this could really ruin a trip. There are many who have never returned to a place because of misunderstanding. In order to have a pleasant and worthwhile trip, it is important that we get to know what to expect.
Adequate knowledge of a place and the people has many advantages. One of which is that misunderstandings can be avoided. As any experienced traveler would attest, a serious disagreement between a local and a traveler could ruin a trip. Imagine what would happen if we were unwittingly insulted our guide! Another travel advice is to observe the proper manners and etiquette of the place. Since we are visitors, we should always show respect.
As we all know, language is very important. It would be a serious mistake to assume that everybody speaks the same language as us. Americans are especially prone to make this error and this proves very costly indeed. Learning the language of the place should be a priority, especially if it isn't an English-speaking country. We should try to get the local translation of key phrases such as "how to get to the airport," "how much is this" etc. Courtesy words like "thank you" and "please" would also get us a long way in our travel abroad.
Of course, one of the delights or overseas travel is being able to taste different cuisines. Accordingly, it is through food that we are better able to appreciate a place or culture. Looking up on the local dishes would also prove to be beneficial. This is especially true for those who observe certain dietary practices like vegetarians or Muslims. Although exotic cuisines hold a certain allure for those with an adventurous palate, it would not hurt to research on these dishes. Finally, by knowing the food served we could avoid waste or worse, offending a host when we are unable to eat it.
When choosing and buying souvenirs, we should consider if the items we brought are appropriate or not. This means to say that we should be sensitive on the nature of the items. For instance, some souvenirs are objects that are considered sacred by the locals. As such, they require proper handling or packing. Contrary to common opinion, being culturally sensitive is not that hard. By observing these advices, our travel abroad would surely be a delightful experience.
Author Resource:
Are you planning to go on vacation and have fun while travelling? Get tips on travel abroad, overseas travel, get travel advice and travel packing tips at Andrew Mohebbi's http://www.triphip.com .
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