THE reality about satisfying LOCALS ABROAD
Updated: 3/15/2020 | March 15, 2020
It wasn’t up until my third go to to Sweden that I lastly felt I got sense of the nation’s unique culture.
During that visit, I spent many of my time in Stockholm. I viewed a huge bonfire ceremony for Valborg, the Swedish event of spring. I got a lesson in red as well as eco-friendly working days as well as got schooled in Swedish fashion (Converse, red pants, as well as new York Yankees hats are truly popular).
I spent Swedish Easter at my friend’s grandmother’s house, where I went on an egg search (Grandmother insisted) as well as played a game called “tipspromenad.” It’s a trivia contest integrated with a scavenger search — extremely fun (though I didn’t understand any type of of the answers). I discovered about regional food and, finest of all, my buddies taught me Swedish.
That three-week trip offered me with much more insight into the Swedish culture than any type of of the past ones combined. Hvorfor?
Because I had locals who have welcomed me into their personal lives as well as ended up being my guides.
Having traveled full-time for over a decade, I’ve made buddies from around the world.
I can go to numerous countries as well as stay with buddies (locals) who are pleased to show me around, buddies who will take me to Easter at Grandmother’s house, an unscripted town BBQ event, a birthday party, or Christmas at their in-laws. It’s simple for me to get a taste of regional life since I have numerous people prepared to show it to me. It’s the exact same for anybody who has traveled — you’re going to satisfy people from all around the world that you can visit.
But, when you’re in a new destination as well as don’t understand anyone, exactly how do you that?
Travel composing is frequently full of stories of possibility encounters in subways as well as at cafés, encounters that end up with the writer jetting off to some event or event that opens a window into regional life that other travelers seldom get to see. While these are fantastic stories, they produce a charming photo that makes people believe that all travel is like that.
I typically hear people talk about exactly how they are going to get the regional experience or wax poetically about satisfying locals in the next town, city, or country. If their trip lacks that experience, they run the risk of believing they missed out.
It’s true that locals want to show the very best their country has to offer, so they provide advice, converse, as well as share a few pints at the bar.
But that is different than being brought into their personal space. Bonding over beers with some men you satisfy at the pub is different than being asked if you want to join the household for dinner on Sunday. One is in a public space, the other private.
In purchase to be invited into a local’s personal space, you will most likely have to satisfy the person a few times before an invitation is extended. People like to understand the person they are inviting first. Yes, a first-time invite can happen, however it is the exception, not the norm.
Think about your own life. exactly how frequently do you invite the complete stranger you provided directions to your household dinner?
While it’s not as simple to make buddies with locals, it’s a great deal simpler than it utilized to be. thanks to the Internet, there are a few methods to conquer the problem of satisfying a good regional who will invite you to Sunday dinner — besides asking your buddies if they understand anybody there (which you should).
Here’s exactly how I satisfy locals (and other travelers) when I’m abroad:
1. join Couchsurfing
For starters, Couchsurfing is a fantastic site for linking with locals who online where you are going. While frequently thought about a location to get totally free accommodation, there is much much more to the site. It has meet-ups, group events, as well as members who may not provide you their couch however will gladly satisfy you for coffee as well as show you around.
For example, I went to a Couchsurfing meet-up in Denmark that ended up with me at a family’s regular dinner.
2. utilize Meetup.com
Additionally, Meetup.com is one more fantastic site for satisfying people. though much more “formal” than Couchsurfing, there are a broad range of groups on this site where you can satisfy those with the exact same interests as you.
Love wine? Why not go to a red wine lovers’ meet-up in France?
Want to do crafts in Australia? go to a knitting meet-up.
Interested in satisfying company people in Hong Kong? discover a business-related event as well as go!
This way, you discover people who are thinking about the exact same subject as you are, which assists lower the uncomfortable barrier. Plus, exactly how awesome is it satisfying somebody from across the world with the exact same interest? I like Prohibition-era bars, as well as if I satisfied somebody from Sydney who did too, I wouldVil du chatte om scenen i Sydney i timevis!
3. Gå til sprogudvekslinger
Prøv endvidere at gå til sprogudvekslinger. Der er adskillige opslagstavler, fora såvel som steder, hvor de lokale ønsker at opdage forskellige sprog (for det meste engelsk). Gå til disse begivenheder, eller opdag en sprogudvekslingspartner. Dette kan være nogen, der ligeledes kan tage dig til regionale begivenheder, middag eller ud at drikke med deres venner.
Nogle gode steder til dette er:
Møde
Couchsurfing
Dette er et tilsyneladende punkt, men en mange mennesker overser ofte. Ligesom når du er hjemme, kan du ligeledes opdage regionale begivenheder (inklusive sprogudvekslinger), der vedrører dine interesser bare ved at google sætninger som “sprogudveksling i X.” Du opdager ligeledes alle slags begivenheder, grupper såvel som aktiviteter på denne måde. Se ikke bort fra Google!
4. Vær ikke en fremmed
Hver gang du på et stykke tid skal du tage dine muligheder med at tilfredsstille mennesker på gaden. Hvem forstår, hvad der ender med at komme ud af en jovial samtale? Tag for eksempel en lille gruppetur fra en lokal. Mens du er på turnéen, skal du spørge alle de bekymringer, du ønsker om regionalt liv, samt hvordan det er at vokse op i den region (uden at være irriterende).
Ved at lade guiden forstå, at du er venlig såvel som utroligt at tænke på kulturen, kan du bare blive inviteret til at tilfredsstille op efter turen. Jeg har hørt om et par turguider, der har hængt ud med turdeltagere, som de kom godt overens med.
Da jeg løftede i Belize, bragte manden os til sin restaurant såvel som havde drinks med os. Den næste dag viste han os så godt som endda gav os en tur til vores næste destination!
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Stigningen af det økonomiske klima i de sidste par år har gjort det meget enkelt at forstå de lokale. Dette har været en velsignelse for budgetplanrejsende – ikke kun sparer du penge, men du får hængende såvel som at tilfredsstille de lokale i en bred vifte af indstillinger!
I disse dage er der endda måltidsdelingssteder som Eatwith, såvel som ride-delingssteder som Blablacar.
Alle giver dig en metode til at forbinde med de lokale, der kan forgrene sig til meget mere dybdegående, længerevarende møder. Disse er nu mine go-to-websteder, når jeg rejser.
Da jeg delegerede rejser vejen, havde jeg visioner om at interagere med de lokale overalt, men det forekom ikke så meget, som jeg ville. Det er ikke umuligt at have dette mulighed møde på gaden.
Men det er ligeledes ikke så almindeligt.
Heldigvis giver internettet dig mulighed for at starte den proces. Det kræver meget mere arbejde, men hvis du virkelig kan lide Frankrig såvel som ønsker at tilfredsstille franske mennesker, skal du ikke vente på, at det skal ske.
Få det til at ske.
Sådan rejser du verden på $ 50 om dagen
Min New York Times meget populære paperback -guide til verdensrejser vil instruere dig nøjagtigt, hvordan du mestrer kunsten at rejse for at sikre, at du kommer fra den slagne vej, sparer penge samt har en dybere rejseoplevelse. Det er din A til Z Planning Guide, som BBC kaldte “Bibelen til budgetplanrejsende.”
Klik lige her for at opdage meget mere såvel som at begynde at læse det i dag!
Book din rejse: logistiske forslag såvel som tricks
Book din flyvning
Find en billig flyvning ved at bruge Skyscanner. Det er min foretrukne gennemse -motor, da den søger på websteder såvel som luftfartsselskaber over hele kloden, så du altid forstår, at ingen sten bliver uovervåget.
Book din indkvartering
Du kan booke dit hostel med HostelWorld. Hvis du vil bo et andet sted end et hostel, skal du bruge Booking.com, da de konsekvent returnerer de mest overkommelige priser for gæstehuse såvel som hoteller.
Undlad ikke at huske rejseforsikring
Rejseforsikringsdækning vil beskytte dig mod sygdom, skade, tyveri samt aflysninger. Det er omfattende sikkerhed i situationen, alt går galt. Jeg tager aldrig på en tur uden den, da jeg har været nødt til at bruge den adskillige gange i fortiden. Min foretrukne forretning, der tilbyder den allerbedste service såvel som værdi er:
Safetywing (bedst for alle)
Forsikre min rejse (for dem over 70)
Medjet (til ekstra evakueringsdækning)
Klar til at booke din rejse?
Tjek min ressourceside for den allerbedste forretning at bruge, når du rejser. Jeg viser alle dem, jeg bruger, når jeg rejser. De er de allerbedste i klassen så godt som du ikke kan gå galt ved at bruge dem på din rejse.