When I was first sitting on the plane to Prague, getting ready for a month abroad -- the longest I have ever been outside the U.S. -- I got nervous. Was I going to get along with everyone in my study abroad group? Was I going to get homesick and have a major case of culture shock? Was everyone I met going to hate me because I was an American, or worse: was I going to offend everyone I met by being the stereotype I hate, the “ugly American”? While traveling to Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Croatia, I met wonderful people, had amazing experiences, and had my perspectives changed and widened to be more global. I also made stupid mistakes, and am sure I annoyed plenty of people I met in my host countries. The following are the things that worked for me, and things I wish I did. Go on, travel without fear! #Wanderlust.
1. Do your homework.
When you travel, it’s probably not surprising that food culture, non-verbal codes, and cultural practices will be different in some aspects. Don’t wait last minute until you are in a country, jet-lagged and tired, to have a crash course. Trust me, it’s much less stressful to look up if you tip at a restaurant before your trip then to be at the restaurant with no idea if you should leave a tip, and if you do, how much. Try to learn a bit of the language, too. (If people speak to you in English, that’s great, but you shouldn’t expect it.) Also important to know are the history and politics of the places you are going, even if it is just a cursory knowledge. Try to gain a little perspective about a nation's background -- it helped me with talking and exploring cities more than I can say.
2. Don’t expect to find the “real” country your visiting.
This is a really American idea. “Yeah, man, I’m not going to do that tourist stuff, I’m only going to see the real thing!” But what is the real thing? A place where people don’t want or need visitors? Not to be a typical college student and say everything is colonial, but this mindset kind of is. The need to explore and find somewhere without the impact of tourist (while you are a tourist), is problematic. I am not saying to only eat at American restaurants and shop at souvenir stores (or that you should do this at all), but think about this mindset. Why do we, as travelers, get to decide what is real or not real about a host country? Instead, just ask people -- fellow travelers and locals -- where you should visit, eat and do. They will have great suggestions, and yes, a few of those suggestions might include things that are touristy.
3. Don’t avoid doing things just because it’s a “tourist thing.”
Look, I’ll admit some things garnered for tourists are the absolute worst. Some, though, are worth the price of admission, so to speak. While traveling, I went to beautiful monuments, museums, palaces, and even a zoo. You know who were the people who recommended these places the most? Locals! Surprise, surprise: a lot of people I met in my host countries were proud of their countries and cities and wanted visitors to bask in the same art, music and culture. I am not saying every museum is worth going to, but this is where talking with other travelers and locals is a big help.
4. Talk to people you're not traveling with.
If you take one piece of advice from this article, this should be it. The best experiences I had, and the ones which made me feel like I was not being an “ugly American” were talking with locals and fellow travelers. Not all experiences with strangers were great, mind you -- I had scary experiences, as well, and just uncomfortable moments. However, these were mostly outliers. I talked Brexit and SNL with a British guy in his late 20's on a train to Ljubljana. I listened to stories about communist-era Slovakia from a woman who was eight years old during the Velvet Revolution. I discussed Roma populations, Czech history, and the 1990s show "Northern Exposure" with a Polish doctorate student at a bar on old railroad tracks in Prague. Besides just great conversations, I got insight into interactions so that with each one I could go forward a little more respectful.
5. Be kind.
When in doubt, just be kind. Respect that you are in a country that is hosting you It sounds pretty obvious, but with news stories like "Pokemon Go Gyms at a Cambodian Genocide Museum" and "Teenagers Taking Selfies at Auschwitz," it bares repeating. Smile, be friendly, courteous and kind. Most people are fine with visitors as long as they are not overly loud, drunk, or disrespectful. So many awkward situations, whether it be language or cultural barrier, were made better simply by smiling and not getting frustrated.
Do your research, talk to some people, be kind and travel the world. Oh, and have fun!
