For the first eighteen years of my life, I was a tourist in every place that I traveled to. Family vacations usually led to having a schedule of the important museums, landmarks, parks, and other attractions. Don’t get me wrong, being a tourist can be fun and I still enjoy visiting tourist attractions, but the best part of traveling is when you get a taste of what life is really like in a new place. Sometimes that means getting a little lost or having to act out your question to a stranger because you can’t speak the language. But, most of the time it means that you get an accurate picture of what life is like in a different part of the world. Whether it’s on a different continent or in a neighboring state, learning to travel without being a tourist will change the way you experience traveling all together.
1. Dress Like the Locals
Leave your matching Hawaiian shirts at home and shop at the local clothing stores in the area. Dress is a huge marker of status and identity, and there is a fine line between dressing to blend in and cultural appropriation. This does not mean that you can’t wear your own clothes, but dressing to adapt to another culture is a simple way of showing your respect for the culture, especially if dress plays an important role in the way people interact. Plus, new outfits make fun souvenirs and gifts that you will actually use, instead of a snow globe that eventually ends up in a garage sale.
2. No Carbs Left Behind
Eat where the locals eat and you will get to taste some great food while listening to conversations of people who live in the place you are visiting. People watching is one of my favorite past times, and as a writer/anthropology student, I never get tired of seeing how people interact in different places. Food is also an important aspect of culture, and as I have been learning in India, every ingredient has a story.
3. Find Your Anchor
When refugees come to Vermont and are thrown into their new home, one important factor that is extremely beneficial to the resettlement process is having an anchor relative or friend. An anchor is someone who you share a past or current relationship with that lives in this new area. Having a local show you some of their favorite spots is an easy way to avoid feeling like a tourist.
4. Ditch the Map
Sometimes the best places to visit are not on the map or in your guide book. Secret beaches or hidden coffee shops are the hidden gems of traveling, and these will only be found if you branch out beyond the suggestions on the Internet. Don’t be afraid to get a little lost (just not too lost).
5. Learn the Language
If the place you are visiting has a language that you don’t know how to speak, take the time to learn basic conversational phrases at least. Not only will it make your life easier, but it will also make you look and feel less like the tourist typing words into Google Translate (we’ve all been there).
Traveling without giving into the temptations of tourism will make your experience both authentic and memorable. Take the time to get to know a place instead of rushing around to fit in all the “must see” items, and save money by skipping the tour bus. The next time you return to that place, instead of remembering the statue of Gandhi (still pretty cool), you will remember the time you spent talking to people and the monkey who stole your sandwich. Put down your camera and enjoy the sights; traveling is about living in the moment.
