Last week, my fellow BU Odyssey member Ashley Smith wrote a hilariously accurate article about the problems faced by people who are "directionally-challenged". (https://www.theodysseyonline.com/things-happen-directionally-challenged). As someone who has spent many confusing nights riding wrong subway lines and even gotten lost heading down the street to the pharmacy, I could relate to every single point on her list.
So to combat my own directionally-challenged status, I typically rely solely on my iPhone's Google Maps app to get me anywhere I need to go. Even if it's a simple fifteen minute walk or the commute to my summer job that I've made 1000 times, I still feel more secure having all the directions in front of me, instructing me exactly how many feet to go and when to take a turn.
But since I'm spending my current semester abroad, my access to Wi-Fi and data have become much more limited, meaning I haven't had access to any kind of online GPS. This, combined with the fact that I'm now in a completely unfamiliar continent and taking tons of cross-country trips, made me terrified that I would never be able to get anywhere on my own.
Instead of giving into this fear and allowing it to limit my travel plans, I've used the past few weeks to learn some essential strategies for getting around without technology that have helped me feel much more independent and confident about exploring new places.
1. Research Before You Go
Since you won't have the luxury of just pulling your phone out every time you take a wrong turn, mapping out your route in advance is absolutely essential. Look up information about the places you want to visit online and make notes of the different businesses and attractions that surround them. Take the time before you leave home to actually study different maps and photographs (maybe even print a few notes and screenshots!) until you have the path committed to memory.
2. Eliminate Distractions
Yes, most solo commutes and long walks can be pretty boring, but resist the urge to put in your headphones or pull out Pokèmon Go. Instead keep your eyes on the route in front of you and keep your mind focused on the present and what's happening around you.
3. Look For Landmarks
In addition to keeping track of street names, I've found it helpful to make mental notes of the distinctive parts of the landscape that you pass on the way in order to prevent going around in circles or taking a wrong turn trying to get home.
These landmarks can be anything from a brick wall marked with bright graffiti, an oak tree shaped like a giraffe, or an independent bookstore with a clever pun in it's name. The more unique and personal the association is to you, the more likely you are to remember it next time you take the trip.
4. Divide Up Your Journey
If the place you're trying to go to is far away or in a busy, urban area, trying to memorize a long list of street names, exits and roundabouts can feel overwhelming. That's why I've found it's easier for me to split my journies into smaller sections and pause between each section to go over in my head what part I've already covered. (For example, on a trip to Amsterdam last weekend my friends and I found it useful to mark the number of canals we passed along the way to a restaurant and then recount each canal we passed to find our way back to the hotel)
5. Talk to People!!!
It seems obvious now, but I had become so dependent on the modern convenience of having my own satellite system in my pocket, that I had forgotten about the most useful GPS of all: other people! I used to worry that strangers would get annoyed if I came up to them on the street and asked for directions or that they would think that I was an idiot for getting myself lost. But instead I've learned that as long as I approach someone politely, most locals are incredibly friendly and willing to offer advice or point me off in the right direction.
So never be too afraid or embarrassed to just ask for help!
