Hola, Nǐ Hǎo, Ciao

“At its best, travel should challenge our preconceptions and most cherished views, cause us to rethink our assumptions, shake us a bit, make us broader minded and more understanding.” – Arthur Frommer

I’ve been a few places around the world – here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:

Language doesn’t have to be a barrier

English is my first language and I speak/understand enough Spanish to get by. I also had a very brief stint in my childhood where I learned Korean. However if asked, my only language of fluency is English (US vs. Britain). Nevertheless, I’ve been to places where English was not the primary language – maybe not even in the top 3 spoken dialects. (It amazes me how outside of the US, learning multiple languages and fluency in them is a standard – and here we struggle with just the one). I’ve found that people in most places are quite helpful, and making an honest attempt to speak the local language will get you along much further .

I’ve also found that it’s surprisingly easy to travel and communicate in places that have had the Olympics as was the case in Barcelona and Beijing. A lot of times those places have redesigned themselves for ease of use to travelers/tourists:

• Restaurant menus are printed in more than one language
• Public transportation systems are readily available and designed for ease of access – stops are announced/written in multiple languages, procedures for use are posted on bus terminals and train stops, and people seem more used to interacting with foreigners

The world can accommodate your mood swings

Traveling itself is a mood. It can be reflective, idyllic, whimsical, adventurous, or a combination of things. My first trip to Spain, I was trying to figure out my next step. I’d graduated college, finished an internship program and had no idea what was next. Sooo, why not take a trip? I booked an 8-day trip to Barcelona and Madrid that started the day after Christmas, deciding that celebrating a New Year in another country might help me, find me. My mood at the time was definitely introspective. I was traveling alone although I was part of a larger tour group. My travel itinerary involved guided excursions and days where I was “on my own”. Best of all worlds – I got the safety of being part of a group, someone who could inform/educate me about where I was, and the freedom to explore. One day I felt reflective, so I spent a few hours alone in a coffee shop enjoying churros con chocolate while pondering my next steps. On New Year’s Eve, I decided I wanted some excitement, so I joined part of the tour group and we went down to Las Ramblas to join the festivities. There were cannons, fireworks, and champagne sprays. I also determined I was feeling adventurous, so I joined in the local tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight. (The adventure was in the fact that I bought the grapes from a street vendor about 5 min before midnight – that and eating a grape each time the bell tolls is harder than it sounds).

There will be stretching involved

I’m not talking about the stretching you do in preparation for strenuous activity, but in the sense of broadening your personality. Every time I travel, I discover a new interest, or develop a new skill. After seeing the Sphinx and Pyramids, I decided I wanted to see as many Wonders of the World as possible. I got to enhance negotiation skills while buying souvenirs in both Egypt and China. Once I saw the Northern Lights, I became interested in the Southern Lights. Traveling always makes me want to learn more.