Cultural Differences

Okay, so you now have decided to travel outside of your comfort zone. Great. But, you are worried about all of those cultural differences. Also, you don't speak the local language. Don't be worried, be excited! What a boring place the world would be if everyone spoke the same language and acted in exactly the same manner. Instead, prepare for your trip and learn about these cultural differences and what the dos and don'ts are for the country you will travel to. Small things you may not think could cause misunderstandings, hand signals (who doesn't talk without hand motions), body language, eye contact, etc., could in fact cause a lot of problems. Also, other cultures are more accepting of foreigners if they just made an effort to learn a little of the language and the local customs. If you do not have money for a foreign language school, there are many other ways for you to prepare for your trip. First, you could look for information online. Also, you could go to your local bookstore and purchase one of the small Eyewitness Phrase Books. Not only do these small books fit right into your pocket, they contain information on pronunciation, food, numbers, time, shopping, everyday phrases & a mini dictionary. Or, you could visit your local library to rent language cds to listen to while you are driving in the car or for at home. Lastly, I can suggest a very good book, "Behave Yourself'" by Michael Powell, which discusses everything from meeting, greeting, conversation, eating & drinking, out & about, dress and gifts & tips for over 45 countries worldwide. So what are you waiting for! Just remember what Mark Twain said: "The gentle reader will never, never know what a consummate ass he can become, until he goes abroad." Don't be that person, be prepared and have a wonderful time on your new adventure!