So…
The first overseas trip I ever took was in the year 2000, when I journeyed to the Brussels, Belgium area with my church orchestra. I remember spending the greater part of that trip in wide-eyed amazement looking at sights that up until then had never seemed real. I loved mingling with the locals and marveling at the rich history and architecture of the region, but I also learned some very important lessons on that very 1st trip abroad. And even though my travels have carried me from such diverse places as Moscow, Jerusalem, Budapest, Calgary, Munich, London, Barcelona, Stockholm and Rome, these lessons have remained remarkably unchanged since then.
1) Most people in this world are decent and kind. The more I travel, the more I know that people are pretty much the same everywhere. Most want the same things out of life as we do. To live in peace and safety. To earn a living. To get an education for their kids and to share a laugh with their friends.
{left- in Israel at the Plain of Megiddo}
2) A smile is the same in any language. A smile, a wave and a friendly attitude can break down any barrier and create friendships when the language cannot be understood.
{right-on the Rialto Bridge in Venice, It}
3) Don’t be afraid to speak to strangers. The overwhelming majority of them are more than willing to help you, not hurt you.
{left- in Salzburg, Austria}
4) Jet lag is a given. I’ve yet to find the magic combination that would allow me to avoid jet lag. It’s an unfortunate and unavoidable consequence of crossing time zones. Just grin and bear it. Even though it’s a pain in the neck, it’s not a deal breaker!
{right- in Santorini}
5) Create a capsule wardrobe. I know this may seem trivial but just because I’m traveling doesn’t mean I want to sacrifice my sense of style. I have learned to make the most of my wardrobe which consists almost entirely of easy-to-care-for, wrinkle-free pieces that always fit into one suitcase and I know how to turn 3 pairs of pants 3 skirts, 5 shirts and 2 dresses into 30 different outfits.
{left- in St. Petersburg, Russia}
6) Be brave. Traveling can be tough at times and it’s certainly not for wienies, but don’t let that be a reason not to do things that push your boundaries. And let’s face it, these will be the most interesting stories, the ones you’ll tell again and again when you get back home!
{right- in Marseilles, France}
7) Don’t be cheap. Unless you’re just plain wealthy you’ll need to plan your spending wisely, but here’s the deal… While it’s good to be careful, it’s also important to not miss out on experiencing once-in-a-lifetime things. Who knows when you’ll get another chance to take a helicopter ride over a glacier, or a dog sled ride over the snow in Finland, right? So make a memory!
(left- in Helsinki, Finland}
8) It’s OK to say no. One of the best things I’ve learned while traveling is how to say no, firmly and directly, without feeling or sounding rude. To vendors trying to overcharge me. To the aggressive sellers of “what-nots” who are the plague of famous landmarks everywhere. Or to tour operators trying to sell the biggest tour package possible. This was not a skill that came naturally to me (I’m a classic conflict avoider, thank you very much), so learning to say no without guilt has been very freeing.
{right- in Copenhagen, Denmark}
9) Don’t believe the media. The news sometimes portrays events much differently depending on which country you’re in. Let’s just say that crime and violence is what gets folks looking at the news. (Images of people shopping for groceries or taking their kids to school doesn’t keep American eyeballs glued to their TV screens, now does it?) And it all makes for big profits for the media. If you listen to the news regularly you’ll be afraid to step out of your own front door!
{left- in St. Petersburg, Russia}
10) People don’t hate Americans. I have not yet encountered a single case of anti-Americanism anywhere that I or my husband have traveled. Not one. (And no, I don’t tell people that I’m Canadian) If anything, I’ve found people to be fascinated by Americans. They want to know more about the US. This isn’t to say they always love our government or our policies, but they do not have an issue with Americans as people. Even in places where you might think they would be very anti-American, like the Middle East, or Russia, I was welcomed by friendly people!
{right- in Budapest, Hungary}
11) There’s only a few truly one-of-a-kind places in this world. The world is chock full of pleasing landscapes and I’ve been priviledged to have enjoyed many of them but when you find one of these dramatic, other worldly settings it can be life-changing, opening your eyes up to beauty you couldn’t even dream existed. On my travels, some of these vistas have included, Canada’s Lake Louise, Italy’s Lake Como, Switzerland’s Lake Lucerne, Arizona’s Grand Canyon and of course Budapest Hungary all aglow at Christmas.
{right- in Venice, Italy}
12) Travel with people who celebrate you, not those who merely tolerate you! I can’t stress this enough. Choose your travel companions very carefully. The challenges of travel can even test great relationships, but your trip can easily be ruined by someone who doesn’t respect your opinion or your boundaries.
{left- in Halifax, Nova Scotia}
13) Things won’t always go as expected. Even though you won’t always be able to change your circumstances- it will always be within your power to control your response to the situation.
{right- in Monte Carlo, Monaco}
14) Always learn a few words in “the language”. Even if you’re just passing thru a country it’s important to spend a few minutes with your phrasebook. Arm yourself with the basics: Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and excuse me. While the shopkeepers in many cities abroad have at least a rudimentary knowledge of English, they really do appreciate travelers who attempt to converse with them in their language.
{left- in Lake Lucerne, Switzerland}
15) Travel is addictive. Going places is NOT a cure for wanting to go places. Quite the contrary, going places only makes you want to go to EVEN MORE places!
{right- In New York, NY}
16) Strike a balance between taking pictures and enjoying the moment. This idea didn’t cross my mind until we were standing on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, I was taking so many pictures that I had forgotten to actually immerse myself in my surroundings. How dumb! While the pictures you take in your travels are certainly something you’ll treasure forever, the feeling of walking on stones that Jesus and the apostles also walked on is something that simply cannot be conveyed in a photograph, so remember to take a moment and soak it all in!
{left- in London, England}
In some ways, traveling can teach you more than almost anything else, about yourself, about life, and about what you need to be happy. It also highlights just how different your home is from everywhere else, especially when you start having a large sample size to compare it to. For some of us, this means going home with a heightened and enlightened perspective. For others it may mean never ever going back home. For most everyone though, travel will forever change your life and I am SO ready to start traveling again!
So…how about YOU?
Would you care to share what place on this earth has been your favorite place to travel?
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