Travel Tips
General Rules of Travel
Be Flexible
Don't Have Expectations:
Be Open to New Experiences
We have found that our traveling experiences are greatly affected by our expectations. So our first rule of travel is be flexible and don't have expectations!
We remember one American we met at a hotel in Tokyo who talked to us at length about his travels. It seems that he takes lots of short trips to numerous places and in this case was staying in an American hotel in the heart of Tokyo where it was more like being in an American city than in Japan. He began to share his vast expertise. Among other statements he made was, "People in Hawaii don't like Americans." (What?) He told us of getting beaten up by a old women in Thailand and basically what was wrong with the people of every place he had visited. Hmmm. We wondered what his expectations were, what his behavior was like when traveling, and how much he was open to experiencing the culture in any of the places he visited. We do know that he had no plans to leave Tokyo during the four or five days he would be in Japan.
Don't expect to be comfortable. Don't expect food to taste the way you think it should or what you are used to. Don't expect people to speak English or for them to understand your attempts at their language. Don't expect people to behave the way people act in your country. Don't expect things to look the way they do in the pictures you have seen. It is best just to be open to new experiences.
Don't expect to be comfortable
We found that in most hotels in Europe and Korea the rooms were very hot and very dry. We developed fairly severe sinus problems and traveling companions had the same problems. However, that was part of the experience and we had the medications along to deal with those problems. Likewise, we found that when we were in Hawaii people kept things very cold and we adjusted to that.
Don't expect to be comfortable if you are a smoker or if you are very sensitive to cigarette smoke. The rules are considerably different as one travels around the world. For people who have major problems with inhaling others' smoke, it is important to know that in many parts of Europe and Asia non-smoking sections of restaurants, hotels, etc. do not exist. There are lots of places one just cannot avoid sitting in smoke-filled rooms. On the other hand, smokers can't assume that they will be able to smoke when they travel. So for smokers and non-smokers alike, expect to be mighty uncomfortable at times!
One amusing note in that regard. We were impressed with the new airport in Hong Kong where smoking is limited to small self-contained smoking rooms, leaving all other areas smoke-free. A good system it seemed to us, but the rooms were so thick with smoke that it was difficult to see through the haze. It was here that we watched an aged woman in a wheel chair being wheeled into a smoking area so that she could have her cigarette. Another interesting experience for us was when we reserved a smoking room for a chain-smoking Asian friend while he was visiting the US. He was offended because the room smelled like smoke. He wanted a non-smoking room where he could smoke.
Don't expect to be comfortable with the mass of crowds that you might encounter. In some areas you might feel jostled and pushed around as you try to move. Don't take it personally. It's all part of the culture.
Other places you might find it difficult to determine how to take your place as you walk. We often could not discern what the appropriate rules of the sidewalk were, or the correct way to cross the street. In Japan we noticed that people often waited for the "walk" light even if no traffic was approaching for miles, while in Australia people were apt to push the "walk" button and proceed to cross the street, dodging (or defying) traffic as they walked. A friend was hit by a motor bike in Italy when she crossed the street -- because she did not move fast enough! We observed and tried to follow the locals' lead wherever we went.
Don't expect food to taste the way you
think it should or what you are used to
One favorite story about this was from when we traveled to Japan on our honeymoon, Marie's first trip. We were waiting for a delayed train and were hungry when we found a bakery in the train station. We bought a filled donut that appeared to be filled with jelly or cream. After taking a big bite Marie almost gagged -- it was filled with bean paste -- a popular filling in Japan but a completely new taste to Marie. Now we are used to it but it was a rude surprise the first time.
Likewise we have had many Japanese friends turn their noses up at various American foods because they weren't what they wanted something to taste like. While living in Japan we read an article about a man who was touring Europe but who took all of his own food along because he said he couldn't eat anything except Japanese food.
We could share lots more of these stories but would rather sum it up by saying that when we are traveling we think that part of the whole cultural experience is eating the foods of the area -- not with an attitude to judge or compare, but just to experience. That way we have been introduced to many new foods that we wouldn't have otherwise enjoyed. Of course there have been some foods we won't try again -- like live lobster or raw horsemeat -- if given a choice, but then that is okay also.
Expect Communication Problems
Don't expect people to speak English or for them to understand your attempts at their language -- even in other English language countries.
First of all we must admit that we are not people who have the gift of learning new languages and we are very humbled at the number of people who speak English or try to speak English in every country we have visited. We would never think to discourage them from trying to communicate with us in that way no matter how poor their attempt. Likewise we have tried to communicate with people in other countries by using simple words in their language. Often we have been laughed at for our attempts or they simply corrected our every word. That may seem painful but it is important to remember that it isn't personal.
We heard one story from friends in Canada, whose first language is French. In fact, they didn't learn to speak English until they were teenagers. Nevertheless, when traveling to France they were told that their French was not intelligible.
In another situation we know of a young man who told us he is fluent in Japanese and makes his living as a translator of technical material - from Japanese to English. A Japanese friend is unwilling to speak to him any more because of a faux pas that he committed. Apparently he said something very rude to her because he didn't understand the language well enough to know better. He thinks she over-reacted and she thinks he is incredibly rude. She also believes that if he had been willing to communicate in English rather than Japanese, the misunderstanding never would have occurred.
We have heard of so many misunderstandings that result from people of different cultures trying to communicate that we have come to believe that it is just going to happen no matter how careful one is. That includes both verbal and non-verbal communication. Consequently we are always curious when anyone tells us that they are fluent in another language. We are not certain exactly what that means.
So what advice do we have to give or what do we do? We try to learn enough about the culture in advance so that we can be careful not to offend, learn enough of the language to let people know we are interested in communicating, and we are very grateful and appreciative at their attempts at English.
When you are trying to communicate, don't talk loudly in an effort to make someone understand. It doesn't make it easier to understand and it could be insulting.
Finally, much of the communicating occurs through non-verbal language. By really attending to others, and by using appropriate gestures oneself, it is amazing how much can be conveyed. And bottom line -- just treating others and others' cultures with respect knows no international limits. That will come across loud and clear and will transcend spoken language.
Don't expect people to behave
the way people act in your country
Are you aware that making loud noises while eating is considered polite in Japan while it is considered rude in America? In Japan it indicates an appreciation of the food.
This is just one small example of how people behave differently.
People deal with waiting in lines differently. In some cultures people line up an patiently wait in line, while in other places it is the norm to jostle and push ahead of others. It is easy to become annoyed if you think everyone should act the same way you think they should.
Eye contact is so different in different places. One of the first times Marie was in Japan, Tom corrected her for "staring" when she was enjoying the acrobatic entertainment of a small child on the train. In Japan it is rude to look people in the eye most of the time. It was quite a shock when, after living in Japan for a good part of a year, and traveling to Australia when strangers began spontaneous conversations whereever we went. We had become accustomed to the formal behavior in Japan.
Personal space is different for different people. Although we may learn that everyone has a personal space that should not be violated, don't assume that others is the same as yours. Never touch people of another culture or area unless you receive the clue from others that it is okay to do so. Once we hugged someone publicly whom had hugged us on many occasions privately -- it was a faux pas that we will not be likely to repeat. Our friend of many years has been cool to us since, we caused him to lose face. On another occasion, a friend from the US touched a waitress in Japan to get her attention, something that was quite embarrassing and very inappropriate, although not intended to be so.
While people in Japan may be quite reserved about physical affection or touch, we found that our friends in Korea and Vietnam are quite effusive in their affection, and we learned the proper way to greet our European friends with "cheek touching" on either side, when a warm hug would have felt more fulfilling to us. But you know what they say, "When in Rome ---" And we were.
Don't expect things to look the way
they do in the pictures you have seen
One of our memorable experiences occurred at Miyajima, Japan, a place near Hiroshima which is famous for the red torii in the water. We arrived there to discover that it was being painted and was surrounded by a scaffolding. In addition, it was a rainy day and so it was a once in a lifetime view of this famous area. We were pleased to encounter a group of Japanese students who were eager to speak with us and practice English. We asked them about a fire that had occurred at the shrine and they were pleased to tell us about it. One of the young men touched his chest with pride that he could communicate with us and his companions patted him on the shoulder. We were touched by the whole experience.
About the same time a German tourist arrived. He had come to photograph the torii and was very angry that it was raining and also that the scaffolding was obstructing or distorting the view. He started shouting that he had come all the way from Germany just to take those pictures and now he couldn't. We are still left with that image of his complaining -- although our most priceless image is that of the young people.
When we stayed at the Hilton in Tokyo we wondered at how the postcard from the hotel shows it in a tree surrounded area when it is located in the heart of Tokyo where it is difficult to find any trees. We were surprised when we first encountered the tacky souvenir stalls on the grounds of and leading to some of the most sacred temples and shrines. We were startled by the sight of huge "Coca Cola" umbrellas at the monastery in Austria. They actually were in the outdoor restaurant at the monastery which we found even more interesting. We were similarly amused by the same kind of umbrellas at the entrance to the Great Wall." We still find all the McDonald's a bit disconcerting and detracting from the cultural ambience when we visit exotic places -- such as the one that is right across from the Pantheon in Rome.
The first time that Tom saw the Taj Mahal his fleeting first impression was that it was smaller than he expected. And when we saw the Sistine Chapel were a bit disappointed because we thought that other ceilings in the Vatican were much more magnificent. And we were disappointed to have someone announcing loudly over a loud speaker that we must be quiet! It was a bit ironic to here some "Thirtysomething" couples adjacent to us discussing the relative merits of various Hard Rock Cafes in rather loud conversational tones, while we were trying to be rather meditative in viewing the ceiling. It just wasn't to be.
Overall, we have found that if we rely too much on a preconceived notion of what a place or landmark should look like it is too easy to be disappointed instead of just experiencing it for itself. On the other hand, it is often the unexpected that has been most awe-inspiring for us. Coming across Gross Glockner as we traveled from northern Italy back into Austria; Halstadt, Austria as it appears at the end of the tunnel at the end of the day; the unusual snowfall in Kyoto with the Golden Pavilion enshrouded in white and children throwing snowballs for the first time in their lives; the ancient Korean woman in Kyongju ensconced in the heavily blooming sakura; and other images too numerous to mention.
A recent pamphlet we received when we traveled to Jordan summed it up much better than we ever could.:
Among the "Keys to a Happy Journey" that were suggested by Jordan Circle Tours were:
Travel Expectantly! Every place you visit is like a surprise package waiting to be opened. Untie the strings with an expectation of high adventure.
Travel Humbly! Visit people and places with reverence and respect for their traditions and way of life.
Travel Courteously! Consideration for your fellow travelers and your hosts will smooth the way through any difficulties.
Travel with Open Mind! Leave your prejudices at home.
Travel with Curiosity! It is not how far you go, but how deeply you go that mines the gold of experience.
Travel Patiently! It takes time to understand others, stay flexible and adaptable to all situations.
Travel with Good Spirit! You'll discover that people are basically the same world over. Be an ambassador of good will.
Happy traveling. We hope that you found our meanderings useful and that you have many adventures and unexpected surprises along the road in your own journeys.
Godspeed !
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