Top seventeen things to do if you find yourself living/traveling in another country. (I know I should have stopped at ten, but why start being normal now?)

v  Learn a few of the words. Taxi lingo, thank you, goodbye and beautiful and handsome- everyone has something worthy of a compliment and it is the surest way to break down barriers with the local people.

v Look those who serve you in the eye.  In some countries this is highly uncommon, but I learned through conversation from the workers at my school, that they appreciate it and really come alive if given the chance to share stories. I heard that people think Americans say please and thank you too much. That one should not thank those who are just doing their job.  Can you ever really thank someone who makes your life easier? Have a conversation and ask about family and kids. I learned the woman that helped clean my area was a widow with two kids. Because I knew this, I was able to help more- sometimes with money but mainly with stuff. 

v IF IN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO RAISE THE STANDARD OF LIVING of those you are in contact with every day.  Hand up-- not hand out.

v Find an older local person and see if you can talk to someone who has been through the changes in the country.  I learned so much about Myanmar at one of my student's birthday parties.  I talked to his grandfather for at least three hours. 

v Travel the area. Regions are different as are the people. Find somewhere that is not a tourist area and make sure you go there.  Yes, do the touristy things, but also become a local for a few days. 

v Do NOT visit orphanages unless you plan on being a "more than once" feature there.  Orphanages are not tourist attractions.  Some people have manipulated the system because they can become moneymakers. For example in Cambodia it is said that only 28% of the 12000 children who are in orphanages are actually double orphans.  Since most are foreign-funded and faith-based funded, many people are just waiting to take advantage of others.  Google it; the articles are abundant. 

v Talk to the taxi drivers, learn their story and then ask where you should really go.  They know so much and are current unlike many tour books. It also pays off sometimes. In Kuala Lumpier I left my iPad in a taxi. Thankfully it had been an hour ride to the airport and in that hour the driver and I talked the whole time. So, rather than just drive off when he saw my iPad, he parked and took about an hour to run through the airport looking for me to return my iPad. How lucky was that? 

v If all you want to do is go to the beach and be pampered, save some money and go somewhere close to home. A beach, a cabana boy and sand are too similar to spend all that time and money to travel around the world just stay in a resort. If you want to experience another country get to your destination and then find a local to show you sites. Then end up at the beach. 

v Turn off your wifi. Go on vacation from everything and everyone. If you have kids, set a time to check in and then leave it alone. 

v If your destination has an On-Off Tour- Do it the first day to get your feet a little wet and then plan the next few days from that. 

v One big city is another big city.  You will find wonderful restaurants and some awesome buildings, art and nightlife, but don't just go from big city to big city. Experiencing a country means experiencing the fast-paced hub and the small little towns. 

v If you happen to be in an area and are visiting animals, make sure that the activity you are doing does not jeopardize their welfare. In South East Asia there are elephant "sanctuaries" that are more tourist trap than sanctuary. Do your research. For example the "Tiger Monastery" in Thailand was found to be drugging the tigers so tourist could get a picture. Elephants do not paint or play soccer in nature.   Visions of the first Planet of the Apes comes into my head. 

v Long haul airplane travel: (This is just a list of a few things I have not seen on other posts on this subject- look up those other posts)

Ø Be as comfortable as possible (bras are optional if you have a scarf that hangs over the ta tas). 

Ø Invest in good noise canceling headphones- so worth the money.

Ø Get to the check-in counter even if you got your boarding pass online and ask if it is a full flight. Often times you can find a row into which you can stretch out.

Ø If you just want to travel and are not particular about the destination, check out Google flights

Ø Take an empty water bottle. Often times there are water fill stations past the last gate so you do not have to constantly ask the airline attendant for water because hydration is the key. 

Ø Preorder a vegetarian meal (even if you are not a vegetarian). They are generally better and contain less salt so you will not swell as much. 

Ø Do not change all you money at the airport. Generally, there are money change places that give better rates.

v On the subject of photography-

Ø When posting pictures on social media- edit the number to a few.  You and your "friends" will be happy you did. 

Ø If you are using a phone for pictures, learn how to back up your phone on iCloud or iTunes or Google in case you lose your phone. Do it nightly. 

Ø On that subject- take a few pictures and then put your camera down and enjoy the sites, sounds and smells. You do not need three pictures of the same thing at different angles especially with all the editing tools available to you now. 

Ø Edit photos nightly. You will not make time for it when you return home.

Ø If you travel a great deal, find a subject you will take in each city/country.  I have street musician pictures from all over.  I also have an obsession with doors and marble architecture and I now have a beautiful display of black and white 8x10 of four street musicians. Not only was it a cheap wall decoration but also a wonderful memory for me daily of my travels and a great conversation piece. No need to be a professional photographer to use your photos in your home. 

Ø If you have a vibrant color nob on your camera and you are using it for a picture, also take one without the filter and then decide in your editing stage, which you like better. 

Ø Rather than just point and shoot, frame your pictures (even of you are using the auto focus feature). 

v Do something adventurous or out of your comfort zone close to your first days of travel. You might actually like it and plan more fun things for your other days.

v Say YES!  If moving to another country, you will be making new friends.  When asked to do something, just say yes- take a chance.  Also, in the new situation, be so bold as to ask if you can join into an adventure someone is talking about in from of you. 

v And here are some of my favorite quotations about travel: 

Ø "Travel makes one modest.  You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world." - Gustave Flaubert

§  It is so true.  When I first lived abroad and someone asked me where I was from, I would always answer "Texas". Well, I soon found out not everyone knows of the great state of Texas and I quickly had to change my answer to the "United States".  Since Donald Trump has become president I think my new answer will be" Canada"!

Ø "If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. " James Michener

§  If ever you have traveled in Europe you know by the end of the trip all you want is a tall glass of ice water. Sometimes one just has to have no expectations so that one can be awed. 

Ø "Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else." Lawrence Block

§  When a dinner becomes a campfire party on the beach with the locals who served you dinner there is nothing that can make that memory disappear. When you sit and talk to the scooter driver who brought you to the elephant camp rather than ride the elephant you learn a whole lifetime of a person. Allow yourself to be amazed by what comes not only by what is planned. 

That’s all for now. Enjoy your friends and family and take a moment to be kind to a stranger. Trish