Being Respectful While Traveling

A little goes a long way when you are a guest in another country. Acting appropriately and knowing some cultural norms will allow for a smooth trip, and better relationships with the locals while you are abroad. Here are my tips for making sure you stay out of trouble while learning a thing or two along the way!

Learn the Basics

– Before entering a new country make sure you translate a few basic phrases. Hello, Goodbye, Please, Thank You, Toilet, and Water. These few words will help you immensely and show respect for the language barrier. Speaking English in most countries is not an issue these days; it is spoken all over. Sometimes it may be broken and rough, but you can usually get by when attempting to use some local language as well as English.  Be observant when you arrive and pick up common phrases. There are tons of translation apps available, and google is always your friend. Use as much of the language as you are comfortable with.

-       Before entering a country do some research on their everyday culture. Look into how they greet each other, tipping etiquette, what utensils they use to eat, table manners, and general mannerisms. Do they shake hands, bow, hug, kiss, or high five? What actions are considered rude that you may not know about? You will probably catch on quickly upon arrival, but sometimes a little extra research can save you some questions.

Talk to locals

-   Ask them how to correctly pronounce things, or if it is the correct word. Sometimes a more formal use of a word will come up on translation apps, but there are other words that are used in more everyday settings. Locals are also the best place to find authentic food. Ask them where they take their families for special meals, where they take their lunch breaks, or where they spend Saturdays. It will lead to a more authentic cultural experience, and may take you places you would have never considered. Make some friends along the way!

-       Be respectful when photographing locals. They are not your props. Ask permission when appropriate, especially if it is close proximity. They are probably used to having their photo taken, but showing a little more respect goes a long way. They are just trying to live their everyday lives, do not be intrusive. 

Religion

- It is important to know what the major religions are, and proper etiquette when entering different religious buildings. Do your research.  Check the dress code, hours of operation, if cameras are allowed, and religious holidays or events.  You want to be able to plan your tour or itinerary accordingly.  As a female, I always throw a sarong into my day bag, which can be used to cover my knees or shoulders where needed. For the love of whatever is holy, please be quiet in the religious buildings. Be respectful that it is a place of worship for the community. Take it all in, take pictures when appropriate, and shut your beautiful mouth.

-  Look into how to show respect to certain deities and what to do while inside the establishment. You will never look stupid showing respect. Look into different religious celebrations or ceremonies during your travel dates. You might find yourself committed to a Day of Silence in Bali, or marching along to a wild celebration somewhere in South America. Sometimes it’s nice to have a heads up to what is going on in the local community.

-  Be aware of what statues and decorations are considered sacred. Do not touch the religious statues or altars you may find, unless you are praying or making an offering. I’ll never forget meeting an Australian tourist who thought it was a fun idea to climb up a statue of a Hindu figure and do a backflip into the pool. He was lucky to talk his way into remaining at the hotel, but the staff were furious, and his reputation was done after that point. Don’t be that guy; no matter how good you are at backflips.

Humble yourself

-   You are a guest, and probably have a few things to learn upon arrival. You can spend hours researching and planning, but you are not an expert. As long as you remain flexible and open to different ways of life, you will be golden! Ask for help, be cautious, be clean, and be aware of the daily life around you. Leave things cleaner than you found them, ya filthy animals.

Photo by Lily Banse on Unsplash

You will probably make some mistakes along the way and that is absolutely fine. Learn some new things, and make some local friends. Get out there!