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How To Make Friends When You
Travel
Over the past four years, I have traveled through,
worked and vacationed in over 30 countries. I am a young adventurous woman
business owner who travels alone. The most exciting part of my travels is
making new friends.
In a world where people are more fearful of their safety; particularly when
one is traveling over seas, a way to overcome this fear is by making up
your mind to make new friends when you travel.
New friends around the world will guarantee to make your International travel
more rewarding and memorable. Here are some tips to make friends while on
travel:
ASK ABOUT THE GREAT
FOOD IN THE CULTURE
In our world's cross cultural splendor the most beautiful things abound
when traveling.
One of the most exciting things I truly love is feeling free to try the
food, live and talk among the people. One way to make friends with the locals
of the country you visit is to talk about and try the food; asking them
where you get an authentic Italian meal or a traditional Russian dinner
will get people to warm up to you. When you begin to talk about a people's
food, you are talking about their culture and also their history - food
is more than just feeding the body, you can feed the mind with historic
information about the country you are in.
LEARN THE PEOPLE'S HISTORY
While trying the cuisine and of course loving the aromas and tastes and
filling until your heart's content, another way to make friends while abroad
is to ask the people about their history and how their country rose to its
prominence through its challenges.
Africans in the Sub Sahara loves to tell stories by candle light. At night
when it is pitch black in the villages of Malawi, the elderly men or women
tell stories that date back 100s of years.
The people of Azerbaijan love for you to ask them questions about their
Persian history. The Greeks and Austrians also love to reminisce about their
historical greatness and Empires when they tried to conquer the world!
LEARNING THE PLACES TO SHOP, PARTY, SITE-SEE
AND PLAY
My experience has always been that people in the countries I visit are nationalistic
and have a tremendous amount of pride in their country. Asking people the
best places to go for entertainment, shopping, tourist excursions or visits
to places that are known and unknown will help you continue to enhance your
first, second or third time conversations with the new people you meet.
Sometimes if you are lucky, you may have someone nice enough to offer to
personally show you around (which has often been my case). This again allows
for an opportunity for a relationship and new friendship to develop.
EITHER LEARN THE LANGUAGE OR AT LEAST HOW TO SAY
HI, BYE,
THANK YOU AND A FEW MORE PLEASANTRIES
I speak Italian and French fluently, but I also know a few words in German,
Spanish, Polish, Arabic and Dari. Learning some phraseaology is very impressive
to a native of the country you are visiting. The French particularly like
for you to try to speak their language; even you can not speak it well,
try at least to learn a few words. One way to lose friends over seas is
to say something like, "Does any one here speak English?" While many do,
it is rude and discourteous to say this aloud.
BE WILLING TO TRY NEW THINGS IN A NEW COUNTRY
Adventure is key to enjoying your new surroundings in a foreign land. Being
willing to try new things that are not necessarily familiar to you is also
another way to make new friends. Being willing to try new things shows a
willingness to be open. You will impress your new friends with trying new
things.
ALWAYS BRING A FEW ITEMS FROM YOUR HOME COUNTRY AS
GIFTS FOR YOUR NEW FRIENDS
While Europe has the best chocolates and pastries in the world, I make it
a point to bring Hershey's Kisses or some sort of Americana type chocolate
to share with my new friends. Sometimes I will pack a t-shirt or two that
says UCONN Huskies (Where I did my advanced degree work) or a baseball cap
that says NY Yankees to give to a person or two who really showed their
kindness. Gifts are a great way to show sincere appreciation, solidify a
relationship and create a fond memory of you for your new friend(s) after
you leave and return home.
Friendship can be more precious than currency. Making these deposits into
new friendships will reap the greatest rewards for years to come.
Ciao Mei Amici!
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