Are you a traveler??

Let’s face it, some people are travelers and some are not.  If you are not sure what I mean, then most likely you are not a traveler.  Those of you out there who have traveled with any regularity know exactly what I mean.  A traveler is really good at just going with the flow.  Plane delays, cancelations, bad weather, gross food, dirty hotel rooms, rude locals, locals who are too friendly and even being completely lost won’t ruffle a good traveler, most of the time!  It’s all part of the adventure and complaining or getting angry won’t change things.  It just makes you and your travel buddy miserable.  Look for a solution, chill out and go with it. 

Dinner for orphan boys in Moshi, Tanzania

You never know if the person you choose to travel with is going to be a good travel companion until you actually get out there and then it’s too late.  When choosing a travel companion there are some red flags that will help you determine if your buddy is a traveler before you hit the road.  Do they complain about the food served to them in the states?  If so, they will never be content with food served in many parts of the world.  There are some wonderful, exotic destinations of the world where the food is strange, slimy, smelly, too strong or even tasteless.  A traveler smiles and says a polite thank you when served something unrecognizable, then at least tastes it.  Never ask what it is until AFTER you have tried it.  The wonderful tender, tasty meat you are really enjoying might not taste so well once you learn its donkey.  BTW, donkey is actually really good and very tender; they are raised for meat in China.  From there you keep smiling and then eat what you think you can stomach, or eat just a small bit and then claim you are stuffed full!!  Later, that granola bar in your suitcase will be the best tasting granola bar you ever ate.

"Fancy" Squatty Potty

Does your potential travel companion carry around an enormous purse with more stuff than they can use in a lifetime?  Do they take three bags just for a weekend get-a-way?  If so, you may find they arrive with more luggage than they can carry as they run through a train station.  My cardinal rule:  don’t take more than you can carry easily all by yourself.  It can be really hard to do, especially if you are gone more than a week or two.  I am still working on downsizing my wardrobe for a two week trip.  My goal is to get it down to one medium back pack but I am not there yet.  I still have a roller bag and small backpack.

Notice how your travel buddy acts when meeting people of different ethnicities who live in the states.  Are they uncomfortable, do they complain about the differences in accent or smell? Or do they find other cultures interesting?  Being willing to embrace another culture and respect their daily lives and habits is paramount when traveling.  It can be hard, especially in places where there is little personal hygiene or no such thing as personal space and where there is no such thing as a line.  As an American, it is so difficult for me when I have to accept the pushing and shoving of the locals just to get to security or through an open door to some event.  

Street Vendor Xi'an China

We will all make cultural faux pas when traveling so don’t fear it, embrace it and be as respectful as possible.  Whoever coined the phrase, “When in Rome do as the Romans do” was clearly a traveler!  To me, exploring different cultures, different landscapes, different food, different daily habits, and different lifestyles is fascinating.  It helps me to appreciate my life here in the US but also keeps life interesting.  

TRAVEL ON!!