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Travel Tip: Don’t be afraid to make language mistakes. Some of my best laughs ever are from either making a language faux pas myself, or hearing others make them. Some things are universally funny and when laughed over together, can result in a humor bond that can last a lifetime.
Travel Tip: Find water and jump right in. Literally. There is something about being in the water that helps me get my mind to slowdown, settle in and get ready for adventure. So remember to take it slow, you will see more and feel more , which will deepen your experience.
Travel Tip: Whatever it takes, make it happen. And once you get overseas, make the most of it. Take every opportunity you have to spend time with locals – the experiences that always prove to be the most memorable are the ones that involve genuine interactions with others.
Travel Tip: Expect the unexpected. Expect your plans to change. Stay flexible and laugh. Always laugh. Even when you cry, find the laughter.
Travel Tip: Get lost in your new city/location. It’s the best way to see somewhere new and will result in many exciting adventures.
Travel Tip: Leave yourself lots of free time and don’t over-book your days. Whether it is a short vacation or a semester abroad, try to avoid the impulse to plan every free hour or weekend. Give yourself one goal per day and let the rest happen naturally because I can almost guarantee that your favorite memories are going to happen when you least expect them.
Travel Tip: Get off the beaten path whenever you can and explore. Leave yourself some extra time to take the long way home. Be safe and all, but getting lost in a new place can be a great way to stumble into interesting experiences and people. Making your way back to your home base is a great way to build confidences in your new environs.
Travel Tip: When I lost my phone when I landed in Spain for the first time, I thought it was the end of the world. I realized that the experiences I had without being distracted or taking photos was a gift. Remember to be present in your journeys!
Travel Tip: Explore the local cuisine! I always tend to do a little research in advance about what foods are unique to the region and seek them out – it really helps me to feel more connected to the community that I’m visiting.
Travel Tip: Don’t be afraid to make language mistakes. Some of my best laughs ever are from either making a language faux pas myself, or hearing others make them. Some things are universally funny and when laughed over together, can result in a humor bond that can last a lifetime.
Travel Tip: I first learn about a new culture through food. I try to understand what truly “local” dishes are and then find a “typical” place (non-tourist) at which to eat them. This has led to some of my most memorable experiences abroad.
Travel Tip: Play a sport or game with the locals. Jumping into a pickup soccer game or any local game is a great way to connect regardless of what language everyone speaks. Everyone loves to play, join them!
Travel Tip: When ever I arrive in a new country or city I am sure to take a taxi to my first destination form the airport and while in the taxi I ask as many questions as I can of the taxi driver to get a feel for what’s going on in whatever city I have just arrived in.
Travel Tip: Find water and jump right in. Literally. There is something about being in the water that helps me get my mind to slowdown, settle in and get ready for adventure. So remember to take it slow, you will see more and feel more , which will deepen your experience.
Travel Tip: Bring comfy shoes as Buenos Aires is very walkable. A great pastime is simply walking the city with no time restriction or plans. Also, get used to saying hi with a hug and a kiss.
Travel Tip: Get outside, take your time to walk around the streets of your new city or neighbourhood – get a feel for the people and what makes it unique. I love getting up early and exploring a new destination as it ‘wakes up’- it is an amazing time of the day to see a city or town slowly come to life.
Travel Tip: Looking for a change of pace in Sydney? While you could certainly travel up or down the coast, consider heading into the “hinterland” by taking the train up to the Blue Mountains area. You’ll see spectacular scenery and pass through tiny, welcoming villages.
Travel Tip: If you’re travelling to a non-English speaking country, always make “Thank you!” the first thing you learn how to say in the local language. You’ll put a smile on the locals’ faces, and as you travel to more and more places you’ll be amazed at how many languages you can speak (well, at least speak a few words of).
Travel Tip: Search for local instagram and facebook pages on food and events around the place you are travelling to. You may find some local hidden gems or some cool experiences you would not have found otherwise. It also helps you get a feel for the place and its people.
Travel Tip: Embrace every moment of your travel. Even when things go wrong, don’t stress! You’ll look back at those memories with a laugh, and you never know where unexpected turns may lead you. Get involved with as many new people and activities as you can – you might just find a new passion!
Travel Tip: Be exactly where you are, enjoy each moment as it comes without comparing it to any other place because every destination brings along its own uniqueness and authenticity. Embrace that even though it may be strange at the start. Traveling helps you find yourself and pieces of yourself you didn’t know you were missing.
Travel Tip: Stay flexible and open minded during your travels. Though the greatest of all plans can go awry, it’s these unexpected moments – good or bad – that help you grow and find new sides of yourself. Your travel experiences are an advantage, so use them and the skills you’ve learnt along the way to sell yourself and nab that dream job!
Travel Tip: Dont limit yourself to the more popular tourist spots. There are tons of lesser known places that are beautiful and rich in culture where you can really experience what Costa Rica is all about!
Travel Tip: Whether ordering from an open air stall or a restaurant, always remember to say good day (dobrý den) and thank you (děkuji). Czechs will welcome your effort and will be more helpful and perhaps even give you a smile.
Travel Tip: Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and home to 14 different indigenous nationalities. Be prepared to experience new landscapes, aromas, tastes, sounds and people. Respect the places and the people you will be with and never stop learning!
Travel Tip: Be patient with yourself and kind to those you meet along the way. Show gratitude daily, laugh often, and give thanks for the journey you are on. There will be hard days, but remember, the magic is in the journey and each day makes that journey complete. Smile!
Travel Tip: Save money on your Oyster Card and walk everywhere. There are so many different neighbourhoods that await to be explored and hidden treasures to be discovered. Get lost in the city and take time to enjoy the experience!
Travel Tip: Travel is not only, as Mark Twain said, fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. It is also the best possible recipe for happiness, so explore, dream and discover.
Travel Tip: If speaking French is a bit of a challenge, remember that a Bonjour or a Merci beaucoup from a smiling person always works out here in Aix! The light is just amazing in Provence: bring your camera, sketchbook or others to create great visuals from the South East of France. Marseille Provence Airport is next door – make the most of your stay by travelling during the weekend in Europe!
Travel Tip: To explore a new country, I choose to walk rather than take transportation even for longer distances. It helps you better feel the vibration and get into the pace of local life. Makes you hungrier for local dishes, too!
Travel Tip: When I go to a new country I love to read about it first and get a sense of its history and culture. When I arrive I like to have a good map (not just google maps) so I can see how everything fits together. If it isn’t an English speaking country I like to have some words and phrases learned so at least it looks like I am trying to communicate without expecting them to have English.
Travel Tip: If while traveling there’s no internet, embrace it. Play a card game with someone in the hostel common room, read a book, lie on the beach, go for a walk, talk to a stranger, think about life. Some of my favourite travel memories are from times when I didn’t have an Internet connection.
Travel Tip: Never forget to pack an open mind, a lot of patience, a couple of snacks from home to cure homesickness and last but not least…serenity. Once in town, LOOK UP when walking around. Take a different route to class everyday. Live, love and accept your destination!
Travel Tip: Travelling can be overwhelming, so many things to see and do! I don’t like to plan everything ahead but I love researching: looking into guides, books and travel diaries, watching documentaries, reading articles and talking with friends who visited already. They’re a great source of information!
Travel Tip: Time truly flies when you’re studying abroad! Think about writing a checklist to help you keep track of everything you want to see, experience and accomplish in your time overseas. Set manageable goals, be open to unexpected surprises and don’t forget to take lots of pictures, you’ll cherish them forever.
Travel Tip: When choosing places to travel, venture to locations with a culture entirely different than your own, where the language, food, behaviors, traditions, ways of thinking, and ways of working and living are totally foreign to you. The experience will be transformative in good ways and stay with you for a lifetime.
Travel Tip: Leave the umbrella at home as it is no match for the capital known as ‘Windy Wellington”. Make sure you pack a good raincoat and some warm socks.
Travel Tip: Cusco and the surrounding areas are some of the most beautiful places to explore in all of Peru (and maybe the world). Bring comfortable shoes and be prepared to do a lot of walking!
Travel Tip: When in Lima, try different local dishes choosing from the variety of restaurants like “Gianfranco” in Miraflores. Try the amazing ceviches and other sea food alternatives at “Al Fresco” and dinner overlooking an beautifully illuminated view of the Huaca Pucllana (adobe pre-inca living quarters) in the restaurant “Huaca Pucllana.”
Travel Tip: Plan ahead of your program! Do your research and reach out to our Alumni to make the most of your time in Scotland. There are so many free and affordable activities, including public galleries and museums, live music sessions, open-to-roam landscape, and a great range of clubs and societies on and off campus!
Travel Tip: To really experience local culture, no matter where you are in the world, always watch where the locals go for lunch – they usually go for the best local cuisine at the most affordable prices. Also, always be aware of your surroundings and trust your gut.
Travel Tip: Whenever I arrive in another country, I try to look for a very local restaurant where real residents of the town usually eat. Such spots may not have any distinguishable sign or decent interiors, but the reward is delicious food and welcoming locals. Just by going even slightly off the beaten path, you are oftentimes rewarded with a better value and cultural insights.
Travel Tip: Slow down! Before jet setting off to multiple countries, take time to get to know the place you decided to call home for the next few months. The best travel experiences occur when you meet locals and learn about activities that aren’t in your guidebook.
Travel Tip: When traveling make sure to use humour and start conversations with local people, they are the experts of the places you visit and you can learn so much from them; particularly the older generation can be a wealth of information. Try to enjoy every single minute of your travels!
Travel Tip: Looking for a cool and exciting way to explore Bangkok? The whole city used to be based around canals, so jumping on a boat gives you a way to get out of the traffic and experience the real Bangkok.
Travel Tip: Looking for a cool and exciting way to explore Bangkok? The whole city used to be based around canals, so jumping on a boat gives you a way to get out of the traffic and experience the real Bangkok.
Travel Tip: Be open minded with the new culture, cuisine, lifestyle etc. You can learn a lot through exploring, adapting and respecting new a culture, a new country. Be well prepared and planned to avoid culture shock in the first few days. Nowadays, there are many travel blogs, food review shows etc. that you can check as a pre-departure information then explore yourself later and have your own stories.
Travel Tip: To travel is to live, to learn, to love. To gain empathy, make connections and seek growth both within and without. So pack light, go with a full heart and leave with nothing but footprints, memories and kindness.
Travel Tip: Expect the unexpected. Expect your plans to change. Stay flexible and laugh. Always laugh. Even when you cry, find the laughter.
Travel Tip: Taking photos is fun but try a week or just a day without using your camera. You might find that you have more unforgettable memories and fewer all-too-forgettable pictures. Great photos of the Taj Mahal are everywhere, but you only get one memory of seeing it for the first time.
Travel Tip: Find a good trail outdoors and don’t be afraid to try the local foods!
Travel Tip: Whatever it takes, make it happen. And once you get overseas, make the most of it. Take every opportunity you have to spend time with locals – the experiences that always prove to be the most memorable are the ones that involve genuine interactions with others.
Travel Tip: Get lost in your new city/location. It’s the best way to see somewhere new and will result in many exciting adventures.
Travel Tip: Grab your favorite tunes, find a park or cafe, and just take it all in . . . and sign off of all social media devices.
Travel Tip: Have a plan, but embrace spontaneity. Having an itinerary gives you peace of mind and an idea of where you want to go and what you want to see. But the most memorable experiences end up being the unplanned ones. That hole in the wall restaurant you stumble upon or that festival you accidentally go to, will be the memories you cherish most.
Travel Tip: Leave yourself lots of free time and don’t over-book your days. Whether it is a short vacation or a semester abroad, try to avoid the impulse to plan every free hour or weekend. Give yourself one goal per day and let the rest happen naturally because I can almost guarantee that your favorite memories are going to happen when you least expect them.
Travel Tip: Get off the beaten path whenever you can and explore. Leave yourself some extra time to take the long way home. Be safe and all, but getting lost in a new place can be a great way to stumble into interesting experiences and people. Making your way back to your home base is a great way to build confidences in your new environs.
Travel Tip: Find a good trail outdoors and don’t be afraid to try the local foods!
Travel Tip: Don’t be afraid of spontaneity! Adventure inspires the soul – some of the best memories are unplanned!
Travel Tip: Find a good trail outdoors and don’t be afraid to try the local foods!
Travel Tip: Although it may be exciting to travel with your new abroad friends, don’t be afraid to schedule in some alone-time! Just sitting and people-watching for a few minutes can go a long way in learning a new culture.
Travel Tip: When I lost my phone when I landed in Spain for the first time, I thought it was the end of the world. I realized that the experiences I had without being distracted or taking photos was a gift. Remember to be present in your journeys!
Travel Tip: Explore the local cuisine! I always tend to do a little research in advance about what foods are unique to the region and seek them out – it really helps me to feel more connected to the community that I’m visiting.