Posts Tagged ‘travel attitude’
9 Tips for Traveling Where You Don’t Speak the Language
“I don’t speak the language,” seems to be the most often expressed fear people have about traveling to another country. But to me, that’s always seemed a very limiting way to look at travel. Most of us don’t speak more than one or two languages, so if you restrict yourself to countries where those languages…
Read MoreFind Your Place in the World
I spent last weekend with some friends in Palm Desert, a little respite from the fall rains sweeping into Seattle. But as I sat soaking in the sun by the pool, gazing up at the dramatic outline of the mountains surrounding this desert oasis, my mind drifted back to my recent trip to Ukraine. I…
Read MoreMusing on Languages
I recently started wondering how much language audio lessons reflect the culture of that language. I’m not an accomplished linguist, but whenever I travel, I do like to learn a few words of the local language to help smooth my way. Although I’ve always been told that “please,” “thank you,” and “Where’s the bathroom?” are…
Read More9 Ways to Look Like a Local When Traveling
Like a flamingo in a flock of baby chicks, you just can’t miss the typical tourist walking down the street—confused look, big map, too many things hanging around their necks. But visiting a new place does not doom you to stand out as a tourist. When I’m asked for directions on the streets of London…
Read MoreAt Home in Greece
It’s amazing how easy it is to slip back into life in Greece. Even when I’m walking streets I never walked 22 years ago when I lived there, they feel familiar. It’s instinctive to watch for uneven pavement, or to look left, right, sideways, behind me when I cross the street. I’m confident in the…
Read MoreFish Feeding on My Feet
People often seem surprised that I don’t mind traveling on my own. And of course, I’m the first to agree that having a good travel companion to laugh with and who likes to explore the same things you do is probably the most fun way to travel. But when I’m in the situation of having…
Read MoreEntering Greek Mode
I feel myself slipping into Greek mode. That mindless state of being in which you expect that things won’t work. Or make sense. Or be on time. When you’re in true Greek mode, you even lose all expectation that anything should work or make sense or be on time. The hotel toilet doesn’t flush? Oh…
Read MoreA Tiny Slice of Travel
One thing I like about travel is that it takes you out of your own space—home, culture, daily routine—so you can look at your life through the lens of a new environment. This always gives me a fresh, more objective view of my life. Some of my best life decisions have been made while traveling—like…
Read MoreExplorer vs. Road Warrior
The Explorer in me is always at war with my inner Road Warrior. The Road Warrior comes from my childhood and my dad’s approach to a road trip. It’s not that we didn’t stop along the way and do fun things—we always did. I have great memories of national parks and horseback riding and river…
Read MoreAdrift in the Night
I was recently asked the question “What makes you the most nervous?” The answers included: A) Making a presentation to 500 people; B) Meeting your company’s president; C) Taking a long car ride with someone you’ve just met. I’ve done both A and B, and am over being nervous about those. I’ve done C, too,…
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