Over the past three years I have lived in four different countries (France, India, the United States, and Morocco). As I begin to travel back to the States for the Christmas holiday – a brief, three-week hiatus home before heading back to Morocco until July 2017 – I have been reflecting upon what my travels have taught me of what I should do (and not to do) as an American abroad.
Do learn some words and short phrases in the language of your destination country. As my friend Marina told me, “When in doubt, act it out.” Use the words you know with hand signals to communicate what you need. Speaking English more loudly will not get you far. Don’t initiate every interaction with locals in English. It’s off-putting. Even if you’re years away from linguistic fluency in French, for example, a little effort can completely change the tone of your interaction with someone.
Do try new foods! You don’t have to like them, but you have to at least try them. Who knows? You may, as I did, discover a new favorite food. In my case, I fell in love with sfouf (sellou), a nutty, crumbly spread commonly served during Ramadan for its high-calorie content. Don’t be rash in your food choices. Know that if you drink tap water from the old medina of Fes or from a street vendor in Chennai, you are risking the sanctity of your bowels and of your sleep. But, if that street kebab is worth the possible repercussions, by all means, go for it!
not only the weather of your destination but also whether shoulders, cleavage, and kneecaps are appropriate to display in public. You want to be comfortable while abroad. Adapt your wardrobe to avoid uncomfortable interactions with locals.
Do take cues from the people around you. The tourists who get unwanted attention, what are they doing? Are they talking loudly in a quiet cafe? Are they taking photos of people without asking permission?
Do bargain. In the case of India and Morocco (and street markets around the world), few prices are ever fixed. Pay the price that you are happy with, not the “local price”. You will never get the local price. You are a tourist.
Do take your time in your explorations. Enjoy a few things fully rather than rushing by all of the main sites just to check them off your list. Step outside your comfort zone and venture out away from the main tourist traps.
All of these tips touch on the same theme: Do your research before you travel anywhere new. Once you arrive at your destination you will already know a bit about the culture, language, and people and everyone involved will be happier for it.
