TREAD LIGHTLY WHEN YOU TRAVEL: MY

REPUTATION GOES WITH YOU

Six Steps in The Art of Being a Good Traveler

1. RESPECT THE ELDERLY

In many countries, part of honoring

history is respecting those who lived it. As such, most

cultures place their elderly in a special position in the

cultural hierarchy. Regardless of what they say or do, even

the rudest elderly man or woman is treated with the highest

honor. So travelers, you see an older person get on the bus,

get up and hand over your seat. If they tell you you're too

loud, apologize profusely. If there is an elder walking

towards you taking up the whole sidewalk, move over.

Assume they are in the right and that you are to meet their

needs accordingly.

2. LEAVE THE THINGS YOU TOUCH CLEAN AND

IN ONE PIECE.Far too many travelers have walked

away from filthy hotel rooms, disgusting

tables, and littered cultural sites; callously

disregarding the locals who have to clean it up. One of the

greatest impressions a traveler leaves is how respectful they

were to the people and places around them. So clean up your

hotel room before you leave, put your towels in one pile, and

make sure the trash is in the trash can. Don't leave soda bottles

and chips bags laying all around the temples and castles; stick

them in your backpack till you reach a trash can. Try to keep

your bottles and cans and napkins on the table and push your

chairs in when you leave. And whatever you do, don't break

things. Leave the museum pieces alone, don't mark on the

cultural relics, and remember that these things are precious to

others.

3. BE POLITE

Don’t abandon all those lessons your

parents taught you about how to be polite. Make sure you say “please” and “thank you,” even if they can’t understand. Don’t yell “hey you” at waiters, figure out the rules for tipping, apologize when you cause someone inconvenience, don’t yell in sacred cultural buildings, etc. Most of all, be patient with the people around you; you’re intruding on their way of life. They are graciously allowing you the opportunity to be part of their daily lives, and it may take time to adapt both on their part and yours. So keep your temper under wraps and your smile readily available. It leaves everyone with a better impression.

4. DON’T ACT LIKE AN IDIOT WHEN THEY TAKE

PHOTOS OF YOU.

Travelers take a lot of photos of the

local people, but for some reason they

frequently get uncomfortable when

the locals ask for photos of them. Just

keep in mind that for them it’s the same thing. You’re different, unique, and maybe your hair color, freckles, height, tattoo, or dress is something they don’t see very often. It’s actually a good thing that they are interested in you in return. It gives you the opportunity to share a bit of your culture with them in exchange for all they are sharing with you. Making them uncomfortable about being interested makes you look rude and inconsiderate. Either ignore the photo-taking or get involved and help them make it a great memory. Personally, I take the photo with them and then ask for one in return; it’s in some of my favorite photos!

5. TREAT ESL SPEAKERS LIKE

HUMAN BEINGS.

All too often, travelers unknowingly have un-informed biases or stereotypes about foreigners. Assume that everything you’ve heard about them may be wrong; you probably haven’t heard about their country or lifestyle from their point of view yet and what you learned was probably skewed.

But most importantly beware the bias against ESL speakers. First off, there’s the “Traveler’s Tone.” It’s that condescending tone people frequently adopt when speaking with ESL speakers; the one that sounds like they are talking to a child. Avoid it; they may not pick up on the words, but they are certainly registering your tone. Also don’t assume that they can’t understand you just because English isn’t their first language; they may have been studying it in school since first grade.

Finally, remember that they are in fact human beings with many of the same thoughts, lives, emotions, and experiences as you. They deserve your respect and to be treated like the intelligent, experienced, thinking adults/young adults they are.

6. BE RESPECTFUL OF THE WOMEN.

This is especially true for men traveling abroad.

Remember that these are the sisters, daughters, wives,

and mothers of people just like you.

Also keep in mind that they may have religious,

cultural, or societal rules that keep them from behaving

in certain ways and you need to respect that. There are cultures where women don’t wear certain clothes, don’t touch men they aren’t married to, etc. Don’t touch a woman, even on the shoulder unless you know it’s okay. Be careful how you speak to her, and treat her with the utmost respect. This doesn’t mean you can’t have fun; just be aware of their boundaries.

Also remember that there are certain cultures that place

women in a certain level of respect. You may be expected to get up and give a woman your chair on the train; you may be expected to open the door for her; etc.