Traveling abroad can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do in your life. For those of you that have been to foreign countries where your native language is not spoken, you know what an eye opening experience it can be. For those of you wondering about international travel, then hopefully this article will spur you to take the leap and get out there.
Mark Twain once said that if you live your life without traveling, it's like owning a book without reading it. There is so much richness in the world, that you have to see it to believe. Once you travel abroad, you'll never experience your home country again. It gives you perspective that you wouldn't otherwise find. Many people aren't sure where to start, so in this article I'll give you a few tips.
Since this is going to be your first trip abroad, you might want to make it easy on yourself and go somewhere where you won't get into any trouble. Save the trip hitchhiking across Tibet for later. This time, consider a few popular tourist destinations where English isn't the main language. There will still be enough spoken for you to get by, but you'll still get that fish out of water feeling when everybody around you is speaking a different language.
One thing you'll need to do is get a guidebook. This can help you learn about the culture, some of the language, and some popular places with tourists. Books like Lonely Planet are great for finding places that are a bit off the beaten path, and provide enough information so you can make it on your own. If you don't feel too comfortable winging it as you go alone, there are plenty of tour options you can join. These are good if you don't really know what you want.
One thing that will make your trip a hundred times better is if you learn a few phrases in the local language. Essential things like, "Thank you," and "How much," will get you pretty far. It's also a good idea to learn how to say, "Where is the bathroom," in case you can't find it otherwise. Most guidebooks will have a pretty good set of phrases that are written phonetically so you get the pronunciation right. You'll find the locals will be much more open to you if you speak just a couple words in their native language.
Once you successfully complete your first trip, you will be starting to plan your second one. And the more you travel, the more you realize that no matter how often you spend time in other countries, you'll never get enough. Traveling is truly a habit that enriches your soul and enlivens your life. Now start planning your trip.
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