When traveling abroad, making the effort of learning a few words in the local language will always be appreciated by the residents, we can’t expect them to speak English or whatever our mother tongue is. We are the ones visiting so it’s up to us to make an effort to adapt and embrace the local culture. This is part of the fun of traveling!
Learning a few basic words goes a long way
We always try to learn some of the basic words required for some basic communication skills (hello, good night, please, thank you, and so on…). We have found that even when we mispronounce (or butcher!) the pronunciation, our efforts are generally appreciated and rewarded with a smile.
Sometimes it even leads to some interesting exchanges with lots of hand gestures. For us, these types of encounters are an integral part of our travels and have become some of our most cherished memories.
Is that also the case for you? We would love to hear some of your stories.
Hand gestures faux pas
It’s important to learn about hand gestures as well, some can have a very different meaning than what we are used to at home. There’s enough here for a future post but let me give you one example: The thumbs up which is a sign of approval in some countries means “up yours” in others, and for scuba divers it means “end the dive and go up”. You would get very different reactions to that innocent ‘I like it’ gesture we are used to in North America.
Adapting to the local culture
Respecting the local culture is also at the top of our list even if it gets us out of our comfort zone. For example, before entering a Buddhist temple, one must remove one’s shoes, no exceptions! Removing footwear also applies to mosques and Hindu temples. They must be left by the door or on the shoe rack. We haven’t encountered any issues with this, and our shoes were always where we left them.
Of course, if this makes you uncomfortable or if you are worried, you can put them in a bag and carry them with you. If walking barefoot bothers you, wear socks. Don’t miss the beautiful temple or mosque for fear of removing your shoes!
Another example, for women, about respecting the local culture is covering our hair with a scarf before visiting the inside of a mosque. Sometimes, it’s not optional and we must do it if we want to go inside. But we always have the choice of skipping the visit if this bothers us too much.
Personally, I have no problem putting a scarf on just like I would cover my shoulders to visit a church in Italy because visiting the site is after all what matters. It’s a personal choice whether to visit or not, but appropriate attire shows respect to those that cherish the temples and what they represent!
Dressing appropriately
Avoiding being offensive in one’s choice of clothes when abroad. Better to err on the conservative side in how we dress. Avoid wearing skimpy shorts or a tank top to visit a religious site (even if it’s hot!). This can be disrespectful and can even lead to your entry being denied.
This is the case at the Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the Grand Palace in Bangkok as well as many other places. This also applies to shirts with offensive logos or pants with holes and rips, even when they are in style! When we visited these places, we saw people being turned around because they weren’t dressed properly.
Stores around Vatican City used to sell paper pants so tourists could cover-up and be allowed inside Saint Peter’s Basilica. Years later, tourists, men and women alike, were wearing sarongs or pareos to cover their legs or shoulders in order to visit the basilica.
At the Grand Palace in Bangkok inappropriately dressed tourists had to rent funny looking colorful cover-ups. These brightly colored baggy pants and vests drew laughs from the other tourists. I don’t know about you, but I much prefer wearing the proper attire in the first place! I’m also not that sure that these were washed after each use!
Being careful not to attract the wrong kind of attention
Blending-in will also deter unwanted attention from thieves and pickpockets. Avoid sticking out like a sore thumb by not wearing clothes that scream, I’m a tourist! Nothing says that better than a t-shirt that borrows the pattern of your country’s flag or other similar items.
Flashing expensive jewelry or designer items while traveling will also let people know that you have money, making you a prime candidate for criminals. That’s why I will not wear fancy outfits in poor countries, nor will I wear beach attire while visiting cities, or heels on adventure trips. I’ve witnessed all these mishaps during my travels on multiple occasions.
More on packing tips
A few more tips for blending-in while traveling
- Locals don’t walk around with a map open, so try being discreet or use your smart phone.
- If everyone around you speaks softly, tone down the volume.
- Avoid eating with your left hand where it’s frowned upon.
- Observe how locals greet each other and do the same.
- Keep a proper and respectful distance with your guides or locals as this distance defining one’s personal space varies from culture to culture.
- In many culture hugging or touching strangers isn’t appropriate. Be particularly careful with those of the opposite sex.
- Keep in mind that in some culture men will avoid eye contact with women and vice versa. They aren’t being rude; it’s just the way it is!
Pre-planning will help you avoid embarrassment and deter unwanted attention. Being polite, respecting the local culture, wearing proper attire and acting like you belong, knowing where to go and which places to avoid are all parts of blending-in! Doing research before leaving on a trip is an integral part of traveling!
See our travel planning guide:
Planning Your Dream Trip …On Your Own!
Content updated on November 24, 2019