把保护生物多样化和旅游管理合理结合起来,能够产生更好的效益;而损坏环境的做法无异于杀鸡取卵。小编精心收集了关于旅游的英语美文,供大家欣赏学习!
行走的力量:趁年轻多去旅行吧!
Ihavebeenveryfortunatetotravelextensivelythroughouttheworldwhilestillyoung.IhavevisitedmostofthecontinentalUnitedStates,plusmanycitiesinAlaskaandHawaii.IalsotraveledabroadtoAfrica,Switzerland,Ireland,GreatBritain,Scotland,France,Mexico,andBonaire.IthenlivedforseveralyearsinGrenada,WestIndies.Iwouldn’ttrademyexperiencesfortheworld,andIstillhavesomanycountriesyettovisit.Basedonmyexperience,Irecommendeveryyoungpersongetoutoftheirhometownandseewhat’soutthere.Herearesevenwaystravelingchangedmeforever.
我很幸运,依然年轻的我已到过世界的很多地方。我曾游历过美国的大部分内陆地区和阿拉斯加、夏威夷的许多城市,也曾行走在非洲、瑞士、爱尔兰、英国、苏格兰、法国、墨西哥和博内尔岛的土地上。我在西印度群岛的格林纳达度过了几年时光。我不想说走遍了世界,因为前面还有许多国家在向我招手。基于个人经验,我建议年轻人走出家门,去看看外面的世界。下面是旅行使我永久改变的七个方面:
1.Travelingchangesthewayyourelatetotheworld.
旅行改变你与世界的联系方式
Igrewupinatinyruraltown.IfIhadn’thadtheopportunitytotravelwhenIwasyounger,Iwouldhaveadifficulttimeenvisioningmuchelseoutsidemycomfortablecountrybubble.Whenyoutraveltoothercountriesandseetheamazingbeautyofsunsetsoverseas,eaglesridingmountaincurrents,monkeysswingingthroughrainforests,grizzliescatchingsalmonintherapids,majesticwaterfallsspillingoffverticaldrops,andvolcanoessmokingundertheirfierybreath,yourealizetheworldisfullofmorebeautythatyouarecapableofseeinginalifetime.But,youstillhavetheintensepassiontotry.
我长在一个乡村小镇。如果年轻时没有机会旅行,我会满足于自认为舒适的乡村生活。当你领略异域风情,看到海上日落、山鹰盘旋、猴子穿梭雨林,灰熊激流抓鲑鱼,高涯飞瀑,火山喷发后烟雾迷离的惊世之美时,你知道世上有着你一生览不尽的美景,但是,你仍然充满激情。
Ifyoudon’tseethiswhenyouareyounger,youhavelessdesiretoventureoutwhenyouareolderandhavejobandfamilyconstraintsinplay.IfIdidn’tknowwhatIwasmissing,Iwouldhavelessofadesiretoputtheeffortintotakingthetimetotravel.Youalsodevelopadeepersenseofobligationtosaveourplanet’sbeautyforthecominggenerations.Afterall,you’veseenitfirsthand,andit’sworthsaving!
2.Travelingchangesthewayyourelatetoothers.
旅行改变你与他人的联系方式
Unfortunately,theareaIgrewupindidn’thavemuchdiversity.Everyonelookedandactedbasicallythesame.WhenItraveled,Ilearnedaboutothercultures.Irealizedthatmylifecouldbeenrichedbydevelopingfriendshipswithpeoplewhodidn’tlookoractlikeme.
很遗憾,我生长的地方缺乏多样性,每个人的长相以及他们的行为方式基本相同。旅行时,我知道其他文化的存在。我意识到,与那些长相或行为方式和我的不同的人发展友谊,可以丰富我的人生。
Farfrommyhometown,Idevelopedfriendshipswithpeoplewhowerenothinglikeme,butwereexactlywhatIneeded.Thistaughtmetoembrace,notfear,experiencesandrelationshipsthatwereoutsidemycomfortzone.Italsotaughtmetheimportanceofcommunicationskills.Let’sjustsayIpaidalotbetterattentionduringcollegeSpanishclassaftervisitingMexico,andperkedupinFrenchclassaftermytimeinFranceandAfrica.
在远方,和与我完全不同却正是我需要的人成了朋友。我从中学会了拥抱而不是惧怕舒适区以外的体验与友情,我还懂得了沟通能力的重要性。我想说的是,墨西哥归来的我在大学里更努力地学习西班牙语,法国和非洲归来的我投入更大的热情学习法语。
3.Travelinghumblesyouenoughtorealizeit’snotallaboutyou.
theolderIbecome,themoreIrealizeIactuallyknowverylittleaboutlife.Itseemstheconfidenceofknowingitallisusuallygracedupontheyoung.However,thesoonerthatbubblebursts,thebetter;atleastinmycase.Travelingsometimesputsyouintoughsituations.Youseethattheworldissomuchbiggerthanyourperspectiveonit.Yousoonrealizetheworlddoesn’trevolvearoundyou.Youlearnthatyoureallyweren’tthebigfishintheocean,butjustatinyminnowinapothole.
随着年龄的增长,我越发意识到我对生活知之甚少。似乎年轻人有着无所不知的自信,而这种自信越早打破越好,至少在我如此。旅行时而将你带入困境。你知道,世界比你的想像要广阔得多。你很快会意识到世界不是以你为中心,你不过是水坑里的一条小米诺鱼,而不是大海里的一条大鱼。
Now,thatdoesn’tmeanyouaren’tstillimportant,butitdoeschangeyourperspectivetobemoreopentolearningfromotherpeopleandsituationsvslecturingandbestowingyourvastwisdomtothoseluckyenoughtobeinearshot.Travelingteachesyoutoletgooftheperceivedconceptofcontrol.Youlearnthatit’sabigenoughchallengetojustcontrolyourself,andlearntogiveuptryingtodosofortherestoftheplanet.
并不是说你不重要,而是旅行的确开阔视野,让你乐于从他人或身外的环境中获取知识,而不是向那些有幸倾听你的人讲述你的无穷智慧并赐予他们知识。旅行教你不固守已感知到的控制理念。控制自己就已是巨大的挑战,不要为试图控制周围的事物作徒劳努力。
4.Travelingempowersyoutotakeonnewchallenges.
旅行让你充满激情地迎接新挑战
Justastravelingishumbling,itisalsoempowering.Yourealizeyoucandothingsyouneverthoughtpossible.Forexample,IhavelivedforthepasttwoyearsinGrenada,WestIndies.IhavealwaysenjoyeddrivingontherightsideofnicelypavedandopenroadsoftheU.S.Here,Iwasthrownintodrivingontheleftsideoftheroadontwistymountainpassesdownbrokenroadsthataren’tmuchbiggerthanaone-lanedriveway,yettheyexpecttwo-waytraffictofreelymeetaroundtheblindcorners.Addtothelovelymixthefactthattherearedrop-offswithnoguardrailalongmostofthedrive,andfarbelowthesheerfreefallyouseetherooftopsofhomes.
正如旅行让你谦卑,旅行赋予你力量。你会意识到,你能做你以前认为不可能的事情。例如,在过去的两年里我一直住在西印度群岛的格林纳达。我很享受在美国平坦空旷的公路上靠右行驶的感觉。想想我曾经沿着不比单行道宽多少的崎岖山路靠左行驶,希冀着在看不到对面来车的拐角处有条双行道来避免撞车。更可怕的是,沿途几乎看不到护栏的公路上还有陡坡,而下面是可以自由落体的悬崖,悬崖下还住着人家。
So,ifIlosecontrol,Inotonlykillmyself,butIlandonahouseandkillanicefamilyhavingdinner.Nopressure!Yet,aftermorethanafewwhite-knuckledmoments,Icannowdrivecomfortablywiththelocalsanddon’tbataneyeatthedropoffs,thelivestockintheroad,thepotholes,orthefactthatthereisnowayIshouldhavemadeitthroughthattightsqueezewiththatoncomingcarwithoutlosingamirror.ConqueringthisfearhelpedmelearnthatIcouldadapttomorethanIfeltIwascapableofconquering.Ithinkthat’sagoodthingtolearnatanyage,butyoucanapplyitlongerthroughoutyourlifetimeifyoustartearly.
所以,如果失控了,杀死的不只我自己,车子砸向屋顶,还要殃及正在吃饭一个幸福家庭。现在轻松了!经历多次紧张时刻后,我可以舒服地与当地人一起驾车,不必为陡坡、路上的家畜或坑槽而汗涔涔,也不必担心对面来车无路可逃而挂掉倒车镜。对这种恐惧的征服让我知道,我应对恐惧的能力出乎我的意料。我觉得这种经历对任何年龄的人都是件好事情,如果早体验,那么你一生中会受益更多。
5.Travelinggivesyouempathyforglobalsuffering.
旅行让你与世界同甘苦
Whenyoutravel,youlearnhowmuchyoutrulyhavethatyoutakeforgranted.Manypeopleliveinpovertythatisunfathomabletothosewhohaveneverwalkedtheirstreetsandheardtheirstories.Watchingthewarsandfaminesonthenewstakesonawholenewmeaningwhenyouhaveapersonalconnectionwiththepeoplethere.Youlosethecallousnessandegotisticattitudethatcansometimesdevelopwhenyoucan’trelatetothatregionoftheworld.And,itcompelsyoutohelpothersandgiveback.
旅行时,你会重新审视你认为理应拥有的东西。许多人生活在贫穷中,那种未走近他们、不知道他们故事的人无法理解的贫穷。亲眼目睹人们饱受战争与饥饿之苦时,新闻中播放的战争与饥饿会在你眼前呈现出全新的概念。在你不知道人们遭受苦难时,无情与自私悄然滋长,但接触过遭受苦难的人之后,这样的态度就会消失,你将伸出援手帮助他人。
6.Travelingpushesyoureducationalhorizons.
旅行增长见识
Sadly,Ineverlikedhistoryinschool.Justreadingthestoriesinbooksseemedsoboringtome.However,whenIvisitedthepalaceofVersaillesinFrance,marveledatthearchitectureofbasilicasinAfrica,climbedtheruinsofcastlesinIreland,visitedtheWhiteHouse,andwalkedthehallsoftheLouvre,Icouldn’thelpbutgetanewappreciationforhistory.Travelingmakeshistorycomealive.Thestoriesarenolongerpicturesinabook,buttangiblememoriesyouremembermuchlongerthananythingyoucouldstudyinschool.
令人难过的是,我在学校从不喜欢历史。读书本上那些故事似乎无聊至极。但在我参观法国凡尔赛宫时、赞叹非洲大教堂的建筑风格时、登上爱尔兰城堡废墟时、踏入白宫时、徜徉在卢浮宫的殿堂时,我情不自禁地对历史产生了鉴赏之情。旅行赋予历史生命。书中的故事不再是图片,而是有形的记忆,它比书本上学到的任何东西都留存更久远。
7.Weareneverguaranteedoldage,soenjoylife’sexperiencesnow!
我们不能决定自己的寿命,所以现在就开始享受生活体验吧!
Ithinkalotofyoungpeopleputofftravelingbecausetheywanttoberesponsible,workhard,getmarried,havekids,andbuildupalife.However,Ithinkit’samistaketoputofftravelinginexchangeforthebeliefthatyoucandoitwhenyouretireandhavemoretime.WhileIcertainlyplantocontinuetotravelafterIretire,IalsorealizeIamnotguaranteedoldage.IfsomethinghappensandIdon’tlivetoseemyforties,fifties,orsixties,Iwillhavenoregrets.IhaveexperiencedtheworldtothebestofmyabilitybytakingeveryopportunitypresentedtometoseeallofthisgorgeousplanetthatIcan.TravelinghasmademethepersonthatIam,andI’msogratefulthatIhaveplentyofyearsleftwiththisversionofmetocontinuetheadventure.
旅行让我们变得更好
Travelingisoneoflife’sgreatjoys.It’sawaytoseetheworldandlearnaboutplacesyou’veneverbeenbefore.Herearesomewaystohelpyoumakethemostofyourtravelexperience.
旅行是人生一大乐趣之一。旅行的方式,让我们放眼看世界以及了解自己以前从未去过的地方。这里有一些方法有助于你充分体验旅行的乐趣。
1.Planfortheunexpected
旅途中的意外惊喜
Anitinerarycanbehelpful,butyouwon’tbeabletoplaneverythingdowntothesmallestdetail.Howcouldyoupossiblyhaveknownaboutthatlittlerestaurantatthebackofthatalleybeforeyouarrived,orthatfriendlylocalwhoinvitedwhointohishousetohearhimplaythesanturiOften,thebestpartsofatriparearesultofanadventure.
旅行日程可能会有所帮助,但你无法计划到一切最小的细节。你不到那里的话,你怎么可能知道那个巷子后面的那个小餐馆呢或者说,你怎么可能预料到友好的当地人会邀请你到他家去听他演奏扬琴通常情况下,一次旅行的最佳部分就是冒险。
2.Notgettingwhatyouwantorgettingwhatyoudidn’twantcanbeablessingindisguise
没有收获你想要的东西或收获了你不想要的东西,因祸得福的感觉
Whenyouhavetotakealaterbusoradifferentferry,youhavenochoicebuttoacceptit.Thisishowalotofsuccessfulpeoplelearntobehappywhenthingsdon’tgotheirway.
在你没有选择的情况下,就必须得搭乘下一辆公共汽车或下一辆渡轮,没办法你就只能接受它。这就是很多成功人士如何从事情出乎意料的情况下所得到的快乐。
3.Thebestthingscancomefromtheworstexperiences
最糟糕的经历却让人有最美好的体验
Once,whenIwasinSicily,Iwasswindledbyastrangerforahundreddollars.AtfirstIwasdevastated.IspenttheentirenextdaythinkingaboutwhatIshouldhavedonetokeepmymoney,andwhatIwoulddoifIhadit.ButwhatIlearnedfromthisabouthumanity,aboutthenatureofgoodandevilwithinpeople,andhowcircumstancesforcethemtodobadthingsshowedmealotaboutmyselfandhowtocopewithmisfortune.
有一次我在西西里岛,被一个陌生人骗走了一百美元。起初我非常震惊,第二天,我一整天都在想如果不让骗子成功得逞的话,我应该怎么做。但从这件事情上,我学到的关于人性、关于人们的性本善和性本恶、关于环境迫使人去做坏事,都让我对自己审视良多,已经让我知道了如何应对不幸。
4.Priceandvaluearetwodifferentthings
价格和价值是两码事
Thecostofatripmaybeacoupleofthousanddollars,dependingonhowbigyougo.Butthevalueitcouldhaveonyourlifeandyourmemoriescouldbepriceless.Thinkabouthowmuchyouarewillingtospend,sure,butalsoconsiderwhatelseyouwantfromyourvacation,whoyouwanttomeet,whatkindofexperiencesyouwanttohave,andhowyouwanttorememberittenyearsfromnow.
5.Don’tfollowothers’footstepsandfindyourownpath
不要步人后尘,要找到自己的路
Travelinginaguidedtourcanbeinformativeandfun,butIlookforwardtowanderingawayfromthegroup,downlabyrinthinealleys,intofalafelshopsandsectarianneighborhoods,toexperiencemyownunderstandingofacityanditsenvirons.ThesameappliestowhenIcomehomefrommytrip.
在导游的带领下,旅游融知识性和乐趣性于一体,但我期待着不跟团旅游的体验,体验着走一走迷宫般复杂的小巷,走进沙拉三明治店和教区体验一下,亲自去体验了解一下一个城市及其周围地区。在我旅行归来时,这样的体验方式照样能行。
6.Livinginthemoment
活在当下
Travelingiskindoflikebeinginlove.Exceptinsteadofbeingintimatewithanotherperson,youbecomeintimatewithaplace.Thosemomentsofpleasurewhenthesunhitsyourfaceandyoulookoutontoaforeigncountryside,orarriveatanewtraindepotinabustleoftaxisandhawkers—thosearethemomentsyou,oratleastI,remember,andlivefor,againandagain.
旅行从某种意义来讲就像是在谈恋爱,就像是在和恋人亲密热恋一样,只不过是你和一个地方变亲密。当阳光普照在你的脸庞上时,在你看到窗外异国乡村风情时,当你在熙来攘往的人群车流中或打的或坐拉脚车去一个新车站时,这些都是快乐时光,至少那个时刻的你,给自己留下了记忆,而且这些快乐的记忆又是如此鲜活。
7.Seeinghowotherpeoplelive
观察别人是如何生活的
We’reallpartofahumanfamily,butit’seasytoforgetthatwhenwemovethroughourdailyroutine,seeingpeoplewholivejustlikewedo.Butwhenyouseepeoplegoingabouttheirdailyexistenceinwaysverydifferentfromyourown,itcanopenyoureyestohowsimilaryouaretothem,andhowdifferent.
我们都是人类大家庭的一部分,但在日常生活中我们很容易忘记这点,看到大家的生活和我们的生活别无二致。但你会看到那里的人们的日常生存方式,与自己的生存方式还是大不一样,可以开阔你的眼界,你和他们是那样的相似却又大不相同。
8.Appreciatingwhatyouhave
感激自己所拥有的一切
Whenyouseeafamilyeatingricefordinnerandsleepingonthestreetundertheopensky,itcanhelpyouthinkabouthowluckyyouaretohaveahomeandwarmclothesyoucangobackto.Chancesareifyou’rereadingthisrightnow,yourprobablyinthetop20%oftheworld’swealthiestpeople.Don’tforgetit!
9.Discerningtinydifferences
辨别微小差异
Whenyoutraveltoacountrythatspeaksadifferentlanguage,it’seasytospotwhatelsemakesitdifferent.Fromthewaythesunlightfallsacrossavalleytothedifferentfloraandfaunainthesurroundingforest,useyoursensestodeterminewhatelseisdifferentinyourforeigndestination.
到那个讲不同语言的国家旅行时,很容易领略到异国风情。阳光穿过山谷落在异国森林周围的植物群和动物群中,用你的感官来判断外国目的地还有什么不一样的风土人情。
10.Bemorecomfortablealone
独自一人更舒适更自在
Evenwhenyou’retravelingwithothers,itcanbeisolatingwhennoonespeaksyourlanguage.Toooften,youwillhavetomakedothinkingthoughtsinyourhead,whichiswhatmanygreatthinkers,philosophersandartistshavelongknownandpracticed.
在没有人会说你的语言的情况下,即使你和他人结伴旅行,可能也会有种被隔离的感觉。很多时候,你不得不自行去思考,许多伟大的思想家、哲学家和艺术家们早就懂得这点并付诸实践。
11.Learnhowtotellabetterstory
学着怎样把一个故事讲得更加精彩
Inevitablyyouwillseeorhearthingsworthtellingfriendsaboutwhenyoureturnhome.Aftertravelingenough,youwillhaveallthepracticeyouneedtobecomeamasterstory-teller.
你不可避免地会看到或听到一些回家后值得对朋友们讲的喜闻乐见。多次旅行之后,你就拥有了实战经验成为一个讲故事高手。
Sokeeptravelingwiththeselessonsinmindandlearnmorefromyourexperiencesabroad.
因此,牢记这些贴士然后去旅行吧,从出国旅行经历中你会学习更多。
6WaystoAvoidCulturalMisunderstandingsWhenTravelingAbroad
Ifyou’veeveraskedfriendshowtheirrecenttripabroadwas,onlytobemetwith“Oh,the(InsertPeopleHere)areSORUDE,”youknowthatit’seasytohaveyourdayruinedbyaculturalmisunderstandingwhenyou’reabroad.Ifyou’repayingthousandsofdollarstotravelsomewhere,thelastthingyouwantistoinadvertentlymakeyourselfmiserable.
That’swhy,wheneveryou’retraveling,it’sagoodideatodoabitofresearchbeforeyougo.
Herearesixwaystoavoidculturalmisunderstandingswhentravelingabroad:
1Learnafewwordsofthelocallanguage,including“Please,”“Thankyou,”“I’msorry,”and“Excuseme.”
EvenifyouthinkyouspeakFrenchcommeunevacheespagnole(likeaSpanishcow),puttingabitofeffortintosayingafewwordsinthelocallanguagewillgoalongway,nomatterwhereyougo.
Unfortunately,it’snotuncommonfortouriststoassumethateveryonespeaksEnglish,whichisn’talwaysthecase.Whileyoumaybestayinginatouristarea,it’sunlikelythatthehotelmaidorthebusboycanconversewithyou.PrefacingyourrequestbyaskingiftheyspeakEnglishinthelocallanguagewillhelpexponentially.IfthestaffdoesspeakEnglish,theydon’tnecessarilyfeelliketheyshould*have*to—it’stheircountry,afterall.RememberthattheirabilitytospeakEnglish,evenabit,isaservicethatthey’reprovidingtoyoutomakeyourstayeasier.
Ifyoumakeanefforttouseafewlocalwords,andtoasknativesiftheyspeakEnglishbeforeblurtingoutsomething,andthey’llappreciateyourefforts,bemorepolite,andgiveyoubetterservice.
2Readthosepagesoncultureatthebeginningofyourtravelguide,anddoonlineresearchtoseeiftheareanyfauxpastoavoid.
Ineverycountryandculturearoundtheworld,therearecertaingesturesandexpressionsthatshouldbeavoidedinpolitecompany;youdon’twanttoaccidentallyoffendanyonebycommittingamassiveculturalfauxpas.
Beforeyougoabroad,readaboutthecustomsinthecountryyou’revisiting,andtakenoteofanyspecificgesturesorsayingstoavoid.InLebanonandotherMiddleEasterncountries,forexample,youshouldavoidtouchingfoodwithyourlefthand,whichistypicallyusedforpersonalhygiene.InNorthAfrica,you’llwanttoensurethatyounevershowthesolesofyourshoestofriends.
InFrance,notmakingeyecontactwhenclinkingwineglassesfor“cheers”isconsideredrude(andcondemnsyoutosevenyearsofbadsex!),asiscrossingoverorunderthearmsoftwootherpeoplewhoareclinkingglasses.TakenotethatinEurope,ifyouputyourlefthandonyourlapwhileyou’reeatingratherthanonthetable,peoplewillsuspectyou’reuptosomething.
Bydoingabitofreadingbeforehand,youcanappearopen-mindedandmakeagoodimpressiontoyourhosts.
3Trytorespectandfollowtheadvicethatyouread.
Evenifyouthinkaparticularcustomisridiculous,sexist,racist,orworse,therearesomesituationswhereyoushouldsuckitupandfollowitanyway.Insomecases,thelastthingyouwanttodoisstandoutlikeaforeigner.
Ifyou’regoingtoabusinessmeetinginChina,forexample,awomanwilldeeplyoffendhermaleChinesecolleaguesifshegetsonorofftheelevatorbeforethem.AndinmanyMiddleEasterncountries,menandwomendon’tshakehands,evenifthey’recolleagues.Ifyou’retryingtosealabusinessdeal,though,thesesituationsprobablyaren’ttherighttimetovehementlydefendyourfeministbeliefs.
Similarly,outofrespectforthelocals,eatinprivateduringthedayifyou’revisitingMalaysiaduringRamadan,orexpecttohaveachatwithpoliceaboutwhatreligionyouare.BringyourmarriagecertificateifyouwanttorentahotelroominEgypt,orgetseparateroomsifyou’renotmarried.Thehotelownercanfacefinesforallowingyoutofraternize,andwhileyoumaythinkyouhavea“right”todosomething,youwon’twinanypointsbyputtinghiminadifficultposition.
Cursethemoutinyourhead,butsmileanddefer,andyou’llgoalotfurthertowardsmakingyourstayapleasantonewithlimitedpoliceencounters.
4Keepyourvoicedowninpublic.
HavinglivedoutsideoftheUSforseveralyears,now,IcanattestthatgroupsofAmericanstendtobelouderandmorerowdythangroupsofpeoplefromothercountries.Abroad,it’seasytohearthemfromafar.
Evenifyoudon’tthinkyou’rebeingloud,othercultureshavedifferentperceptionsofanappropriatedecibellevelforaconversation,andyoumayfindyourselfbeingshushedbycondescendinglocalswhilehavinganormal,indoor-voiceconversationwithfriends.
Beingsensitivetotheamountofnoiseyoumakeinpublicisn’tjustaboutavoidingoffendingothers—it’salsoaboutnotstickingoutinacrowd.
Aprevailingstereotypeinmuchoftheworld(eveninFrance)isthatAmericansareallrich,andifyou’realoudAmericanwho’seasytospot,youcanmakeyourselfatargetoftheftwithoutrealizingit.Beingawareofyoursurroundingsandkeepinginlinewithwhatlocalsaredoingandhowquietlythey’respeakinginpublicplaceswillhelpyouavoidstickingout.
5Smileandnodwhenappropriate,butnotallthetime.
Havinglivedabroadforseveralyears,I’venoticedthatAmericansareaverysmileybunch,butinmanycountries,wheresmilingislesscommon,itcanbeeasilymisinterpreted.
There’sareason,forexample,whyParisianwomenareconsideredcold.
SmileataFrenchmantooeasily,andhe’llthinkyou’reflirtingwithhim.Tohim,asmilefromabeautifulwomanisaninvitationtohitonher.
Ofcourse,therearesomesituationswheresmilingisappropriateandencouraged.Smileatyourwaiter—evenabitflirtatiously—andtrytospeakafewwordsinthelocallanguage,andhemayofferyouacomplimentaryapéritifortasteofsomethingelseonthemenu.Ifyousmilewhilewalkingdownthestreet,however,youmightaswellbewearingasignthatsays,“Trytosellmestufforscamme”,andtheflowervendorsandbeggarswillcomelikefliestohoney.
6Paythe“touristtax”withpleasure.
Insomedevelopingcountries,thepriceforcertainitemscandifferbasedonwhetheryou’realocaloratourist.That’sjustafactoflife.
Whileit’struethatsuchadisparityisbadforthelocaleconomy—whywouldaMoroccancabdriverwanttoservethelocalswhenhecanearntentimesasmuchdrivingaroundtourists—it’shardtoavoidpayingextraunlessyou’retravelingwithsomeonewhoknowstheterrain.Whentravelingtoplaceswherenegotiatingisthenormandpricesaren’tfixed,beawarethatyou’reprobablypayingmuchmorethanalocalpersonwouldpayforeverythingyoubuy.
Negotiatedown,anddon’tbuysomethingifit’sclearlynotworthit,butdon’tmakeafuss.
Ifyoucanaffordtobetravelingabroad,yourtripprobablycostsmorethanthelocalsmakeinseveralyears.Sopayup.
Themostimportantthingtorememberwhiletravelingabroadistohavesomecommonsense.Makinganefforttobenicetolocals,toberespectfulofthecityyou’revisiting,andtotryoutthelocallanguagewillgetyoualongway,andyou’llcontributetomakingtheworldabetterplacewherepeoplealloverhaveapositiveimpressionofAmericantourists.