Through overseas travel, we get to explore different places in the world. We become acquainted with different people and their respective traditions and way of life. It is through travel that we get to have a deeper appreciation diverse and different cultures are. However, in one way or another we all have experienced culture-shock. This may be due to the fact that we were unable to adjust to certain conditions or practices that we have encountered.

Cultural sensitivity is a key to fruitful and enjoyable trip abroad. But what does it mean to be culturally sensitive? Of prime importance is getting to know a locale’s traditions, customs, and way of life. The more our familiarity with the practice, then the less strange it would seem. Appreciation entails understanding and respect from the traveler. We should be able to see them in their own eyes.

An important travel advice that should be observed by everybody is to be culturally sensitive. This entails getting to know about customs, traditions and local folkways of the place. The key to avoiding misunderstanding is to have a good knowledge and background of the people and locale. That way, we can practice the proper etiquette and respect. Pointing at people for instance is considered insulting in some countries. By knowing information such as this, we are sure to avoid inconveniences along the way.

As we all know, language is very important. It would be a serious mistake to assume that everybody speaks the same language as us. Americans are especially prone to make this error and this proves very costly indeed. Learning the language of the place should be a priority, especially if it isn’t an English-speaking country. We should try to get the local translation of key phrases such as “how to get to the airport,” “how much is this” etc. Courtesy words like “thank you” and “please” would also get us a long way in our travel abroad.

When it comes to food, we should also be prepared. Those who follow a certain diet like vegetarians must know what kind of dishes they could eat. Trying the local cuisine requires a certain degree of courage so it is best if we know what we are about to put in. Even the gastronomically adventurous would benefit from knowing the local cuisine. We can never know if a dish has an ingredient that we are allergic to. Another advantage is that we can avoid insulting a host and also avoid waste when we are unable to finish the food served or offered.

When choosing and buying souvenirs, we should consider if the items we brought are appropriate or not. This means to say that we should be sensitive on the nature of the items. For instance, some souvenirs are objects that are considered sacred by the locals. As such, they require proper handling or packing. Contrary to common opinion, being culturally sensitive is not that hard. By observing these advices, our travel abroad would surely be a delightful experience.

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Posted on 26 October '09, under Travel.