Travel abroad? Here;s how to really know before you go.
Published 9:30 am Thursday, May 24, 2018
We all have expectations about what we will encounter when we travel abroad. However, no matter how many PBS travel episodes we watch, we typically are woefully under-prepared for what we will experience.
After 10 years of studying cross-cultural interactions, I have learned a trick for making the most of traveling abroad — no matter the destination.
Your best experience starts with predeparture exposure to the culture of the country you will be visiting.
Seek out people who have first-hand knowledge of the country. Ask them questions about their experiences, eat the types of food you likely will be served and make an effort to understand the history and significance of the customs you will encounter.
Taking advantage of multi-cultural interactions in your community to establish realistic expectations is the ticket to success.
Justin Velten is president of Go Culture International, a cross-cultural preparation company in Tyler.
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