Natalie - Letter to Future Students,
It's good to know a few things about traveling if you have never before.
1) Expect to be uncomfortable because if you expect it then the situation will probably surprise you in a pleasant way and if it doesn't then you've prepared yourself for the worst.
2) Pack lots of wet ones. This seems goofy but really, if your going to throw yourself into another culture that means touching, tasting, and walking through parts of the area that will inevitably be a little sticky at times. It's best to come prepared to clean up your own mess so you don't miss anything.
3) You dont need that many clothes (really!). I always feel out of fashion when I travel because theres something you can never really predict when going abroad and thats what the weather will be like and what the trends are going to be. My biggest advice to myself is always pack lighter than I did the time before and simpler...Ive realized the staple items are what I grab for because their the easiest things to pair with the fun scarf or sweater I bought in the market the day before.
4) dont follow anyone. but stay together. When traveling you have to eventually come to terms that everyone does it differently, once you find your grove stick with it because thats how you will soak up the most information and authentic experience. However, stick together too. You would totally kick yourself if you were the stupid person that stupidly went off alone and something stupid happened. so prevent it.
5) pepper spray.
6) Language. learn a little of it so your not the meanie in line insisting someone else accommodate you. It's much easier for you and everyone else if you know enough to get by with simple tasks and ordering. Everytime I travel I wish I would have learned more than I did about the language.
7) be flexible. You have to know the things you wont budge on but make sure it's not a laundry list. part of traveling is rolling with the punches and embracing change and fluctuation. Just be cool about the things you know aren't the end of the world and speak up about the stuff that really bugs you.
8) my last rule and my biggest rule is: BE A TOURIST. Multiple times during the Paris trip people were insistent that they didn't want to be a tourist, look like a tourist or go to the tourist attractions. I am the opposite. If I am new somewhere, looking around and generally learning as I go then I expect to be labeled a tourist and embrace it for all it's wonderfulness, as a tourist you have the opportunity to stand a little longer staring at something that catches your eye because your not worried how anyone else is seeing you. I think its ridiculous to be afraid of the quirkiness that comes along with being a tourist and the ultimate freedom when you ADMIT YOU DONT KNOW IT ALL!. How wonderful not be burdened by knowledge that you have not gained in experience. The Metro in Paris was a great example of this. I felt like everyone caught on quicker than I did and stopped announcing where we were going and what stops to get off at, eventually I had to just deal with it and understand I learned a different way and either ask for help or figure it out on my own by admitting I didn't know it all.
