Some cultures greet by a series of cheek kisses, while others prefer to shake hands.
Eye contact is more common in some countries than others.
Europeans eat differently than I am accustomed to.
Italians don’t order take-out. Asking for coffee to go is the clear sign of an American.
In the US it’s common to say hello to strangers, in the UK it’s a sign of a crazy person.
Businesses shut down for “siestas” in Italy, Spain, and elsewhere. Germany and Switzerland close most shops every Sunday.
The meaning of words, gestures, and mannerisms change between cultures and languages.
Commonly accepted generalizations:
- The Swedes are more reserved than the Croats.
- Poles know how to handle their liquor.
- Italians are fashionable.
- French make good cheese.
- Norwegians ski.
While these generalizations are relatively basic and superficial, they all link to the core of society and relate to the value systems in each country. What people choose to do with their time, efforts, and money sheds light on their values.
Inside the hostel kitchen, chatting about culture, people and language is common. I don’t think it’s possible to fully grasp the culture in a given region, city, or even household in a matter of days or weeks. You also can’t go everywhere; often the best way to learn about different cultures is through conversation with people from places you don’t know about. I visited 15 countries in 85 days, and probably spoke with hundreds of people from all over the world. Many folks had vastly different life experiences, ideas, and knowledge than me. I met people from all corners of the Globe: Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Russia, China, Singapore, Australia, India, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Czechia, Iraq, Sudan, Eritrea, Norway, and many more. In a one-on-one conversation, a shared topic like travel makes for an easy opportunity to learn about other peoples’ backgrounds. The non-judgmental atmosphere in a hostel and the mutual agreement about the value in traveling primes folks for honest conversation.
Now, let me share some more notable observations:
French people really prefer if English-speaking tourists ask “Parles-tu Anglais” (Do you speak English?) before the conversation begins. In other places people enjoy the opportunity to practice their English, so you won’t need to start the conversation- if you look American you will often just be spoken to in English.
The pace of life in the Greek Islands is much slower than the bustling cosmopolitan cities like Rome, Paris, Berlin, and Madrid.
More generally, Europe’s acute size and expansive diversity is a truly unique dynamic. Totally different cultures and unrecognizably different landscapes exist just hours apart. You also don’t need a car to get there- take a train or bus thanks to the prolific public transit in Europe. Traveling a few hours by car or train, you will find yourself in a completely new culture; different languages, food, customs and formalities. Further, if you make it out of the major cities, and the touristic areas, you will find that English becomes less and less common.
Another observation I made along the trip was that no matter what culture you find yourself discovering, facial expressions are universal. An Aussie traveler I met in Portugal said, “the best language to use is a smile.” Referencing his experiences in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, where English is less common than in Europe, he said the trick came in handy quite often. If you approach someone with a smile you immediately display good intentions. Without even knowing the same language, you might be received more pleasantly. The help you need is just a smile away.
Navigating countries that don’t speak your native tongue can be a real challenge, and often persuades folks to choose another travel destination. However, if you want to learn about other cultures, places like these are more valuable. It is convenient to look down on foreign customs and traditions, deeming people unintelligent or outdated. But the fact that all cultures can understand basic intentions and the simplicity of a smile is evidence to the contrary. After all we descended from the same people, millions of years ago. Although we have progressed as different rates, taken on different traditions and customs, we all share the same biological makeup.
Two final thoughts:
I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut a bit. Rather than begin an interaction blurting out English that might be complete gibberish to the recipient, I begin by either asking do you speak English, or by saying thank you or hello, two basic phrases, in the native language in the area. It’s a simple gesture-my hope is to display respect and acceptance.
When people ask me what my favorite place along my trip was, or the best country I visited, I share two basic comments before trying to answer. This single questions is by far the most common first question you get when returning from an extended journey.
- The people I met played a crucial role in my experience. There is a HUGE difference between staying at a hostel with positive, welcoming people and being the only person in the entire hostel.
- Time of year(weather) makes a big difference. There is a reason why Spain and Portugal in December are so attractive. During the last week in November I was stuck in a snow storm in Sweden. A week later I was wearing sunscreen in Southern Spain.
Lisbon was magical. Hamburg was a blast. Rome was impressive. Copenhagen was flat. Budapest was spectacular. France was smelly. Vienna was grand. Poland was gritty. Amsterdam was… amazing. I can’t tell you which one was my favorite because I had such a great time everywhere. Several times, when I was tired I got lucky with a relatively empty hostel dorm to myself. When I was a bit more sociable, I happened to land in really vibrant, active spots. In hindsight, I would say finding the ideal hostel or accommodation was the single most impactful decision driving the direction the trip went. Hostels also want to make sure you have the best experience possible because it reflects on them. So when you ask for which restaurants, bars, shows, or parks to go see you are getting quality information.
Returning to the States with new experiences will help determine my next steps. Traveling is empowering and confidence-building. I feel more ready for the challenges ahead and more able to relate to foreign people.
“If three months abroad doesn’t shake your worldviews to the core you must not have had your eyes open”
FYI, I will continue writing about my trip- potentially writing a few of the highlights out in narrative blog format… For now, I hope you enjoyed my thoughts and maybe had something to share from your own experience. If so, please comment below!
Kyle Huber 