Introduction
If you’re anything like me, traveling can be scary. It takes a lot of courage to leave your comfort zone and immerse yourself in another culture. However, I’ve learned that if you’re open-minded and willing to try new things, even the most terrifying experiences can turn into some of the most rewarding adventures of your life. So here are my top 10 tips on how to go out of your comfort zone when traveling abroad:
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
- Don’t be afraid to try new things (even if they seem a little bit scary).
- Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself in a foreign language, even though you may sound like an idiot or make some mistakes while doing so! It’s important that people understand that you want them as friends and have no malicious intentions towards them.
- Stay open-minded and positive! You will have bad days, but don’t let those thoughts ruin your whole experience abroad–keep looking forward instead!
Listen to the people around you
Listen to the people around you.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and introduce yourself in their language. Be patient! Sometimes it takes time for people to warm up to you, but they will if they like what they see. Be respectful and kind in return, and don’t forget: your new friends may just have some great advice on how best to enjoy their city or country!
Try new things
As you’re traveling, try new things.
- Try a food you’ve never eaten before.
- Try an activity that’s unfamiliar to you.
- Go somewhere new and visit places that aren’t on your itinerary or tourist trail. You might be surprised by what you find!
But don’t be afraid of trying something again if it’s something that really excited or interested you before–it doesn’t have to always be completely new and different every time; sometimes it’s good just to go back home again (or at least somewhere similar).
Try local food
- Try local food.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make mistakes.
- Don’t worry about what other people think of you, especially if they’re not the ones who matter in your life anyway! You’ll have plenty of time to impress them later on.
- If there’s something you want but are too shy or nervous to ask for it in a foreign language, just go ahead and do it anyway; I promise that whoever is serving will understand what you’re saying and will probably appreciate that someone has taken an interest in their culture!
Make friends with locals
You’re in a foreign country, and you want to get to know the people who live there. It’s easy to be intimidated by this idea, but with some simple steps you can make friends with locals and learn about their culture.
First of all, don’t be afraid of approaching strangers! Talk to people wherever you go–not just when they’re working at restaurants or hotels but also while waiting in line at stores or on public transportation. Ask them questions about their lives: what they do for work, where they grew up (and why), if they have family nearby…the list goes on! You’ll be surprised how willing most people are to share personal details with complete strangers; I’ve found myself sharing my own stories as well as learning new things from others’ stories over time–and now many of my closest friends are locals who I met when traveling abroad!
Stay open-minded and positive
- Try not to judge people by their appearance. You may think that you know what a person is like just by looking at them, but it’s possible that this assumption could be wrong.
- Don’t be afraid of talking with others! Even if they don’t speak your language, they can still help you out in some way or another. In fact, it might even make things easier for both parties involved if one person learns the other’s language!
- Be open-minded when trying new things–you never know what kind of opportunities will arise from trying something new! And getting outside of your comfort zone can be fun too… sometimes even more so than staying within it (especially if you’re bored).
Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself in a foreign language
While it’s good to be confident, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You may feel like an idiot, but chances are that nobody will even notice because they’ll be too busy being friendly and helpful!
The best way to learn a foreign language is by speaking it, so if you’re feeling nervous about saying something wrong or sounding like a tourist (which we all do), just smile and try again. And if someone offers help, take them up on their offer!
Be patient! Sometimes it takes time for people to warm up to you. Be respectful and kind in return.
You may be surprised to learn that it takes time for people to warm up to you. Be respectful and kind in return, listen to them, try new things and make friends with the locals. Stay open-minded and positive!
Remember that even though everyone has different customs, we all have the same human needs. We all want to be happy, loved, safe and respected. This can help you relate with people from any country or culture.
Remember that even though everyone has different customs, we all have the same human needs. We all want to be happy, loved, safe and respected. This can help you relate with people from any country or culture.
You don’t need to know how to speak the local language in order to communicate with someone who speaks English or another language you know well enough for basic conversation. You only need an open mind and some patience!
You can still enjoy foreign culture!
The first step to going out of your comfort zone and enjoying foreign culture is to remember that you are a guest in the country. You should respect the local customs, even if they seem strange or uncomfortable to you. You can still have a great time without understanding everything about the culture!
Don’t worry about what people think of you, just go with it!
Conclusion
Foreign culture can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Remember that everyone is human and wants the same things in life: happiness, love and safety. When you’re open-minded and patient with people who may not share your customs, they’ll appreciate your kindness. And if all else fails? Just remember what makes sense in any country: food!