The saying goes something like this: if you must choose between obtaining a thing or having an experience, always choose the experience. The reasoning is simple. You will relive the experience many, many times in your memory, while the thing will be quickly forgotten. This has proven true for me. I was lucky enough to go on two study tours through my university, earning the equivalent of six credit hours each. I know without a doubt that those experiences in England and Italy taught me more than two classroom courses could have. I also caught the travel bug, and have ventured into other countries a few times over the years. I love learning about new places, visiting countries my ancestors came from, trying local foods, and just experiencing the rhythm of life in a place other than home.
Being a foreigner is eye-opening; even more so if you don’t speak the local language. It puts a new spin on cultural norms, trying to fit in while retaining your American sensibilities, and building an appreciation for how others do things. It’s always a good idea to learn a few words in your destination’s language; please, thank you, and hello are most helpful. My advice is to observe how the locals behave and follow suit. Is everyone speaking in a whisper in the grocery store? Then dial down your own volume. Are you expecting an orderly queue to order a coffee but see only chaos? Then stick out those elbows and get that barista’s attention.
The beauty of international travel is that it’s unsettling in the best possible way and sets the stage for unforgettable experiences.
There are oodles of travel sites online for all styles of travel. These have helped me immensely:
- Go Overseas is helpful for first-time international travelers.
- Lonely Planet not only publishes excellent travel books, but their website is a great way to explore other countries and their people, customs, foods, and more.
- U.S. Department of State helps alert travelers to unsafe countries, providing information on how to apply for or renew a passport, and more.
Salina Public Library has a robust travel section, conveniently arranged by continent, then by country, and finally, by major cities. Browsing through books on your countries of choice can help you decide where to go. Watch a travel DVD to get a feel for the place.
Try these, or pick other continents to explore:
- Mexico to the max : Guadalajara & Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City & Zihuatanejo (DVD)
- Rick Steves’ Europe (DVD)
- Fodor’s Essential Japan by Jay Farris, et al, 2023
- Bahamas by Mariah Laine Moyle, 2019
- Banff, Jasper & Glacier National Parks by Gregor Clark, et al, 2022
Scotland, with a loch in the distance
About The Author: Lori
Lori is the Information Services Outreach Librarian at Salina Public Library. A native of DeKalb, Ill., Lori spent only one summer detassling corn for DeKalb AgResearch and made an impressive $2.35 per hour. She stayed in her hometown and graduated from Northern Illinois University with a B.A. and M.A. in art history. Lori moved to Kansas in 1990 with plans to get a Ph.D. in art history from KU, but that quickly turned into attending Emporia State University and receiving a second master’s degree in library and information science. She met a fellow library student named Nick and they married over spring break just before graduating. Lori enjoys reading about, looking at, and researching anything having to do with art or art historical matters. Every spring she encourages her 30 fruit trees to bear well, and gardens on her three acres in Saline County. She appreciates the style of the 1920s-40s, and can often be found knitting, cooking (and eating) delicious Italian food, obsessively playing Words with Friends or working a crossword puzzle. Lori can be reached at infoservices.lori@salpublib.org.
More posts by Lori