Five Tips on Recharging While Traveling

Traveling can be great fun, but it can also put a strain on ourselves. Sometimes, we over-extend ourselves, sacrifice sleep, and even get sick because we’re pushing ourselves too hard. When we compromise our bodies, we can end up feeling off balance! How can you be proactive to avoid some of these issues from happening? 

We’ve gathered tips to help you make the most of your time abroad!  

Prepare

Before departure, take care of any loose ends and give yourself plenty of time to do it! Gather any necessary documents you may need during your trip or copies of valuable identification in case of emergencies. As you give yourself time to prepare beforehand, you’ll not only have less stress during the trip, but you will be free of any action items that might still be in process when you return home. 

Unplug 

Technology is a beautiful thing! It’s allowed us to communicate better and have a personal GPS at our fingertips. However, you are exploring a new and exciting place! Keep your phone handy for photos or Google Maps, but you’ll take more advantage of being in the moment and enjoying your surroundings if you stay off of your electronics for the most part of the day.

Bruce Kasanoff, a contributor for Forbes, wrote an article about why people shouldn’t take their phones on vacation and said, “When you take a tram over a gorgeous landscape to the top of a mountain, you will form a wonderful memory that will stay with you for the rest of your life”. Though we’re not advising you to leave your phone on your bedside table back home, the idea of keeping a moment as a memory, is a nice alternative to the usual filtered image we might feel the need to post immediately. 

If you take photos and videos and upload them in the evenings when you're back in your room, you’re more likely to enjoy the moment at a landmark or popular attraction. Give yourself a time limit, such as 15-30 minutes each day, to check out your friends’ social media updates and respond to messages, and then take in the world around you!

We encourage our students and teachers to keep a journal as well! You’ll surprise yourself years later when you have a chance to remember your thoughts and feelings as you visited different places with fellow classmates. 

Slow Down

Most times, this is out of our control, but staying aware of your immune system before traveling is possible. While you're on the go, stay hydrated before, during, and after flights and travel by keeping a water bottle in your belongings that you can fill up when needed. 

Another tip is sleeping patterns, if you need to sleep, or are feeling jet lagged, then sleep! It sounds self-explanatory, but sometimes we need a little reminder that being well-rested will actually improve your enjoyment for a day of endless exploring!  

Fortunately, you can always visit a pharmacy in the city if you start to feel a bit under the weather. Regardless, try to catch the cold before it catches you! 

Communicate

If you’re traveling with a group, get to know your group members and leaders as best as you can. You should find a friend or a group leader and tell them when you aren’t feeling 100%, or if you are starting to not feel well. If your fellow travel companions and group leaders don’t know how you feel, you might start to feel more burned out and frustrated as you continue to partake in activities. 

Everyone experiences jet lag and culture shock differently, and the importance of sharing feelings and emotions will help your friends and group leaders provide advice and assistance. Having a great time abroad heavily depends on your ability to gauge your energy and understand when you need to rest. By communicating, you will be able to support one another when help is needed! 

Do Things You Enjoy

This ranges from outdoor adrenaline activities, to museums and walking tours, and may even include a relaxing afternoon at a cafe or park. The idea is that participating in activities that you feel comfortable and confident doing will alleviate anxiety and allow you to return home with the same positive attitude. 

Feeling well-rested doesn’t only come from sleep, but also from engagement in meaningful activities. Find time to do things that will lift your spirits and make time for great meals, relaxed moments, and genuine connections. 

Another idea is ending your travels on a high note. Recency effect is the idea that the end of one’s time abroad is more easily recalled than the beginning, and the Wall Street Journal suggested using recency bias to end overseas adventures with a bang. If you’re on a budget trip, you might upgrade your last night’s accommodation, or save specific cuisine you’ve been most excited for as your last meal.

Overall, respect boundaries you set by listening to your body and don’t push yourself to do everything. Travel itineraries should allocate for fun, adventure, and education, but also enough time to rest for you to recharge! 

Most importantly, take the time during your final days on your journey to reflect on your time abroad and how much you have accomplished. This will not only give you feelings of satisfaction, but also appreciation and thankfulness for the valuable moments you got to spend. 

Did you know that travel is good for the soul? Check out our past blog, "Four Ways Traveling Can Improve Wellness”!

Five Important Tips When Meeting People in China

Before the beginning of any trip, or study abroad, it is a good idea to first learn about the culture and cultural differences that exist in that country.  This was one of my biggest worries before heading abroad to China and I know that many of my friends and family share this fear.

Here are my top five tips to keep in mind when meeting and interacting with people for the first time in China:

1. Be polite and formal

During your time abroad, you will meet tons of new people.  You may have an idea of what an introduction resembles in your culture, but not every introduction is the same.  When first meeting someone in China, I learned you should always be formal and polite.

A formal greeting includes a verbal “nĭ hăo / 你好” (hello - informal) or “nín hăo / 您好” (hello - formal for older generation) and a slight bow of your head.  I once made the mistake of initiating a hand shake, but the other person did not reciprocate.

One of my friends gave me Chinese Oreos as a gift!

If you do have a close relationship with someone, this initial interaction could vary, but when formally meeting someone new, you should go the route of a verbal greeting with a slight bow.  It is best to not touch and to not hug others, unless the other person initiates it. It is also a very nice gesture to give someone a gift, especially if it is a pre-planned event like a party or meeting.

2. Bring a proper gift

Whether you are meeting someone for the first time in China, or someone you know, then you want to make sure you are giving the right gift.  In China, you do not want to give a gift that may have a negative meaning in Chinese culture. Some examples of bad gifts would be clocks (signifying parting or death), umbrellas (signifying bad luck), and four of anything (four is a very bad number in China, as its pronunciation is similar to the pronunciation of the Chinese word for death).  

When I was in China, my Chinese friend had asked me what gift I wanted from them.  I said that I just needed a cheap pair of shoes, and to my surprise they said that they could not give me shoes as a gift. I asked why and they said that the Chinese word for shoes is very similar to the word for bad luck or evil. This was one of my first instances of learning about Chinese superstitions and what gifts you should avoid giving at all costs!  

Some good gift ideas that I have given include something typical or symbolic of where you are from like a mug, pens, or postcards.  Fruit, teas, and silk are also very common gifts within China.

I made those slippers look good!

3. Respect their homes

In China, virtually no one wheres shoes inside their home. When entering most homes or apartments, there will likely be a collection of slippers for you to put on as soon as you walk in the door.

Whenever I entered someone’s home, I always found it to be funny when none of the slippers would fit me, since my feet were too big!  I would either look ridiculous walking in small slippers or just walk around in my socks, which is totally acceptable too, but you should never walk barefoot in someone’s home.

4. Be punctual

An important thing to remember in China is to always be on time.  I once overslept in the morning while a friend was waiting for me outside to go to a meeting. She wasn’t upset, but I could tell that she was annoyed and my tardiness was not culturally acceptable.  As someone who is frequently “fashionably late” in the United States, I quickly learned I needed to break this habit fast. Over my gap semester I became much more punctual. Delays still happen, and when they do, I also learned it is best to not give an excuse but rather humbly apologize to those you kept waiting.

Taking a tour of a school before I did a presentation.

5. Avoid certain taboo topics

Similar to many other cultures, there are certain topics that aren’t casually spoken about in daily conversation.  One day I was curious if these topics were similar to taboo ones in the States so I asked one of my close friends.  She explained to me that politics, religion, death, and any historical or political incidents of China’s past should not be talked about, especially with new friends or casual acquaintances.  

You will find that people will be very interested in you and where you are from since you are a foreigner, and this a great conversation starter.  Typical (and appropriate) conversations include talking about food, sociocultural topics, and your level of Chinese!

In short, these are just a handful of the many cultural differences I experienced during my time in China, and you are bound to encounter too. Don’t be afraid of making a mistake, either. As you’ve read, I’ve made a handful myself.

What is most important, I found, is that you enter with an open mind and willingness to learn, understand, respect and find beauty in these cultural differences. Whenever I wasn’t sure my friends, EdOdyssey, and really anyone I encountered in China was always enthusiastic to help and patient with me as I learned. I can’t wait to return to China and learn more.

Want to learn more about China? Check out my blog about How Chinese Food in China Changed Me Forever!