Traveling without knowing the local language can be stressful. Being in a new environment, lost and not knowing how to communicate with people is scary. I think that before you travel somewhere which you don’t know the local language, it’s important to prepare yourself.
There are a lot of options for being prepared to communicate with individuals that speak another language. As long as you do you research and try your best, while being polite you should not encounter any rude individuals along your travels. Here are some of my tips for traveling without knowing the local language.
Know the People’s Culture
First, I recommend learning a lot about the culture for the place you plan to visit. Culture can be really important to individuals in their countries and also determine how you should act in specific scenarios or public places. Knowing a country’s culture can help you respect their ways or specific cultural preferences.
Learning about the people’s culture for a country you are going to visit will help you make the right decisions about how to act, what to do, and the appropriate way to behave. Understanding the way people operate can help you operate within their country. And it helps ensure that you do not do anything offense towards their culture when you are visiting.
A people’s culture relates to their food preferences and preparations. Therefore, if you do not want something on your meal or try to change the meal, you can offend the culture of individuals. So, when encountering food that you do not like, it is best to not order it at all than try and adjust the meal to your taste preferences (especially in a country that prides itself on its outstanding cooking).
What Type of Government Do They Operate Within
The type of government a country is operating under can affect all aspects of your travels. Different governments allow locals and tourists to do different things. Every government is different and allows different activities, speech, and sometimes dress. Knowing what the government allows can make your travels smooth and happy.
On top of what you will be allowed to do or not do, it gives a perspective on what the citizens of the country can and cannot do. This is important to know when communicating with people because people might have different rights. As well as the types of things you can talk about or ask about. Not every country is operating under such strict ruling, but it can beneficial for you to know this information. This link is a useful page from the U.S. Department of State which offers a list of countries and their government rulings.
Understand How the Locals Dress and Why
Their are always reasons behind what people wear and why they wear it. In different cultures and countries people wear certain clothing for holidays, religion, society, or personal wants. However, sometimes in some countries certain people are required to wear specific outfits or headwear. This is because of religion or culture usually.
This can help you communicate with individuals of another language because if you are wearing something inappropriate or not allowed in a specific place or on a specific day, your communication will differ. You might encounter rudeness and even dismissive behavior. A lot of people value their culture and if included the clothing along with it. It is definitely important to acknowledge what people wear and why before you travel.
Have a Small Knowledge on the Prominent Religion
Religion is a powerful thing in people’s lives across the globe. Religion impacts individuals daily lives, lifelong choices, what people eat, or even what career paths they choose. It’s definitely important to know the prominent religion individuals believe in when you are traveling.
Since religion is able to determine so many factors in people’s lives, it can affect how people communicate or respond to tourists. Make sure to know the most important aspects of the local religion because it will ensure you do not offend anyone along your travels!
Some places I found great to know more about the religion and food culture was in France and Belgium. The French pride themselves on their exquisite cuisine. They definitely can, the food is amazing! This just means that asking to change some food preparations might offend the chef, which I did not want to do. And in Belgium I did not know what religious beliefs the majority of people had, so I was interested to know. Check out my Belgium itinerary if you plan to visit soon!
