We travel because we
love to see new things and create new and memorable experiences. Some of us like to sample new foods, get a
nice tan, or simply seek adventure. But what if I told you that while doing all
of that, you are also learning and gaining new skills. Travel is like an
education abroad.
I first have to admit that I was horrible with geography
before I started travelling. I know, I know…and I am a teacher. I knew where
many places were, but after travelling much of the world, I now truly comprehend
direction and location. For people of all ages and for children, seeing the
world beats reading about it in a textbook any day.
Language:
I would love to say Richard and I learned another language
on our travels. We have not. We did get ambitious and take a beginners Spanish
class before our first trip to Spain. We used some of it during our travels,
but we both agreed we wanted to learn more. It hasn't happened yet. Before we
visit any new country, we learn some basic phrases. We learn how to say hello,
please, thank you, how much, good morning, etc. This helps us to first
demonstrate to the locals that we are interested and value their language/culture.
It also gives us a great jumping off point before we need to ask for assistance
or suggestions. I can guarantee that if
it weren't for our travels, we would never have even had exposure to any of
these basic language skills.
Cooking:
I mentioned in a previous post that I try to take cooking
classes when I am visiting a new country. I love to cook and I embrace the
opportunity to learn about new foods and how to prepare them. It is a great way
to experience the culture, as often they take you to market, but also a great
way to converse and learn from a local. I continue to cook these fishes when I
get home, and they have not only enhanced my recipe repertoire, but they have
made me more skilled with spice selection and flavour combinations.
Bargain Shopping:
Many countries we have visited have outdoor markets or
boutique shops with one of a kind items. Because they are independently owned,
you as the customer have the opportunity to request a better price. For
example, when we were in Morocco there were leather bags for sale for what
would work out to $200 American. We worked them down to $100 for an all leather
travel tote. We have continued to work with shop owners to get the unique items
we want a reasonable price. The more you do it, the better you get at stating
the price you are willing to pay. We have walked away from some items we had
really wanted, but most of the time we get great deals.
Public Transportation/ City Navigation:
Richard and I are from a small town with no subway system.
We have been on one in Toronto and New York City, but I would not say we are
experts at navigating cities via public transit. When we arrived in Paris, we
had to learn the Subway system quickly, because riding in taxi’s for 3 weeks
can get quite costly. So after a few days of riding the subway to dinner,
shops, and sights we got quite comfortable with it. When we moved on to new
cities, we noticed that our experience in Paris really helped us to understand
and recognize the simplicity and convenience of subway travel.
 |
London, England
Photo: @conciergecouple |
Budgeting Where it Counts:
Sure when you land at the airport you can take a taxi to
your hotel. So fast, easy, and convenient. But this is usually the biggest rip
off and so many people do it! I get it, you have arrived at your destination
and you are so excited and eager to get to your hotel that you are willing to
just jump in that taxi. Well that is what they are banking on. Richard spends a
lot of time reading forums and communicating with the hotel concierge to
determine the fastest and most affordable transportation from the airport into
town. He prints out what bus number or subway stop we need to get to and keeps
it available in his carry on. Being aware, knowledgeable and prepared is key.
We have ended up taking a taxi several times, but we do so by educating
ourselves on the expected price and weighing the pros and cons of saving time.
We love hotels. Richard loves researching them, reading
reviews on them, and surprising me by booking them in secret. We have learned
where and when it makes sense to splurge on a hotel. If we are visiting a
bustling and lively city we will choose a hotel or apartment with a moderate
price. We realize we will be out most of the time, and our hours in hotel room
per dollar will not be in our favour. We do splurge on hotels on island and
beach destinations. Yes, we will be out all day in the sun and sand, but the
evenings are spent in our room, hotel lobby or hotel lounge. These are the
times are when having beautiful surroundings are important to us.
Photograph Selection:
We love taking photos. We often take anywhere from
1,000-1,500 per trip. We make
photo-books, gallery walls, etc. using them. We
used to take photos of just about everything. Now we realize that pictures of
scenery and pictures of ourselves enjoying the world are what matter most to us. We have learned to be discerning photographers, only snapping what we deem important. For example: on the most part we do not photograph major tourist attractions (e.g. the
Louvre), unless the lighting is unique or scene is particularly unique that day. Mind you there are exceptions: the Eiffel Tower.
Social Skills:
Richard is very social. I on the other hand am mostly quiet. Because it
is often just the two of us travelling, and because we like to go out in the
evenings, we are often left with no other choice but to meet new people. We
have made great friends and there are worse things to be forced into than
meeting other travellers. For myself though, I had to get good at introducing
myself and being open to all kinds of people. When we meet we share stories,
experiences we have had locally, and any tips for travelling the area. We also
share drinks and general conversation. I have had to sharpen my social skills,
and because of that we have together met great people and had great experiences
we would never have had just the two of us.
 |
El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
Photo: @conciergecouple |
Appreciate The Moment:
I am an easygoing person, who enjoys my downtime. Naps, spas, and reading are some of my favourite hobbies. However, when travelling Richard and I can get pretty eager to see a lot with little downtime. Over the past couple of years we have really learned to appreciate the moment and take it all in. We often drink our morning coffee siting on our balcony with our robes on, chatting about our plans for the day and/or some of our favourite moments from the day before. This was a challenge for us at first, because there is so much we want to do when visiting a new place. We have learned to strike a good balance between slowing down and stopping to take in a moment and getting to our next sight or experience before the crowds.
 |
Mykonos, Greece
Photo: @conciergecouple |
These are just some of the many lessons and skills we have picked up over our travelling years. This summer we will likely continue to develop our driving on rugged terrain skills when we travel the road to Hana. What skills have you gained through your travels?
