VS   

It seems like there are a lot of people who want to get out and see the world today.  Websites abound with special deals and prices for different trips around the world!  It truly is a wonderful time to get out and see the world,  But have you ever wanted to be that person that doesn’t walk the same path as all the other throngs of people touring around the world?  I certainly have.  I hate feeling like I am just like everyone else.  A face in the crowd.  Just another ‘tourist’.

So for the last few years I’ve been asking myself, how can i move from tourist to traveler?  What is the difference?  What if i want to do the same things as the throngs but i want more.  There is no simple answer to these questions.  And from what I’ve learned this far its an ongoing process that takes time, will, and courage.  So here is what I’ve learned at this point:

A)  Going to see the ‘tourist’ things does not make you a tourist.  I’m sure that you will want to see the pyramids of Egypt, or the Acropolis in Greece.  You need to see these monuments and enjoy their splendor.  What makes you different than the tourist is that you want to understand these places, their historical significance, what they mean to the people who now reside around them, and the impact that they have on the people who view them as more than just another world monument.  You aren’t there just to see another amazing place, but to truly understand this place.  For example:  Hundreds of thousands of people go to see Machu Pichu every year.  But when I went there I walked on their paths, I felt their ancient presence, I sweat along their steep trails, and the individual cultural interpreter I had explained in depth why this place existed and what it means to the Inca people both then and now.

B) Being a traveler means interacting with the local culture.  A tourist rides in a tour bus, high above the dirty streets of Kathmandu watching from their iron horse the goings on of daily life.  A traveler will walk these same streets.  Feeling the off kilter streets beneath your feet.  Pushing your comfort zone by interacting with the staff at the restaurant beyond just ordering food, the restaurant that you just happened to be walking by and decided to try.  Smelling the city, asking questions, learning why this amazing city is where it is and where the important places are.  As a tourist you are protected from the gritty world that exists outside of the hotel or bus.  As a traveler you desire to experience the city, interact with the people, learn about them, and possibly make a friend or two.  Sometimes having a personal culture guide will help you get past cultures that are so different than your own that it is difficult to understand.

C)  Being a traveler does not mean you can’t do cool things.  It simply means that you do more than just the popular things.  There are so many cool and amazing experiences to have around the world.  What you have to do as a traveler is look beyond what most people do and find the things that local people do.  It isn’t hard to find these things if you aren’t afraid to ask.  That is one reason using local companies to help organize your trip can lead to amazing experiences.  But once you are on location you can get plenty of advice from the hotel staff, hostel staff, other travelers, or locals in shops, on the streets, or in restaurants.  Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations about restaurants, attractions, places to go and see, companies to use, or whatever!  People around the world love to show off their areas!  But remember to ask for things off the beaten path.  Chances are you already know the popular places.  For example we would never have known to go to Pebbly Beach in Australia if it hadn’t been recommended by a local.  And it was there that we got some of the most amazing baby kangaroo pictures ever taken!

D) Being a traveler means being a world citizen.  Yup, i said it.  You have to be a world citizen.  You have to realize that the world is bigger than your home country.  That other cultures do things differently than you do.  These cultures may do things that make you VERY uncomfortable.  But by being a world citizen you realize that different isn’t bad, its different.  What is commonly accepted practice in one area of the world maybe illegal in other places.  You’re allowed to have your opinion about these things but do your best to keep it to yourself.  Here are a few examples:  Some countries have a legal drinking age of 18.  Other cultures have arranged marriages.  Some cultures see animals as property and not pets.  In some places around the world it is disrespectful to wear your shoes indoors.  As a world citizen you need to realize that these things are just different, not bad but different.  And that when you are in the midst of these cultures is NOT the time or place to express your disapproval of their long held traditions.  Rather just learn about these things, understand why they do what they do, and try to be open minded.

This is by no means a definitive list of things that will suddenly transofrom you into a traveler.  But it’s a great place to start.  I’m sure if you read this you have seen a common theme : Understanding and bravery.  Understanding cultures, experiancing them, and being brave enough to be a part of them is the best way to move beyond your comfortzone, get outside of the hotel or bus, and become a world citizen.