Over the years, I have had the opportunity to watch other travelers as they interacted with locals and responded to their new environment. I have witnessed some wonderful encounters but I have also had the unfortunate chance to see some horrific examples of “ugly Americanism.”
Travel is a unique experience in that it is a two way street. The tourist is obviously there to take in and receive all that the foreign land and its people have to offer. While seeing sites and discovering far away places is exciting, it is only the first part of the journey. What so many do not understand, and therefore completely miss out on, is the gift of reciprocation. Most travelers are there to receive, worried mostly about what they are “getting” out of the trip. I say that true traveling begins when the visitors find themselves concerned about what they have brought into each interaction, when they begin to wonder what else they can give to each situation. As traveling shifts from a one-way express lane to a two lane gravel road, opportunities begin to appear that would have otherwise been missed in a cloud of self absorption. The traveler becomes less of a strange and forgettable tourist and more of a temporary part of the community. I call this Living Locally.
Living Locally is actually quite easy and very addictive, you just have to take a breath and jump in. Before long you will find yourself shaking your head in dismay at the other tourists, wondering why they have not learned to blend in and become a part of their surroundings like you have.
I will spend the next few days explaining each of my five steps to more meaning travel so that you can have more than just a great trip this year. You can have a once in a lifetime experience.
STEP ONE: Put yourself in their shoes.
When you begin to try and trade places with the locals, you see things in a new light. Things would be ideal if everywhere you went in Italy, people were pleasant and easy going. But this is the real world and in that world even the nicest people have a bad day. I try to look at the big picture, step back and see the world from the other person’s eyes. Once I do that, a crabby waiter suddenly becomes a harried worker trying to please patrons from around the world. Patrons who all speak different languages and many of them without any attempt at Italian. I don’t know about you, but I think I would last about 10 minutes before losing my cool.
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You will have already created the time to experience encounters that you have been dreaming of because of good preparation and smart traveling choices. This will not be the perfect trip because traveling (especially in Italy) is never completely predictable, but this will be the absolutely most amazing adventure. Remember to roll with the punches and always be on the look out for an opportunity to get to know Italy personally. A rainy day may mean a missed bike ride but instead a glorious little cafe otherwise overlooked. Travel, like life, is full of ups and downs. The trick is to be prepared for the worst while enjoying whatever is thrown your way. Traveling is fun, but Living Locally is pure joy.
