Comments on: The Most Valuable Thing You Can Pack On The Journey

By: HyderabadChick

HyderabadChick — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:04:40 +0000

By: Adrienne

Adrienne — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:02:53 +0000

Great article Lola. I don't want to sound perfect here, but I usually travel with open mind and I find it is the gift that keeps giving. I'm certainly not suggesting anyone toss their own values, morals, eating habits, beliefs, etc. into the wind, but an open is your very best friend abroad. That's where the exchange begins – the magic! Agree to disagree, right?

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By: brice2b

brice2b — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:26:54 +0000

I couldn't agree more with you Lola!
an open mind is for sure the right attitude to have while traveling. it's not an easy task though! we are so formated by our own culture that our mind meets difficulties to accept other ways of thinking but our own…
I personally always try to get rid of those old habits we tend to have: judging people from other cultures on the basis of how we would think or do things at home. I think it is part of being a good traveler.
The world would definitely be better off without all those clichés and stereotypes…

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By: Turner Wright

Turner Wright — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:48:28 +0000

Well said, Lola.

I can definitely identify my open-mindedness in Japan as the first time I tried a hot springs (onsen) over here; it actually took me eight months because a) I wasn’t in an area that had decent hot springs and b) I was still pretty closed-minded about the idea of communal bathing. This was rather stupid on my part, as I had studied Roman history, and knew that these people, once considered the epitome of civilization, used bathhouses very similar to those in Japan. Once I did actually take the plunge, both literally and figuratively, I was hooked, and can’t imagine what it’s going to be like living in Thailand without this simple comfort.

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By: Kellea Croft

Kellea Croft — Sat, 03 May 2008 00:42:36 +0000

Yep, another fab article. It is soooo true. If you don’t travel with an open mind you will miss the whole point of why you went to see another country in the first place.

I had a pom (British citizen) stay with us for a week while he was visiting Australia. He kept asking merchants what that price equaled in British pounds and telling everyone “I’m English …” when starting a conversation. They were put off by him because he wanted special treatment for being English. He didn’t get to experience the true country and was bored by the whole trip.

Even though a lot of countries speak English, they will not attempt to let you know that fact unless you make an effort to speak theirs. In Germany I went to German schools and know that it was a requirement to learn, but until I was fluent in their language they would stick their nose up at me.

I was put off by a store keeper in Paris that scared the living hell out of me pulling me into a shop to buy shoes. I was 13 and thought this man was trying to run off with me. I screamed bloody murder until my parents came. But when in painter’s square I met the nicest people willing to work with my inadequate French to learn about what was going on with their work.

You take from a country what you bring to it.

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By: Lola Akinmade

Lola Akinmade — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:01:24 +0000

Thanks guys for your comments and great examples

Amanda – Spot on regarding preferential treatment. As one travels to more remote locations, you get more of both extremes – preferential treatment or absolute rejection.

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By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:06:11 +0000

Lola, this is fantastic, and full of very good points. All of which I totally agree with! It was interesting that you wrote about foreigners getting preferential treatment for no reason other than their foreignness – I remember this happening quite often in Japan (for example, a stranger on a train, who hadn’t even spoken to me, gave me a mandarin one day – I’m sure she wouldn’t have given it to a Japanese person) and I felt uncomfortable because I hadn’t done anything at all other than look different.

Keeping an open mind is definitely the key to successful and satisfying traveling. (Hmm, maybe for life in general!). From my travels and also from my English language students I’ve learned not to judge any “strange” idea until I’ve let someone explain it to me some more. I hope I always stick to this.

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By: Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget » Blog Archive » Link love from around the globe for May

Fri, 02 May 2008 09:24:51 +0000

[...] Brave New Traveller has us thinking about the importance of travelling with an open mind. [...]

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By: Spillay

Spillay — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:01:32 +0000

I truly enjoyed reading this post! We can never be reminded enough about having an open mind .

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By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:35:28 +0000

Lola-
This is a great, great piece. I really loved the shopkeeper story when you told it to me, and I liked it even more this time. My friend Diane tells me: Always ask yourself; What are the 10 possibilities that someone is acting or doing something differently from the way you might wish or expect? The question frequently comes in handy, while traveling at home in daily life or being abroad!

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