The Christianville Spirit: How to Become an Honorary Local

The Christianville Spirit

The Spirit that Sparks Your Heart

October 12, 2011- TCS # 270

So, I was watching this show on The History Channel called Around The World in 80 Ways, it’s about these Americans who travel The World using 80 ways in Transportation like a Zip-Line or Monster Truck. Anyway, on the show Last Sunday, there was one point of the show where their walking down the street of Rio De Janeiro, asking in English, “Do you know a Good Restaurant?”, “Do You speak English?” and most people answered “No” or didn’t know what they were saying. After a couple tries, one of guys says something along the lines of “Speak Spanish because they speak it here” and the other guy responds “This is Brazil, They speak Portuguese”. Anyway, I thought about that part of the show, late that night and I thought, “Learn or at least TRY to speak the Language!”. So, I going to tell you what I think in what I’ll call “How to Become an Honorary Local”. The first thing is the Language of The Country or to us Americans, known as the “Language Barrier”. Learning the Language can accomplished to two ways, You can earn extra points with the locals if you learn The Language and have a conversation. Now, of Course that is harder than it looks to learn a whole new language and you don’t have to learn the whole thing if you don’t want to. But, know enough to have a good conversation and that is the most you can do to impress them. The next way is the easier way and it shows that at least your trying to learn the Language, which in turn will impress the locals. You know those Language Guidebooks they have at the book store, you should get one to help you speak the language because can that help. Of Course, there are other options including your own iPod or iPad(I have the iTranslate app), There’s Google Translate, and finally, having a Personal Translator come with You. But, it doesn’t matter what method you use as long as you Try to speak it and it’ll impress them as well as show Respect towards their country and them. Of Course, luckily in some countries in The World like in certain places in Europe do speak English but, more as a second language and their language first. In that situation, because you don’t know if they speak English, talk to them in the national language and then, ask in their language if they speak English. Now, the only problem with trying to speak a language and how to find the right way to say something is pronunciation of the word or phrase. So, My advice is to the do the best you can or it helps to say “How do You Say...”. In Spanish (because it’s the language I hear the most) it’s “Como se dice’...”. So, the next thing to become an Honorary Local is often overlooked and can get you in Trouble, considering how certain places feel around Americans. Now, any Lady reader will jump at this one, it’s mostly Looking and Dressing like them. Of Course, to Women that means Shopping! And to Men, well what can you do. However, though (both Men and Women) it’s for a good cause. Now, looking like a Local is no easy feat because it requires more research on the country that your going to and figuring out what they wear. The general rule of packing of what to wear, is wear nothing that makes you look American, including; Tennis Shoes, T-shirts, anything with the American Flag (by the way, that’s not a good thing for me because I have many of them), or anything that makes you stand out. Now, because they may or may not sell the clothes that locals where in that country, you wear comfy clothes to get there and then, find Local Clothes at The Airport or a store once you settle in at The Hotel. After you’ve done the Language and Clothes, then comes the fun part and that is Join In with the traditions of where your at or also People Watch to see how Locals behave and Imitate them (without making fun of or mocking them). The final thing deals when it comes to Eating and that is pretty easy, Just watch those around you how they eat and eat like them. Now, why am I telling you this? Because in some countries, they can tell that your a tourist or not from around by the way you eat. All in All here, The Most Important thing is to have some respect toward the country of where your at and it’s people.

Thanks for Reading The Christianville Spirit. When in a new country, do what the Locals do.