Words

8 February, 2008

A Brief Note on Several Items Unimportant to Nearly Every Person 

Many folks swear by a set of simple rules that all travelers must adhere to for travel success. While it is true that a traveler can profit from a reliance on some general customs, such as keeping valuables safeguarded in one’s accommodation, I believe that the issue is more complex. Sure, one may be able to merely survive on simple and regimented travel skills, but, if this is the only tactic used, one may not ascend to a level sufficient to attain keen satisfaction. I contend that heightened accomplishment on the road is not achieved solely via a group of definable skills that succeed in every situation. It is often the intangible skill, one that might only manifest unrehearsed, during a time of hardship or adversity, which allows the traveler to tread further along the yellow brick road of travel contentedness. Don’t get me wrong; there are hundreds of core conventions a traveler might stick to in various generic situations, ignoring any cultural context, of course. Some skills work almost universally: keeping a close eye on one’s important belongings; avoiding the rundown and empty sections of town at night; taking it easy on the booze in unfamiliar settings; or not antagonizing Moroccan hash dealers into a knife-slashing frenzy by mocking their repetitive drug-peddling intonations. These are the simple things that every traveler must follow. These are common sense.

However, rather than this generic set of finite travel skills that guarantee enhanced success, it is perhaps an adept reaction to the unknown or the overall manner in which travelers present themselves that have the ultimate and lasting effect on travel experiences. These are the things that can’t always be taught or written in bullet form. For example: a sudden involuntary expression on a visitor’s face when confronted by a stranger or presented with an unforeseen situation. One’s body language, both immediate and over time, constantly reveals their attitude and their ability to think on their feet. Whether positive or negative, their manner is processed and interpreted by the collective soul of a society. Rather than harming the individual members, however, the end product of a travelers’ poor social approach ultimately negatively affects the experience of the traveler. Because the nature of the interaction the locals will have with someone who entertains an unappealing countenance may be very much skewed toward unpleasant. No one can be sure how their behavior will be interpreted by an unfamiliar culture. But one can remain open-minded, positive and prepared for all types of unforeseen interactions while traveling.

The results of the myriad scenarios and interactions a traveler endures during a journey are what become the building blocks or positive experiences of a pleasant trip. And because every culture presents its own challenges to unlock, there are limitless new opportunities to hone-in on successful micro-strategies for maintaining a smooth ride through a novel environment.

Some may argue that maintaining a positive attitude or simply being friendly are examples of precisely the same general traveling rules I claim are so culturally inadequate. Perhaps so, but the nuances inherent in the multitude of cultural intricacies are always variable, even within a small subculture or individual. Being so unpredictable, a general rule cannot always be applied to every situation. Consider that even in your own country a smile, for example, can be misconstrued by the beholder.

Others may assert that because foreign cultures are so unpredictable and difficult to compartmentalize that their complex distinctions don’t warrant the hefty amount of overanalyzation required to establish the aforementioned micro-strategies. They would declare that rather than attempting to deconstruct the convolution of a culture not fully understood, simplicity in approach would behoove the traveler. That simply being as friendly, social, and warm-hearted as possible, in conjunction with the physical entity of a smile, is the best manner in which to garner a positive interaction from a community. It’s true that often times when traveling one can rely on unadulterated serendipity, seemingly unprovoked generous offers of hospitality, and sometimes even plain, dumb luck. But one cannot always depend on unassuming locals to arrive at the exit of their bus bearing gifts of kindness for the esteemed traveler. Besides being steadily hardened by increasing hordes of travelers throughout the years, even the locals in the most remote locations have learned that the capitalistic way of life pervades their existence. And often times the desire for the almighty dollar precludes cultural customs of hospitality. Whereas appreciating and enjoying good travel fortune is an appropriate humble response indeed, expecting serendipity at every corner is counter-definitional. The traveler is responsible for making a concerted effort toward gaining a positive experience.

 Finally, perhaps the travel mantra of micro-strategizing has a place in the grander scheme of the social order. Surely the principles of body language and open-mindedness can be readily applied to everyday life. It seems only natural that if every society has its unique inner-workings that are indeterminate and unpredictable, then one’s own culture cannot be separated, in the way that it behaves and mutates, from any other culture. For example, even within the confines of one’s own community, if a person were to maintain an heir of positive attitude and body language, their own situation might improve insofar as the manner they are treated by their contemporaries. This seems difficult in practice, as many are lulled to disinterest in the comfort of their own culture. But the allure of anything from improving someone else’s day to being treated better by society in general to the chance of entering into unforeseen and opportune situations must be considered. Optimistically approached, every day could seem like another day traveling and experiencing a fresh world, even in the repetitive comforts of a home town. Perhaps this technique of using nearly indefinable skills, which can be refined while traveling in foreign cultures or even in one’s own, could be a better, more positive way to lead life in a sometimes lackluster journey on this planet.