Don’t get me wrong, I like the glam Instagram pics and videos as much as the next person. I mean they are GORGEOUS. Regardless, you won’t see pics of me in a flowing dress with perfectly curled and styled hair running barefoot through the desert. It’s not my style and I’m not sorry because that’s not what I want to create here. I want to share my travel experiences, tips and tricks, and hopefully inspire you to start planning your next travel adventure. You will see me dressed practically for the destination and the activities. The fun of travel is the journey and the destination, and you experience it more fully if you don’t completely stand out. 

I find it important to 1) always be respectful of different cultures and their customs; 2) learn the most basic words of the local language, and 3) blend in as much as possible. So, let me explain a bit more about each of those topics. 

• Part of travel is experiencing different cultures and customs. This can be a lot of fun, or a very uncomfortable situation. Living in the southern United States, a region often referred to as the Bible Belt, a lot of stores, restaurants, and museums are closed or have adjusted operating hours on Sunday. While a similar concept likely applies in other countries, you may find that it is observed on a different day of the week. Saturday and Sunday are considered the weekend in the US, but some countries consider Friday and Saturday the weekend. Different holidays will be observed depending on the religious population(s) as well. 
• Learning a second language is challenging but knowing some basic words and phrases will help you communicate. Learn to say hello, goodbye, thank you, do you speak English, etc. There are several options; two of my favorites are DuoLingo and Mango because they are app based and they combine speaking, reading, and hearing the language. Learning the basics is helpful and shows a respect for the country. I have found people to be more patient and even try harder to help me when I made the effort to learn basic communication in the native language. I was by no means fluent, and my pronunciation was, let’s be honest, probably atrocious. Yet I made the effort and people appreciated it. 
• Blending in helps you experience travel in a different way, more like a local. My first tip for blending in is to think about how people dress at your destination. Do a little research and pack accordingly. Much like you don’t want to be the person who attends a formal wedding wearing ripped jeans and a hoodie, you don’t want to be the traveler everyone is staring at because of your clothes. Americans tend to wear a lot of school/university/sports branded apparel and we love our baseball hats. This will make you immediately identifiable as an American, a tourist, and potentially a target for pick pocketing and tourist scams. Consider swapping out the branded apparel for something more lowkey unless you are attending a sporting event for that team. Hats seem to be having a moment and I’m seeing more baseball hats in my travels as well.