We’ve all had our share of cultural faux pas and lost in translation moments over the years. Here are some useful tips with relatable stories to enhance your travel experiences.
I eagerly showed up in the living room expecting my German host brother waiting for me to head to school together. To my utter shock, he had already left. “German time!” remarked my host mom.
Being a few minutes late would be relatively acceptable in India but in Germany, it’s a different ball game. “Before time is on time. On time is late,’ was my first CQ lesson during a cultural exchange program as a teenager.
‘Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is your ability to function effectively in a culturally diverse situation’ – be it your workplace, business or leisure travels and even at home!
So why do you need to be culturally intelligent? Think of the times when you experienced culture shock in a new country, dealt with frustration because you didn’t speak the tongue, lost a business deal or wondered ‘Isn’t that just common sense?’
Here are some tips on how you can enhance your CQ on your next gateway:
1. Make a list of useful phrases.
Making a list of 10 useful phrases, googling the right pronunciations, and keeping them handy while on the road will help you instantly connect with the locals. Think of words like Hello, Thank you, Please, Excuse me, How much? Which way is….?, Goodbye, Yes, No, and so on. Why not add a national song or a dance routine to dive a little deeper into the culture? During my month-long stay in Yuyuan, a historical Chinese village, I picked a song that played on the local radio and learnt it with the help of my Chinese friend. Guess what, the earworm turned into a professional performance on the cultural night with my friend accompanying me on the guitar; the auditorium packed with local villagers swayed and sang along.
2. Go on a walking tour.
Most urban cities have a ‘free guided tour’ hosted by young enthusiasts passionate about sharing their culture. You can tip them based on what you feel is appropriate. The guides weave in personal stories, share local recommendations and cultural insights that you won’t find elsewhere. Recollecting some memorable walking tours from my past travels – Gazi in Albania shared his struggles of buying a loaf of bread during Soviet times, Orsi in Hungary made sure we learnt the right pronunciation of Buda-pesht, Anna in Ukraine introduced us to a quirky terrace restaurant in Lviv without a menu – the Chef would prepare anything based on your description, and Mohammed in Istanbul got us hooked to apple tea!
3. Have a local friend.
You will experience the city with a whole new perspective with local friends or host families. Think of an old friend from your study abroad days, a work colleague or someone you met on social media. What started with a simple eye contact and a warm exchange of smiles on a public transport in India with a Japanese yoga teacher led to a homestay in the heart of Tokyo. The two-week experience gave me an opportunity to dive into the Japanese way of life – politeness, harmony, perfection, the importance of hygiene through bathing and footwear culture. I learnt to mindfully segregate my outdoor, home and washroom slippers after a few embarrassing bloopers!
4. Attend festivals and sample local cuisines.
One cannot leave a city without trying the local food – be it Svickova na smetane in Czech Republic or Acharuli Khachapuri in Georgia. Even better if you can learn to prepare it or watch a live demo session. Looking up for regional festivals while planning your itinerary will give you a chance to immerse in the local flavor. Food and festivals are great ways to exchange cultures, initiate small talk and build long-lasting friendships.
5. Write a blog/journal.
Penning down your experience is not just a great way to document your travels but also to learn something new. Maintaining a journal, illustrating, painting, writing poems, or simply sharing photos with taglines on Instagram – just make sure to include at least one fun fact about the culture. I write a WordPress travel blog under ‘kulturekaleidoscope’ with personal travel stories and cultural tidbits. Reading up and learning about the history, neighboring countries, customs and traditions, folklore, values, and beliefs go a long way in bridging cultural gaps and shaping worldviews.
Are you a curious traveler? Do you have travel stories to reflect upon and add to your CQ basket? Share them on our Instagram: @sojourn_in_saudi/@dqliving.
Palavi Kele is a curious traveler and blogger. She is currently on board as a Cultural Intelligence Consultant with Arabius and helps expat families and multicultural teams thrive in the Kingdom. Having traveled to, lived and worked in 30+ countries, she documents her Saudi adventures on her Instagram page @sojourn_in_saudi.
