I can’t wait to be able to travel freely again and visit somewhere beautiful and serene, honestly. Too bad that some of us have to wait a little while longer to do it. If you’re like me, then what we should do meanwhile is to master these skills.
A new language
Raise your hands if you’ve wanted to learn new languages but you’ve done other things instead. Don’t worry, I’m with you here. And I’m telling you that now’s a good time.
Travelers should be able to speak some foreign phrases. Yes, you can speak English in cities or places of tourism. But we’ll be less anxious when we take public transportation and ordering menus if we know some foreign languages.
Besides, if we travel outside the cities, where we can find more beautiful scenes and learn local cultures, the people are less likely to speak English.
With the abundance of online learning nowadays, it’s way easier to learn other languages. There are apps like Duolingo that you can use as well. If you think you’ll learn more through conversations with the natives, you can use Tandem.
Unsure about which language you should learn first? Think about the place you want to visit right after we’re free of the pandemic, that may help you.
Cultures and traditions
Once you’ve learned the language, the next step is to learn the cultures and traditions. The best way to do this is spending the day with locals, preferably from different areas of the country you’re interested in.
Amazon has a beta-testing platform called Explore that can connect you with a local and have a one-on-one tour through working-class neighborhood. Although, this platform is still in development, so participants need an invite to book an experience.
Additionally, learn to talk to strangers. I understand that with it, we need to learn to trust as well because as kids we were taught not to talk to strangers. But, strangers/locals can help you find places and maybe underrated attractions.
To start, you can always try talking to shop owners or hotel staff in your own language. If you want conversations, you can go to local bars and start chatting. After some practice, you’ll feel more comfortable and you can find out the ones who are willing to spare their time for you.
Also, depending on where you want to visit, you may need to learn how to use squat toilet. I mean I needed to learn how to wipe with toilet paper and use the standalone bidet when I went to Europe.
Lean how car works
If you’re planning for a road trip, then you should know cars, including how to change a flat tire. My dad was the only one who could do it, but after he passed away, nobody in my family can do it, and I wish I had asked him how. I mean, we can always find it on the internet, but it’s different when it’s your own family member.
There are a lot ot learn, like how to boost up the car, loosen the lug nuts, and if your car has wheel locks, learn where the key is, how to jumpstart a car, and so on. That way if there’s nobody around you that you can ask for help, you can get out of your problem by yourself.
That said, you can also find services that can help you with flat tires on the way.
Survival and outdoor skills
Being outdoors is a really good thing. But if you’ve never been outdoors before, find tips on camping, biking, paddling, and hiking, particularly on the places you want to visit.
It’s always a good idea to know how to use a first aid kit as well as perform CPR and the Heimlich maneuver (in the right, up-to-date procedures). Knowing how to stop yourself or someone else from bleeding, treat shock, and self-defense are also important if you’re going to stay outdoors for quite a while.
Some companies like Rei has done workshops on topics like outdoor survival skills, compass navigation, and stargazing. It can also give you information about cold and heat injuries, wound management, and altitude sickness.
So, you can check them out and get the required knowledge. After all, who would we rely on if we’re miles away from the nearest road?
Another thing that you need to prepare is your own body. If you’re planning to go trekking or mountaineering, your body needs to be able to handle it. One easy way to do it is performing box step-ups whenever you can, maybe when you’re on a series marathon or something like that.
Alternatively, you can start working out with a focus on the legs. But, there’s a reason why a lot of people dislike leg days. Therefore, if you think you’ll be demotivated by leg workouts pretty quickly, make it fun, doable, and simple like those step-ups.
Photography or videography
Whenever we travel, we want to document it as much as possible and post it on our favorite social media platform. Maybe right now it’s the best time to learn photography or videography so that what you’ll capture later will impress a lot of people.
Like many other things, there are a lot of online photography/filming tutorials and classes that you can find and learn from. You don’t always need to have advanced camera or all that gears, your smartphone can be a great tool to do the job, and there are lots of phone photography/filming lessons on the internet.
Converting many things
You may ask “We have smartphones now, so why should we learn this?” True, our smartphones can do many things, but it’s easier if we learn it so that we don’t have to spend extra time taking out our phones and type first.
And it’s not just about imperial to metric, Celsius to Fahrenheit or vice versa. Other things like local currency and exchange rates will help you tremendously in your travels.
For one, we can prevent ourselves from overspending and get places that are affordable. Understanding conversions also help us obey speed limits, order drinks in restaurants/bars, and dress appropriately.
Have you learned all the skills above? If you have, share some tips to other readers below. If you haven’t, happy learning!
Sources
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/advice/2016/02/11/travel-skills/80183606/
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