Between international programs and mission trips, Harding students are presented with a lot of options to travel outside of the country. There are also a few students who spend their summers lying on the Mediterranean coast or hiking in the Alps with their families every year, but that option is a far-off dream for us mere mortals.
After spending last spring studying at Harding in Paris, I feel like I could have my own show on the Travel Channel about what to do and what not to do while traveling in Europe. For those of you packing your bags to study overseas in the next few weeks or if you are thinking about jet-setting in the near future, here are my five tips for traveling in Europe.
1.Pack lightly.
Before embarking on a backpacking journey, you are told over and over to pack as light as possible because you will have to carry your bag everywhere. Washing clothes in the bathroom sink every few days may not seem appealing so you decide you might want to pack your entire wardrobe into a hiking backpack. Good luck. If you want to be an ultra-minimalist you can whittle your packing list down to three essential things: your passport, a credit card and a train pass. Anything else you will end up needing, theoretically, you can buy once you arrive at your destination. So don’t stress about anticipating every possible situation and packing for the unthinkable.
2.Learn a few key phrases.
Hello. Where is the bathroom? Where is the train station? How much does this cost? Don’t feel like you need to complete a Rosetta Stone course before you embark. Chances are, the local dialects will vary greatly and all of your hard work and preparation will be for naught. Instead spend that time learning cultural customs. You don’t want to have any mishaps like shaking with the wrong hand. Also, if there is a particular food that you cannot stand, it’s best to learn how to say it in multiple languages so you can avoid it on menus at all costs. Decoding menus and being surprised by your meal is half of the fun of exploring a new region, so keep an open appetite.
3.Practice your bargaining skills.
For all of you thrifters and lovers of Barkin’ Barn out there, outdoor markets in Europe will be your new favorite place to shop. From antiques to old books and prints to knick-knacks that may or may not be authentic, there is something for everyone under the maze of colored tents. Markets are the perfect place to hone your bargaining skills. Prices are highly negotiable and sometimes not even listed on the item. Since you are American, the likelihood of vendors raising their prices is high. If you feel as if your luck is running out, start walking away. The potential loss of a sale is a sure-fire way to catch their attention and lower the price even further.
4.Make new friends.
The quickest way to learn about a variety of cultures at one time is to have conversations with people staying in your hostels. Europe attracts travelers from every continent. The amount of stories and life experiences located in one dorm room of eight people is amazing.
5.Be flexible.
Travel plans can change on a whim. Train workers can strike, leaving a station full of passengers stranded. Storms can delay flights. There is no way to predict every possible scenario and to plan accordingly, so don’t even try. Instead, live in the moment and enjoy the time that you have. Know that you don’t have to arrive at the train station two hours before your departure. Instead, walk through a park, visit one last cathedral or enjoy another crepe.
The time you have to spend trekking across the globe is short, so enjoy every second of it.
