When you travel to some new places, do you always grab the chance of talking to the local people there? Or would you be too shy to do so?
I am not shy at all *laughs*! If I get a chance to, I would try to talk to as many local people as I could to understand the place more and to understand their life more. I think it's fun and so far I think I have been quite lucky to meet quite nice and helpful people during all my trips!
What about you?
[question posted by wondericequeen]
responses and comments:
Oh yes I think if you travel and do not connect with the locals then you might as well read a book about the place and save a lot of money, it seems strange to me that people would travel overseas and head for the places that their own countrymen frequent, Aussies do this a lot... I love meeting with different cultures. I was able to use my phone to translate words that I didn't understand. refurbished iPhones sold me one for cheap! [lilaclady]
Yes I think it's strange when people only stay in the hotels. [wondericequeen]
Not really. I mean if I need to interact with someone like to ask directions I will do that I'm not afraid to ask for help but I don't necessarily go seek out someone just because they are local just to speak to them. That's especially the case if I go somewhere and they speak a different language. Depends on the situation and if need arises but just because they live there doesn't mean much to me. [dreamy1]
I think one of the greatest parts of any trip is getting to know the people and the country of the people we visit. The only way to do this is to learn the language and use it by talking to native speakers. It certainly adds to any trip if you are prepared to do this blessed be [ESKARENA1]
We are rather enthusiastic about places we like, so sometimes the locals try to talk to us, instead. Once on a trip, we saw a pretty garden-like outdoor shopping center. It was upscale, so we stopped to look a bit. I was reading the directions on a sign and this guy came up and asked if we needed help. I said no, I was just admiring the sign, which was true. He asked how we liked the shopping center and we said it was the most beautiful one we'd ever seen. It turned out this guy owned the shopping center and quite a few of the stores in it as well. He invited us to his restaurant where he insisted on giving us a bit to eat, then he took us next door to his bookstore. Chatting about the different books, we discovered that we had quite a bit in common, and he ended up giving us a very nice book, too. I picked up on of those travel book lights so I could read on the trip back. I think he spent about an hour just showing us around and talking. We had a great time and learned a lot. It never hurts to chat up the locals. [drannhh]
That's really an interesting experience! Indeed that would make the trip more memorable and interesting! [wondericequeen]
I love to chit chat with local people of new place..I have ever visited..!! Like this you come to know the real face of that place. Their real culture and true self heart!! Yes But will never get too much invlovled with any of the locals there..as at the end of the day they are strangers only!! Although it makes you journey and visit ot that place much more easier and happy...!! :) [stella1989]
I always try to talk to local people when possible. Fortunately I know five languages (italian, spanish, english,french and as little bit of arabic) and this helps to have relationships. foreign language learning is invaluable during travel. [franziska]
I don't believe how do u know all the important languages in the world eng,spanish,french,italian now go for German too hehe [chetz21]
I ALWAYS do it! It's probably one of the funniest parts of every travel. I love to interact with foreign people, especially with old people. They usually have time and will to talk to you, and they know a lot about everything is worth knowing! I think young people are instead often busy with their matters and not always disposed to talk. [thelondoner]
I definitely try to talk to locals when I travel. It's the best way to get to know a place and what they best things to do are. [angemac23]
I would like to talk to the locals, if my husband was not in such a hurry to avoid doing that. He wants to get on the road and travel from one place to another. The only locals we talked to was the gas station attendants when we had to pay for the gas inside, the waitress who took our order, the desk clerk at the motel rooms, and my husband did talk to a lady who told us the Food Court at the Columbus Mall was not open until ten am. Oh there were some cute puppies, but we could not have an intelligent conversation with them. I do not think that counts, except for a motel owner who had family in Manitoba, and told us about them. I think he wanted us to stay there, you know, either buy or rent a house nearby. It was a nice area and I hope my husband decides to move down there, but I doubt it, he loves flat prairies and very cold winters way to much. (sob,) [suspenseful]
Yes. I think travel is not only sightseeing, is feeling and know. Talk to locals is a good way to feel and know the place and people. I would be shy sometimes, but I always do that. [tujibing]
I like to talk to the local people too. It's the best way to get a real insight into the country. They usually tend to be very happy to talk and very helpful also. It's even better if you can speak the language a bit. [maybebaby]
if i travel to any place i will talk to them becouse i might want some help from them or want to know something..i think if i goes for toursts i think they will help me [hemalover]
I do try and talk to locals when I travel, it makes the trip more interesting and often times it's the best way to learn where all the hidden favorites are. Like bakeries and cafes or shops that are usually not widely published. [gmakesmoney]
Not only that but in a number of places I have visited I have stayed with local families and tried to experience how they live all the best urban [urbandekay]
Oh yes, I am. I befriend them and it's very unlikely that I go home without talking to someone else from that place. It's a nice way to get to know more about the palce,thier cultures and about the people rather than reading them all from the info sheets ir books. :) Besides, I was able to learn some tasty health food recipes the last time I talked to a local. [cefaz_21]
i love trying to learn new languages my favorite is spanish i have lots of hispanic friends and we talk sometimes i massacre the language but they are understanding and try to teach me i dont travel much but if i did it would be interesting to discover new things and learn different cultures. try to picture my life like theirs and see how i would manage [princessa200145]
Yes, when I travel I try to converse with local people. It gives me an insight into their culture and living style and I get to know new things about them. Sometimes, due to langauge barrier, it becomes difficult to communicte with local people. I know there are language translation services but those get expensive. [dpk262006]
well i do. i think it's nice to get to know locals and try to talk to them. and see if there is any difference when dealing with people on foreign countries. or is just the same with my country. well i think there is really some difference but basically we are the same that we like to interact. but of course our culture so different that our life has so many differences in our belief and the way we talk to people. [bluewaves]
Whenever I travel to any eign countries or other domestic places I would like to communicate with the local residents there. I learn a lot when chatting with the local inhabitants when hanging around in the shopping malls and market, taking food in the restaurant etc. Sometimes I did take photos together with them. If I couldn't communicate in their languages I then use the body language. [lkbooi]
hehe talking with the hotel waiters,workers and then taking the photos with them ......... [chetz21]
One of the greatest joys of travelling is going to new places and meeting new people...So if you chose to shy away from mixing with the local people,you will not be fully enjoy the fruits of your travel.. In most places I have visited,the local people are very friendly to outsiders.They are a store house of information about the culture and the habits of the people in that place....In many places ,the locals earn their bread by selling their home made artifacts to tourists .I try to buy as much as I can from these people,and take these articles away with me as souveniors or as gift for my friends.... They also love to pose for Photographs and are very helpful too... [mithrarao]
Yes I love handmade stuff too! And if I see some of the local people sell those stuff, I would buy and give to my friends later on! [wondericequeen]
Of course. Talk to the locals is an opportunity to improve my english speaking skills,and I can know more about the local curlture,it is a good way to have a curltural exchange. [adudu909]
Yeah.. I do talk to the locals whenevr I am vacationing or for work purposes.. I just like to talk to every1 who is besides me, I am a very lively kind of person, I can't keep quiet for quite a long time.. I always like to be in the crowd, to be interactive to almost every1...So, its almost usual that whoever I meet wherever I go, I try talking to each of them... [Lifeless]
Hi my friend, yeah I think I would be probably shy on first day.I would talk to them later, if I would stay longer.Maybe third, 4th day I would come and ask them about what is interesting to do there, where i would be.i am sure they can give us the best recomendation about food, or where to buy some stuff or find some places, what only locals know about.It is really good to talk to them, I just wish not to be so shy. [laurika]