Embrace diversity as you travel
As I left camp today, I did not expect to meet a biker gang. Or a busload of Korean tourists.
Today I only wanted to get a quick sandwich at Subway nearby for my lunch before my hike in Bryce Canyon. That Subway was the craziest place. Busiest Subway I have ever seen!
While I am in line to order, there is a biker club of about 30 or so guys stopped for lunch as well. Leather jackets, tattoos, … you get the idea.
There is also a tour bus full of Korean tourists stopped at the same time.
After getting my order, I sat in my truck to eat my lunch. It was then that I observed the most unusual exchange. One of the Korean ladies goes over to the bikers, as they are getting ready to leave on their bikes, and asks for a photo op. They oblige.
Then one of the bikers goes over to an outdoor table of the Korean tourists and asks for a selfie with the Korean lady! Half the members of the Korean tour jump up eager to get in the photo op.
Then it becomes a free for all. The Koreans are all going over to the bikers to get pics with them and the bikes, and the bikers all want pics with the Koreans! What a cultural exchange!!
No, I didn’t take pictures. Sometimes it is more interesting to just observe.
Four things I try to cultivate when I travel
1. Be brave
Both of these groups of people were curious and interested in the other and it only took one brave woman to strike up a conversation. People travel to experience new things. Be brave enough to follow through!
As I travel all over the United States, I am excited and sometimes a bit disoriented (in a good way) as I discover new people, places, landscapes and local customs.
The change forces me out of my comfort zone and allows me to experience many things in different ways.
My brain is excited!
New ideas and surroundings are ways that our brains and opinions grow.
Allow your curiosity to blossom as you travel.
Ask questions. Find answers. It opens up a new world and a new appreciation of the life around you.
How do you do that?
2. Be open to trying new things.
Food is always an easy thing. A food you never tried might be just the way to start a conversation with a local.
If you are a bit shy and not used to striking up a conversation, ask your local waitress or restaurant owner or fruit stand owner. I always find it easier to talk to a person who is going to be talking with you anyway!
I like to get fresh, local fruits and veggies wherever I travel. The variety from one location to the next is usually significant. I stopped in several fruit stands in Utah and they had over 20 different kinds of peaches!
You will find that most people are more than happy to share their knowledge and expertise with you.
Be polite, be cheerful, be genuinely interested and be grateful for the advice you get and you will be amazed at the wealth of knowledge that people will share.
Whether you visit a city or a national park, there are always people that have knowledge about a place. All it takes is a little investigating in the right way and the courage to speak to other people.
3. Be observant
Large cities or the wide open spaces of national parks, it doesn’t matter. The process is the same. Bryce Canyon is about as far away as you can be from Cleveland, Ohio. Culturally, I mean. But Cleveland is what is normal for me. It is comfortable and known. I feel relaxed and at home there. It is a place that has memories and routines. And few surprises. For me, at least. But for other visitors, it can hold lots of treasure.
I grew up in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Lots of eastern European immigrants historically settled there. So, lots of German, Polish and Czechoslovakian ethnic foods. I grew up eating sauerkraut, kielbasa and perogies. Not everyday, mind you, but these are not unknown to me. But they are to many people. Try them if you get to the area!
In any city, try to go to an area where you might find people going about their everyday lives. You will be able to observe more people in a shorter period of time and will be able to get a feel for the area.
If you get to Cleveland, be sure to visit the Westside Farmers Market for the most interesting experience. I wouldn’t say it would be on the tourist recommended circuit, but I highly recommend it for the cultural immersion into the heart of the area.
I remembered going there when I was a child and young adult. When I went back recently, my friends took me there to visit.
Early mornings are best, check days and times especially around holidays. The diversity of people, the good-natured feel of the salt-of-the earth customers and vendors and the smells are out of this world. And the architecture is not to be missed!
Pre-made pastries, perogies to take home and sandwiches made to order, along with all the fruits, veggies and meats available make for a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and smells. Culturally diverse and different from any Market that I have ever been in.
Start a conversation with one of the vendors or locals.
Some of these people have been here in the same “stall” for over 50 years! Locals know the most amazing things. Anything from the best pastry in their booth to the best restaurants to eat at. Don’t be afraid to ask.
Shared interests are always good conversation starters.
While you are there in Cleveland, be sure to observe the architecture. Lots of German stone masons settled the area and the expertise and uniqueness of the bridges, buildings and even the gravestones reflect that. So if you had an interest in architecture, local history, German heritage, stone masons or the WPA (Works Project Administration), these would be all great conversation starters.
Ask questions, listen with interest, be open to trying new things and local people will regale you with interesting stories! Wherever you go, you will find people are proud of their heritage and the place they live in.
4. Develop a sense of wonder
Traveling involves experiencing the diversity of the local culture and developing a sense of wonder about your surroundings.
Get accustomed to finding the differences in age groups, clothing styles, gender stereotypes, subtle accents, cultural heritages stemming from generations of immigrants and local customs.
If you travel with a sense of wonder about the world around you, you will never be bored.
You will always find something to be fascinated by from the landscapes to the architecture, the food to the clothing styles, the diversity of the people impacted by everything from the weather to the economy.
Just look and experience the rainbow of diversity that surrounds you from place to place.
If you travel for the experience, I encourage you to embrace diversity. Explore off the beaten path and be open to new adventures. You won’t regret it!
When visiting a landmark, national park or other place of interest, actually talk to the docent or ranger there.
They know lots of things! They are there usually because they love what they do and have more knowledge about the area than what they can say on the daily tours they give.
Ask – they will love you for giving them the opportunity to share knowledge. I have found the most unusual trails, the most beautiful scenic roads and remarkable stories about the history of a place. Be open to “take the road less traveled” and you will more often than not, be delighted.
Embrace diversity as you travel to gain the experiences of a lifetime.
Thanks for reading. I hope I expand your view of the world and give you a few tips for creating your own gorgeous images.
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