Forget what your mother told you… talk to strangers!

Jonathan · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 185

While there may be times and situations where it pays to be prudent, most of the time there's nothing better to do while traveling than talking to strangers! Maybe you'll get insight, advice, or just a random tidbit from a local... maybe you'll get insight into yet a third culture from a fellow traveler... maybe (well, the list goes on and on).

As much as I've loved going to and seeing new places and doing new things nothing comes close to the people I've met on my various travels. Even the most mundane activities can become adventures when you strike up a conversation with someone new... and this is also how you can end up with unofficial tour guides, dinner invitations, etc.

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

If you're a little shy, asking people for help/suggestions/directions is a good ice-breaker. I went on a quest for fried plantains in Phillipsburg, St. Martin once, and ended up at some off-the-main-drag shack that the locals like. I found it by asking the cashier at a gift shop where to go. We had a short conversation about different ways to cook plantains, and then she pointed me in the right direction. Turns out that in plantain preparation -- like everything else in cooking -- everyone has their own way of doing things. A lot of people like to mash them down as they cook, but I prefer not to. Rather, I just slice the plaintains thinner to begin with.

The plantains were good, too. Mmmmm. I like them with salt and a fruit-based hot-sauce (these are big in the Caribbean).

A friend of mine once asked for directions to a noodle shop in some town at the northern end of Honshu, and he ended up with two drinking buddies for the evening.

I do get a little weirded out by over-friendly locals, though. The last time I was in Paris I was buying cheese at some random fromagerie and this cute guy started talking to me. He was asking a lot of questions and at first I thought he was just being friendly but when he started asking me what my plans were for the rest of the day and following me I started getting a little weirded out. Especially since he started asking me questions like if I had a boyfriend and he didn't believe me when I told him I was married and in Paris with my husband, who was at a business meeting. I got rid of him once and then he caught up to me again. It really bothered me because he kept asking me where my husband was so I phoned my husband right then and there and said "I'm really freaking out right now because some guy is following me and won't leave me alone!" That got rid of the guy...but if it hadn't my next stop would have been to walk over to a policeman. Especially since I think the guy was trying to proposition me for sex, but I'm not entirely sure...he just kept going on about how the French appreciate beautiful women. I kept wondering who he was talking about, because I can't get anyone to give me a second look in the US, which makes the whole thing even more unsettling.

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Since I sometimes travel alone, it is nice when someone talks to you and they can give you tips on your destination and vice-versa. I've learned so much from talking to the locals, things about their culture, religion and economy, which fascinates me.

*One time I did NOT feel like talking was when I just boarded a long-haul flight and took some medicine for a migraine I was in the process of getting. The woman next to me, while nice enough and interesting, proceeded to talk my head off! I think the medicine finally kicked in and I fell asleep!

squirrel · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 74 Location: Bucharest, Romania

I love talking to strangers... they always have interesting insight on local "thingies" I have no idea about...

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

I did some talking to strangers on my recent trip to China, but unfortunately I don't know enough of the language yet to have any real good conversations. However, it was fun to practice! I did manage to talk to someone about my cats :-) People were nice about my "newbie" grammar and pronunciation, and were quite pleased that a foreigner like me (Euro-descent, from America) was even bothering to learn their language.

steve_irwin · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 30

Its quite useful to talk to strangers, you not only learn a lot about their country and culture, but you can also get some good tips. Most people are actually quite friendly to tourists, even if you're British! ;)

There are some issues to remember however:

-Don't tell strangers any specifics of your trip, such as hotel or specific locales. Some "strangers" might decide you won't be needing that expensive camera anymore...

-Take the local conditions into account. Large cities with higher levels of poverty and crime (ie. Shanghai, New York, Calcutta) will generally have more "opportunists" looking to turn a quick buck, and some of them aren't worried about the law. After all, they're about to starve anyway; they have nothing to lose by robbing you.

-Try to judge by appearance. Yes this is a bit superficial, and there are thieves who dress up in a business suit, but generally those who look more respectable are less likely to mug you. Someone who can afford a $3000 Armani suit is not going to improve their situation by stealing your $200 camera. But be wary anyway, as some thieves do dress up.

Jonathan · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 185

LOL... yes Steve, good points! Talking to strangers does NOT mean talking to any/every stranger! :wink:

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Laura wrote: I did some talking to strangers on my recent trip to China, but unfortunately I don't know enough of the language yet to have any real good conversations. However, it was fun to practice! I did manage to talk to someone about my cats :-) People were nice about my "newbie" grammar and pronunciation, and were quite pleased that a foreigner like me (Euro-descent, from America) was even bothering to learn their language.
One thing about people is Asia- a lot of them are really friendly when approaching foreigners so they can practice their English. While this is admirable (for ANYONE who is trying to learn a second language) it is sometimes annoying, say for example you are on a train trip and are trying to take in the scenery and your newfound travel buddy is asking you what your favorite color is... :?