Guest Post: Traveling Abroad As A Family

Traveling with loved ones can be an exciting, unforgettable time. It can, however, also be a big headache if proper planning and accommodations aren’t made. Below are some things you should consider for a smooth and memorable vacation:

Destination and Accommodations

Plan accordingly for age-appropriate destinations for children. Consider their safety, the busyness of the city, fun attractions for kids and the affordability of the place you are visiting.

Also consider using a vacation rental instead of booking a hotel – it is a great way to get a feel of how the locals live. You can save some money too by looking for vacation rentals on sites such as Vrbo or Airbnb for affordable accommodation options for your family.

Air Travel

When it comes to air travel, try booking window seats so that the family can stay together and children have a little more freedom and space from other passengers. If anyone in your family has special needs, be sure to notify the airline you are using beforehand. They will most likely be able to accommodate any special requests that you may have.

Packing

Don’t pack anything you can’t carry. Ancient streets often mean cobbled or unevenly paved roads, making rolling backpacks difficult to navigate. And, If you go to gems of cities such as Florence, Italy, the buildings stay true to their old world appeal, meaning tiny elevators or no elevators at all. Hauling heavy luggage up many flights of stairs may be a good workout, but it is nonetheless a hassle.

Moreover, if you’re planning a trip across many cities via train or plane, lugging your luggage from one form of transport to another is a burden.

Also, instead of packing your whole closet, pack a few key clothing pieces for you and your family that can be mixed and matched effortlessly with other easy-to-wash clothing items. 

A favorite toy can keep a child company during a long trip, so be sure to include this with your packing. Also remember to pack any necessary medications and keep your family’s immune systems strong and healthy with plenty of vitamin C. 

Budget

There will be plenty of souvenirs that will be tempting to buy; however, it is important to keep a budget for your expenses. Research beforehand for popular cheap eats that you know your children will enjoy. If your children are picky and you’re worried they won’t be interested in the local food you want to try, consider telling them about the places you hope to visit and “hype” up the food, so they’ll be excited to try it when it comes. You can also pack familiar snacks from home that the children already like in case the local cuisine isn’t to their liking.

Keep in mind

Being in close parameters with people who know you well (and therefore, know how to push your buttons) can take its toll on anyone, especially after a long day of traveling. While traveling is supposed to be a form of a getaway, there is always a chance of getting on each other’s nerves. Just be aware of this possibility and step outside (safely, don’t get lost!) for a breather when needed.

Traveling has so many benefits, especially for children. When kids have the opportunity to travel, they gain exposure to different cultures and languages, and they gain a better appreciation for their own culture and other cultures’ ways of living. Such exposure to different languages is brain expanding, and promotes a sense of adventure and creative thinking.

Safety

It is important before your trip that you discuss safety measures with your family, such as

what to do when a family member gets lost. If you’re bringing electronic devices, have each others’ phone numbers ready, and have local family members or authorities’ numbers ready for emergencies.

Traveling can be a fulfilling, grand adventure that creates bonds with your family. By planning ahead and being prepared, you and your family can have a shared experience that you won’t soon forget.

 

Virginia Cunningham is a freelance writer and mother of three who loves traveling abroad with her entire family. She has been all over the world with her children, and every experience has been enjoyable because they were always well-prepared.

Ni Hao! & Xie Xie!

Ni Hao (pronounced nee how) is a common phrase in China. In Chinese Mandarin it means Hello.  It can be spoken anytime of the day and once said, can spark interesting conversations. None of which we completely understood.  Xie Xie (pronounced Shi-e Shi-e) is also a common phrase.  In Chinese Mandarin it means Thank You.

The Chinese language is very complex. Especially when there are similar words with different meanings depending on the tone that is used.  Take the word ma.  Depending on tone it can mean mother, horse, hemp, or scold.  Say it the wrong way, and you may have called your mother a horse!!

There is also differences in the language depending on the region that you live.  The Chinese language spoken in Shanghai is vastly different than the language spoken in Northern or Southern China.  Chinese Mandarin differs from Chinese Cantonese.  People who know Cantonese understand Mandarin, but people who know Mandarin don't understand Cantonese.  It's enough to make your head spin, but we were always safe with Ni Hao & Xie Xie!

We had a great time in China and will post in the coming weeks tons of pictures, full descriptions of our time there, and the second webisode of Take A Leap by mid-February.  We will also share a story about a chance meeting that came at the tail end of our trip than will truly shape the direction of our future.  As for now, we are still recuperating and adjusting to normal life and getting back into the groove of work.  Yet, we couldn't resist sharing these exhilarating pictures of us atop The Great Wall in Beijing. It was -5 Celsius and we were COLD!! It was in the record books as one of the coldest days in almost 50 years. Just our luck!!

Sharee & Rhonda

Rhonda

Sharee

5 Ways to Immerse Yourself in Local Culture

We had differing opinions as to what this month's Traveling Brown Girls Blog Carnival topic was about.  So we are approaching this two ways.  Rhonda will identify 5 ways to immerse yourself in your own community.  Sharee will identify 5 ways to immerse yourself in another country as a local.

Rhonda

1)  Attend an international festival in your community.  The 18th Annual Columbia International Festival will be held April 13 & 14, 2013. 

2)  Take a foreign language at the local community college.  Spanish and French are commonly offered.

3)  Enjoy the night life at a local dance club that plays variety of music. The Salsa Cabana in Columbia, SC is open on Fridays and Saturdays with a DJ that mixes salsa, merengue, bachata, and reggaeton.

4)  Identify restaurants that have authentic international food. In Columbia, SC, the most authentic Italian restaurant is Villa Tronco.

5)  Take an international foods cooking class. The McCutchin House on the campus of the University of SC offers various international cuisine cooking classes for the general public.

Sharee

1)  Learn the essential language used by the locals.  "Hello", "Good-bye", "Excuse me", "Thank You", "Please", "Where is bathroom?", "How much does this costs?", and "Do you speak English?" are common phrases to learn. You can purchase a beginner's guide at your local AAA.

2)  Take the public transportation.

3)  Eat where the locals frequent.  Often these restaurants will not have an English menu if in non-English speaking country.

4)  Make friends with a local.  

5)  Stay in an apartment and not a hotel. VRBO is an excellent resource.

Just because we're twins, doesn't mean we always think alike!! So how would you interpret the title of this topic? 

Guest Post: Top 5 Common Excuses (Black) Americans Make for Not Travelling

This post is from guest blogger- Terra Robinson, a black chick In Europe. She has her MA in International Relations and a BA in Journalism. She currently live in Brussels, Belgium (aka the land of frites, chocolate and waffles) after going to school in London and living/learning French/working in Toulouse, France. 

Photo by Terra Robinson; Great Wall of China- Beijing, China

Below are the top five reasons I hear from fellow black Americans for not travelling abroad:

1. It’s Too Expensive! Travelling doesn’t have to be expensive if you know how to shop around. If you can avoid it, don’t go during the high season. Summer trips to Europe are ALWAYS expensive. Airfare, hotels, etc. all go up, plus it’s crowded to boot. Look at fares in the spring and fall. The weather is still nice and the prices are much lower. Or if you don’t mind the cold, winter fares (with the exception of Christmas/New Year) to much of Europe are rock bottom. Also, don't be afraid of travelling a bit off the beaten path. Central and Eastern Europe tend to be cheaper than Western Europe but still just as impressive in terms of things to see and activities to do.

Plus, you don’t have to limit your travels to Europe. Many Asian countries (with the obvious exception of Japan) are still much easier on the old American wallet than European countries, as are African and South/Central American countries.

For you young/solo travellers, staying in hostels can save you a ton of money, as can cooking dinner in your hostel/rented apartment and eating out at lunch time (when you can often get the same food much cheaper at restaurants) to get a taste for the local cuisine. And of course, use the Internet to compare prices and get the best deals.

2. Folks in Country X Are Racist! Please, there are racist folks in America and yet you still live there. That shouldn’t keep you from travelling. There are racist folks everywhere. Acknowledge it, deal with it and get exploring! Some of the countries I’ve been to have a reputation for being racist towards black folks (Germany, France, Spain and Italy just to name a few), but I haven’t had any racist incidents in those countries yet. I’ve actually found the Germans that I’ve met in my travels to be quite kind and helpful. I will admit that in some countries (*cough*France/Spain/Italy*

cough) black Americans are sometimes treated better than the native black population/African immigrants. Totally not fair I know. But still something to be aware of.

3. There Aren’t Any Black Folks in Country Y! There are always black folks. Always. I don’t care what country you go to, there will be black folks. You might not see them because there very well may only be two in the entire country, but they’re there. Besides there’s more than just black folks in the world. Go forth, travel and interact with some of our more melanin-challenged brethren. You might actually enjoy it or learn a few things. I know I have. Like when I learned the Romanian word for a black person after wandering by a school with kids playing outside in a town in which I'm pretty sure no black person had ever been through either before or since. Cute kids. Nice townfolks. Pretty sure I’m the first and only black person they have ever met...and to this day they probably still think I’m African, despite me repeating “Sunt American (I’m American!)!” over and over again.

4. I Don’t Speak the Language! This should never be a reason not to travel. And I won’t use the old line that “everyone speaks English anyway” because I can tell you from experience that it’s not true. In order to travel to a country that doesn’t have English as an official language, all you have to do is head to your local library and do a little research. Most libraries have travel books that include useful travel phrases in the back. You don’t need to be fluent, but learning some key phrases like “Where is...?”, “How much is...?”, “Do you have...?”, “Please”, “Thank you”, and “Excuse me” really do come in handy. Especially in France. Make an attempt to speak their language and the Frenchies (outside of Paris) will love you forever. Even if you butcher it like I do.

5. Why Would I Want to Leave America? OK yes, America is a pretty awesome country. But it’s not the only awesome country in the world. Just think about all of the things we study while going to school. We read about the wonder that is the Great Wall of China. I can tell you from experience, it’s even more awesome hiking it. We read about the Vietnam War...which became even more real for me as I took a river cruise down the Mekong, the same Mekong my father (a Vietnam vet) waded through with is gun over is head while praying that no snakes would decide to make him dinner. Travelling makes all those (often boring) history lessons more tangible, more alive.

And as much as I love Southern food, Tex Mex and other regional variations of typical American cuisine, the food lover in me also loves trying the local cuisine of whatever country I happen to be in. I did, however, draw the line at trying the fried scorpion in Hong Kong. I would have been more willing to try it had the thing not still been alive...and moving on its stick.

Granted, many of the above are reasons given by Americans in general, with the exception of #2 and #3. I think those two are very specific to black Americans and other minorities.

Now it's your turn! What are the top 5 reasons y’all hear from fellow black folks/minorities for not travelling?

Follow Terra's blog at http://americanblackchickinlondon.blogspot.com

Beijing on the Mind

We're heading to Beijing, China in December 2012. It's going to be in the midst of Winter, and as this picture alludes to, most likely snowing as we trek The Great Wall of China. I'm super excited about this because my sister and I are from the South. We don't get this type of weather often, and being prone to cold weather isn't in our DNA. But neither is the hot, scorching weather we've been experiencing as of late. Yet, we have to adjust to the environment at hand by being prepared. Somehow, in the time between now and then, we're going to have to strategize how in the world we're going to pack "light" in two small carry-on bags. We've limited our shopping for the rest of year to necessities related towards our trips. And apparently a must have will be a pair of hiking boots.

Another reason Beijing is on my mind is because of the Birmingham to Beijing project. This is a project associated with Teach America, whereas 7 students from Birmingham, Alabama have the opportunity to explore Beijing and learn Mandarin language, over a period of a month.  They also had an Indiegogo campaign, and raised over $40,000. Rhonda and I each made small contributions, and just the other day we each received a personal letter of thanks from one of the students.  I follow their blog every morning, wondering what they did the day before because of the twelve hour difference. And then today, we had an even more special surprise in that we were able to view a video of their first few days in Beijing. I have never been so proud of such young persons. To leave the comforts of their family and home to go to an unfamiliar environment took a leap of faith. I'm just in awe at their tenacity to soak it all in, and enjoy the moment.

That's another reason we want to experience the international countries in the very environment that our interviewees live. That moment can't be understood just by words. Pictures, video, and the sights and sounds, must be captured alongside the words.  I'm so happy we made a difference by giving a few dollars. Please consider making a similar difference today for Take A Leap.

Peace & Blessings,
Sharee