Graphic by Dorothy Lam/The Gazelle
Travel Tips to Keep in Mind This Eid
When traveling, the most exciting things are the unexpected. These can be frightening and invigorating in equal measure. With this in mind, here are ...
Oct 5, 2013
When traveling, the most exciting things are the unexpected. These can be frightening and invigorating in equal measure. With this in mind, here are some important things to remember — and to avoid — while traveling.
When traveling abroad, students highlighted the value of research.
“I would advise [students] to thoroughly research not only the cities they planned to visit but also the country itself,” said junior Brian Chung, who travelled to Egypt alone last year. He added that this will give all travellers a better idea of what to expect and how to prepare.
Guidebooks are useful to provide a first look, but it’s always good to make room for flexibility and to follow your own instinct rather than the path laid down by previous travellers. Allowing for flexibility lets one have a unique experience exploring a country and opens up ways of understanding that one would never find hidden in the pages of Lonely Planet.
Carol Brandt, associate vice chancellor of global education and outreach, stressed the importance of preparation.
“Put as much time into preparation as possible to enhance safety so you don't run into situations that keep you from the wonderful learning and explorations and experiences that make it valuable to be in these places,” Brandt said.
Another nugget of advice is to get in contact with people who live in the country, or even to ask those who have gone before. Sophomore Veronica Houk suggests getting in contact with a member of the NYUAD community who is familiar with the country you’re traveling to; with such a diverse group of students, it would be difficult not to find someone who intimately knows where you are going.
Traveling with a group can also be a great way to make lifelong friends; however, the strains of conflicting opinions and plans can be challenging.
Junior Cambria Naslund recommended traveling with even numbers.
“Groups larger than four get a little messy, four fits in a taxicab and in a hotel room,” Naslund added.
Moreover, having even numbers might make it easier to split into smaller groups, so each individual can better satisfy his or her own travelling desires.
Staying in contact with your group can be difficult and navigating with signs in a foreign language is particularly challenging.
Naslund recommends investing in a cheap sim card. With mobile phones becoming the standard communication globally, prices for the card and credit are very economical, especially when compared to the stress of losing companions.
Going to a different country can be surprising as cultural norms change dramatically. What might be seen as legal and condoned in one country can be a taboo elsewhere.
While this culture shock can be shocking, it also challenges one’s own beliefs. This can be one of the most rewarding things about travel.
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