The Best Ways to Immerse Yourself in a Culture
Travel offers us a chance to explore the world and see spectacular vistas and events. But perhaps the most interesting aspect of travel is its ability to expose us to interesting and unfamiliar people and cultures. If you’re able to truly immerse yourself in a new culture, then you might return from your travels with the ability to see things from an entirely new perspective.
But exactly what are the best ways to do this? Let’s take a look.
Learn the local language
The way that people talk exerts a considerable, though subtle, influence on how they relate to one another and how they view the world. If you don’t bother to learn the local language, then you might be missing out on a world of nuance. Even just a few simple phrases might be revealing – and they might allow you to demonstrate your respect for the people you’re dealing with.
There are now plenty of apps which might make it easier to pick up a foreign language, even just a few simple keywords to help your time abroad flow better.
Use Public Transport & Walk Everywhere
The more time you spend on your feet, the more you’ll be exposed to the country you’re visiting. When you confine yourself to a hotel room or an Uber, you might miss out.
Different countries might offer different forms of transport. Trams, tuk-tuks, subways and bicycles might all appeal. For the best experience, try to adopt the form of transport that locals prefer. You might find that the urban spaces have been shaped with that form of transport in mind.
Touring a region by sea might help expose you to a variety of different island cultures. For example, a Canaries cruise allows you to see how Spanish, African, and Latin American influences have interacted throughout history to produce the archipelago we see today.
Eat Like a Local: Markets, Street Food & Home Cooking
Just about every culture in the world has its unique perspective on food. Make sure that you eat like a local, wherever you’re travelling. Shun familiar chain restaurants in favour of smaller, family-run ones. Make sure that you visit local markets and sample the street food, too. Take a cookery class, and you might be able to bring new cooking techniques home with you.
Participate in Local Festivals and Traditions
If you travel at the right time of year, then you might have a chance to experience one-off events. These might hold special spiritual or religious significance for the local people. Make sure that you are respectful and that you abide by any dress codes and special rules around etiquette.
Engage with Local Arts, Music, and Theatre
You might find local culture expressed through art and music. Performances might even be freely available in public spaces – but be sure to do your research, and uncover the hidden gems. Don’t expect the most authentic expression of a given culture to be found where all of the tourists are massing. Venture from the beaten track, and explore the markets and galleries where local people make art and music for one another. By doing this, you might be helping to preserve an important legacy.
Take Part in Cultural Tours with Local Guides
In some cases, you might find special guided tours that are explicitly designed to delve into the culture of a given country or region. A knowledgeable local tour guide might be able to point you in the direction of other experiences, too – so make sure that you think of some good questions to ask!