Traveling in a foreign country can be intimidating, especially when you don’t know the language. But these 5 tips will equip you to find your way with confidence.
Before leaving for the field, many Racers wonder how they will successfully navigate through all the different countries and cultures. Once arriving in country, you and your squad are expected to find your way to ministry sites, hostels, grocery stores, restaurants, churches, and everywhere else, all without knowing the language. The prospect can be daunting.
What do you do when GPS isn’t an option? How do you communicate when you don’t speak the language? What happens if you get lost? Don’t lose heart; here are 5 very practical and necessary tips for these important questions:
1. Know Before You Go.
Before you travel, make sure you have the name of your destination either on your phone or on a piece of paper. If it is a place you found online or that was given to you by a ministry host, it should already be written in the local language. This will be helpful when showing it to drivers or people on the street. If your driver doesn’t know of the place, they will ask their friends along the way and eventually someone will point them in the right direction.
2. Go Old School.
Get a map! Once you know the name of your next location, do some research. You can either download a map of the main city on your phone, print it out, or screenshot it on your phone. It’s a really simple, but crucial step to make your life easier and less stressful.
3. Phrase that Pays.
It is a great idea to know a few key phrases in the local language. You don’t need to learn whole sentences, but if you are able to communicate the basics like, “Hello, bus station?” or “Hello, market?” you should be golden. Your contact may give you these phrases throughout the month, but the more research you do beforehand the more adept you will be in communicating where you need to go.
4. Bartering is Best.
As foreigners, you will stand out (surprise!). Many people in other countries assume that, as Westerners, we have a lot of money and can afford anything we want. Your drivers do not know this and may try to take advantage of this assumption. They will try to charge you much more than what they would charge locals, or might drive you all over town instead of the short cut. Pay attention to how drivers navigate through the streets and how much it costs each time. Don’t be afraid to tell a driver they are charging you too much. It is also helpful to ask your contact how much transportation and such typically costs and barter according to that price.
5. Keep your cool. Always.
Reality is, sooner or later you will probably end up lost. It is inevitable. If you go into these situations anticipating that you will get lost, the less likely you are to panic and feel defeated when it happens. Good news is that you won’t stay lost forever, so just take a minute to relax and assess your situation and options. Keeping your cool will in turn help others feel more relaxed and prevent everyone from getting stressed out.
*Photo by Eva Cranford.
It doesn’t matter if you have never traveled in a foreign country before or if you have plenty of experience, these tips can help when traveling in a new place. You will have a new sense of independence, and it will become more natural to navigate your way in a new place. It is a really fun opportunity to meet new people, start conversations and let God work through these situations.
Now, go get lost and bring the kingdom!
Are you ready to navigate the streets of Vietnam or the mountains of Swaziland? Click here to find out more about how you could travel to 11 countries in 11 months on the World Race!
