Vacation

There’s something about traveling that trumps a holiday spent at home. And there’s something extra special about traveling that’s done right -- that is, where you get to be a visitor and not a tourist. What’s the difference? Tourists are there to... well, tour. They take in the sights, they do the accepted tour, and they go home. Visitors do all of that, too, but they go out of their way to absorb the culture of the place they’re visiting.

For some people that’s as simple as learning a few words in another language. One of the best things I did in Thailand was learn how to say “thank you” in Thai. No one was fooled into thinking me a native (especially with my gleaming milk-white skin), but I found people appreciated the effort. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to become a visitor. I learned how to say “thank you” by asking a bellhop at our hotel. It’s useful to do a bit of reading before your trip, too -- not enough to turn a simple holiday into an academic research project, just enough to familiarize yourself with basic customs. For example, in the United States, tipping is expected, and if you don’t do it, you’ll find yourself shunned. In Japan, the opposite is true: the government discourages tipping, and Japanese service employees will be flustered by the gesture.

Of course, people are generally pretty kind to visitors (or at least, the ones who aren’t trying to con you are!). It’s still worth being culturally aware and sensitive. Another example: in a Buddhist temple, it’s the height of bad taste to sit with your feet pointed toward the statue of the Buddha. Will you be thrown out if you commit such a transgression? Probably not. People aren’t there to police you, and they can often tell at a glance that you’re an outsider. But the awareness allows you to observe rules of cultural respect and courtesy.