An American traveler in Greece asked a Californian about the national religion. Socialism, was the answer.
So if you’re going abroad, CheapOair has some tips to avoid being a “cultural idiot” while you’re away:
CheapOair has some tips:
• Do some reading: “You don’t need to read huge academic tomes to get a feel for the history of a place — a novel set there will give you an idea,” suggests Cheap.
• See some movies. “Like books, films can be a great way of getting a handle on history, especially the darker moments in countries’ past.”
• Don’t forget your guidebook. “You don’t need to follow it to the letter, obviously, but it’s good to have suggestions in hand — but more importantly, the background reading in the history section is a great précis of what you need to know.”
• Check the news. See what’s happening in the part of the world you are visiting. “Once you arrive, find the local English language newspaper and see what’s going on.”
• Even if its just a phrasebook, it’s always good to have a bit of knowledge about the local language.
By David Wilkening
