France, Canada, Ireland.
When I land in a new country, I usually go straight to the local market, and check out the type of produce they have, pay attention to the way people communicate and what they eat. Then I usually proceed to the nearest food stall and order whatever people around me seem to be eating and enjoying. Best way to get an immediate shot of local culture!
I was sitting at this tiny elbow to elbow yakitori place in Tokyo. I started ordering whatever people around me were eating. This was a very local joint, and after a while the table next to me proceeded to send me a round of sake, to avoid a diplomatic incident I immediately returned the favour. After a few exchanges of “courtesy”, we ended up bringing the two tables together where they introduced me to an array of dishes I had never heard of before. They were all colleagues, office workers decompressing after a long day at work. This was my first night in Japan, and it could not have been a better introduction to what it is to be a Tokyoite!
France, England, Canada, and Spain..
Try to get to know the locals! They always have the inside scoop when it comes to knowing the best restaurants, bars, music scenes, activities and places to visit. Locals are locals for a reason, they either grew up in the area or have chosen to make it their home, make it yours too!
I absolutely love skiing and ever since I was a teenager, I had dreamt about doing a Working Holiday Ski Season at Whistler Blackcomb. In 2019 I began my 1st season there and on 6th March 2020, I successfully dropped into the notorious Air Jordan double cliff drop-off Peak chair, Whistler. What an experience, but not for the faint of heart!
Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada
Pack less than you think you need, other countries have just as many malls as home if you forget something! Push yourself out of your comfort zone and say yes to opportunities, especially if you are travelling alone and trying to make friends. Meet-up events and hostels are great for socializing and meeting new arrivals. Also, hostels are not as scary as your parents think they are. They’ve come a long way since the 80’s and 90’s and some are incredibly beautiful – I’ve stayed in ones that have hot tubs, free pancake breakfasts and cinema rooms!
I spent three months working in an outback pub in Australia which was an incredible opportunity to get to know the locals. I became friends with some members of the community who were aboriginal elders, who shared their love of their land with me. They showed me how their grandparents taught them to forage, hunt and work in the outback, and I felt very privileged to witness this authentic side of Australian culture.
Another unforgettable experience was in the small beach town of Kaikoura in New Zealand. The town is home to a large pod of dusky dolphins, and you can take a boat out into the ocean to see them in their natural habitats. For those that are brave enough, you can also join them in the icy sea for a swim, but unlike in an aquarium, they are free to leave whenever they choose. Often they will swim laps around you, playing and squeaking in excitement while you try to keep up.
Sri Lanka, China, United States, South Korea, Mexico, Canada
Arrange to meet or make an effort to meet locals during your first week of arrival! Starting out at a hostel is great as you can meet other travellers and quickly learn about the best spots, but meeting and living like a local is another level of travelling – it doesn’t get any better. For example, find a local roommate or stay at a cute bed and breakfast place owned by locals.
In Dubai, my friends and I went on an impromptu tour to the ‘ghost town’ after our car wheels sank into the sand. Two camel farm owners from Saudi Arabia greeted us with their beautiful Jeep Gladiator and drove us seamlessly to the ghost town. I know that there are professional and organized safari tours that go there, but we did it at a much cheaper price. Plus, we got the unforgettable experience of holding dearly onto a rope as we were not able to sit properly on the super hot Jeep trunk surface. This is when I learned the meaning of interacting with locals to get the most unforgettable experiences, as well as the fun of spontaneity during travels.
France, Canada
Sniff out the food scene.
Meeting sea dogs for the first time!