Prism Effect

Stay a while (3/3)

Why not try the opposite approach – settle in somewhere for a bit, and force yourself to slow down. Of course, most people with solid jobs can’t afford the luxury of six months spent away from their normal lives. But even if you only have two weeks, choose a country, or even better, choose a region within a country that intrigues you, and stay put. Explore it. Rent a room by the week. Find out where the tourists go, and walk in the other direction.

Meet the locals. You’ll be surprised to find how many people are proud to share their stories and local foods. And the curiosity is mutual. People all over the world are obsessed with U.S. culture and want to know equally as much about you.

It’s when you learn bits of the native language that you actually tap into the culture. It’s when the kids in the street drag you home to grandma who winds up teaching you how to make tortillas and demands you stay for dinner. It's when you force yourself to eat a lard sandwich just because it pleases your host so much to feed you. It’s when you realize that you really aren't in a hurry to go anywhere maybe for the first time in your life. It's when you stay for just one more drink because, once you’ve agreed, the look of satisfaction on the old guy’s face is priceless.

Language barriers can definitely make communication challenging, but the less pressure you put on yourself to hurry through, the more you'll enjoy the ride. If you're truly looking for an exotic travel adventure, take off your coat and stay a while. That's how you'll find it.