omggg...we are so ruining this thread!!! ooopz!! kk, last post on this ...hehehe ... yea suuure, i'll join u on the crackling cackling ~ there's no competition so far!!!
pfffrrtrttt!! ...*tiptoeing out of this thread* ... *dash byeeeeee!!!

___________________
life's too short~simply do!

Last edited by disko-kandi on Jan-26-2004 at 17:58

Awsome! Well have fun!

I lived in Sweden for a year as an exchange student, so i got to travel around Scandinavia

My tips would include:

-Maps! maps are your best friend!
-Canadian Flag (get an actual mini-flag and stick it in your pack, it gives a great response ^_~)
-Rice is a cheap cheap cheap and filling food!
-Ask someone when your lost, most locals are friendly and willing to help

-Collect everything you can! They make good memories!

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by rahvin For all the people visiting non-enlish speaking countries(english isn't the first language) how did things go? I'm not talking about france or whatever, but slovakia, portugal, hungary.

Good question I would suggest learning at least the basics (hello, how do you do, excuse me, where is, etc.) Do not go shooting with English right away.. it is regarded as universal language, but not everyone prefers it and, naturally, not everyone speaks it. So, don't expect any help if you just go straight to English. In many cases it's associated with ignorance.. logically, you will show some respect with a few local phrases. It won't be required of you to show extensive knowledge, but at least show some effort. Be prepared for a lot of hand gesturing (it's funny, but you have to rely on it sometime, especially in some remote areas) just be patient..

Oh.. one very important basic thing.. in English there is no distinction between addressing a familiar/close person and a stanger or someone less casual, more respectful, which is equivalent to referring to someone on first-name basis or using factor of politeness in form of a title (Mr/Mrs/Miss). You always use 'you'.
Essentially, there is a difference in most other languages, like French (toi/vous), Italian (tu/Lei), Serbian/Russian (ti/Vi), Spanish (tu/usted) you get the idea.. Toi-tu-ti.. is used casually; conversely, vous-Lei-Vi-usted is used in formal settings and it is regarded as extremely inappropriate, impolite and ill-mannered to use casual address in formal cases..!

___________________
..::Adventure is something that while it is happening you wish it wasn't!::..

<<<I am, I flatter myself, completely a citizen of the world. In my travels, I never felt myself away from home.>>>

Last edited by brunette on Jan-27-2004 at 03:29

All good advice I must say I've usually been pretty good about asking for help from people, sometimes my friends like to try and figure out stuff on their own with no help, which doesn't get you very far hehe.

As far as learning a little bit of the forign languages go, I think i'll deal with that when and if the situation arises. I have no idea which countries i'll be in after I finish in australia. Visiting all these other wonderfull places will probably come a year or so after. Who knows, I definatly want to pack in a good bit of traveling this time around.

I'm actually bringing a tent to use on our road trip through new zealand so my friends and I can sleep for free / cheap in a campground or on the beach. I'm actually look forward to living without all the comforts of home, makes you feel more detached from the normal everyday experiances that i've been used to.

T-minus 4 days and counting!!