Socializing
Meet people in specific settings, and be cautious and observant! Every traveler has their own personal style of exploring. Some people are very uninhibited, social, and risk-takers. My personal style of traveling tends to be more cautious, reserved, and prepared. If you are an expat; meeting new friends and making relationships in places such as universities, schools, workplaces, and professional spaces can provide a level of vetting you might not have elsewhere. If you are a tourist; meeting friends on tour groups can be a bit safer than in other public spaces; because the tour company has their legal details in case of any problems. Use your intuition, common sense, and better judgment while making friends abroad in any country. Pay attention to details, never leave your valuables unguarded, and try to never disclose your income, or wealth, or draw attention to any expensive items you own. While traveling alone, it is safest to never tell people you are alone; always let them know friends or family are around. Taxi drivers may often ask you if they are picking you up from your home; it is a good idea to always say 'No. I was just visiting a friend. I am staying xyz (elsewhere)'.
Watch your Wallet!
Stay on track with your currency converter and make sure your credit card and banks have alerts for any immediate purchases. Make sure to pay attention when someone quotes you a price in a different currency than the norm in the country. Make sure to keep physical receipts of every shopping or dining transaction for a few months afterward to make sure you have evidence in case you are ever overcharged or scammed in any way. While renting Airbnb, you can also ask the landlord to produce a temporary lease which is really useful in case anything goes wrong; you have a physical copy of a legal document. I know receipts can cause clutter, but please KEEP THEM, watch your credit card statements, and be aware! While at any cafe, restaurant, or business, check your receipt carefully and be sure to ask the waiter about any unknown charges. Never pay the receipt without reviewing it. Most shops and restaurants accept Apple Pay, but if it doesn't work with the cardholder, a physical card may be needed. To avoid theft, carry a specific amount of cash for places that don't accept Apple Pay or credit cards, and use your Apple Pay frequently to avoid fumbling with cash while traveling, which can be a safety risk.
Don't Look like an Easy Target
Make limited eye contact. Smile but be firm. In many countries, being overly friendly can make one look either flirtatious or gullible (sad, I know!). In my experience, as long as your smile is accompanied by a firm gaze that shows you're not easily intimidated, it's fine. Smiling at the same gender, children, and animals is also harmless. I frequently smile when saying 'No, thanks,' and I've never had an issue. It's all in the 'eyes.' Make sure people know that you're not afraid to say no. Shopkeepers are just trying to earn a living, and most of them do not enjoy catcalling women, but it's becoming a lazy way for them to get customers. Service workers in many countries can flirt often. Most flirtation is harmless and geared toward making a sale of some sort. Be careful of befriending strangers. In anything in life, taking your time to get to know people and places is always BETTER.
Research everything and be prepared
Doing research and being prepared for where you are going is key. Prior to moving abroad, I spent years planning and doing research periodically about the places I wanted to visit before taking the plunge. Some key things to search for and make notes of are:
Which neighborhoods are the best for foreigners?
Which neighborhoods are the safest, and which are the least safe?
How to get around (public transportation, rental cars, etc.) efficiently?
Where to find the best grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, shopping malls, and places that carry products you might need; including brands you are used to. It can be very difficult to navigate which products are foreign equivalents when you are in a hurry or have an illness and might need medicines.
What are any government policies on visas, foreigners, laws to be aware of, driving laws if you plan to drive, and what are the local issues and concerns of the public.
Norms and Pleasantries differ in other cultures
In California where I grew up, it's quite common to say please and thank you anytime someone provides a service or answers a question. While gratitude is often appreciated globally, saying please and thank you might not get you the same responses in other countries. Try not to take anything personally when people don't respond to your friendliness and appreciation. Be wary of those who immediately try to extend friendship as well if not properly vetted. Mirror the energy of others. If you are given warm and friendly treatment, follow suit. Global customer service standards are not all the same. Be prepared to sometimes enter a shop and experience being followed around throughout the store (some countries have habits of doing this to prevent tourists from shoplifting). Some venues may refuse to accommodate your basic needs as a customer, or claim the store is closed (prior to closing time), some may give you very unpleasant stares or show hostility and/or try to scam tourists.
Keep your phone charged!
Remember to bring your phone charger along with you (and bring the plug shape changer if you have a non-European plug). Tons of restaurants will allow you to charge your phone at their location. I recommend you pick a seat next to an outlet if you must do this so you can watch your device at all times to reduce any anxiety. To be courteous, buy an item from the cafe or have a small cup of tea or coffee while you wait for your device to charge. Plan your routes and Ubers carefully and keep a notebook where you can write locations down. It may seem outdated, but in a rush, you can show someone the note with the location on it instead of handing them your phone. When taking taxis, find the closest monument or well-known place and write that down below the address you wish to go to; if the taxi driver doesn't know your destination, it's likely he will know the monument, and you can give directions from there.
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