I’m always on the go. ALWAYS. Whether it’s work, play, mandatory or optional, I rarely get to stay in one place for more than a week or two. For some, that sounds awful. To be fair, it can be when you encounter those along the way who aren’t really looking or living outside their own bubble. Here are a few tips on how to be more cognizant of your surroundings while getting around.
You could also call this a list of my travel peeves and/or how to avoid being the topic or target of travel ire. <shrug> Calls ’em like I sees ’em.
Keep it moving or get outta the way.
You’ve just arrived to the airport. Traffic is a nightmare. You fear you’ll miss your flight. Your ride drops you at the terminal and you roll with purpose toward check-in. The glass doors shoosh open and BAM–there’s someone standing in the middle of the doorway, ginormous steamer trunks on either side of them, squinting and rubbernecking, trying to get their bearings or worse, just looking at their phones. They have slowed any and all progress–ingress or egress–and the hackles start to rise.
If your initial reaction once getting inside an almost guaranteed-to-be bustling hub or destination is to stop and familiarize yourself with your surroundings, DO that. But move to the side to do it. We’ve all done it and it’s perfectly understandable and natural that some feel that the moment you break the threshold of the airport, bus station, subway stop, whatever, you should assess the situation. And you should! But do it out of the flow of traffic. It’s safer for you, too. Some places aren’t as polite or patient with travelers who don’t respect the rules of the road. And ignorance of the custom doesn’t excuse the behavior. And some folks will TELL you about it.
If you encounter someone having a little difficulty, feel free to offer ’em a little help. They might accept, they might not. More hands make light work, and easing the struggle of a fellow traveler may help all of us get where we’re going more quickly. And if you’re anything like me, seeing that transaction take place usually elevates my faith in humanity. You might make a new friend or pick up a helpful tip from someone who’s been in the game a little longer. We could all use a little help sometimes. And I’m a firm believer in the good you do coming back to you in spades.
Phones. Ugh.
I get it. You’ve got that steamy text from that special someone that needs an IMMEDIATE response. The office is calling and you’ve got to shuffle your oat milk frappu-latte to the other hand to get a comfortable conversation position. You’re about to finish another level on your Duolingo to keep your coveted space in the top 10 to advance to Sapphire Level! Yes. All very important action items. But slowing your gait to a crawl or worse, stopping without gauging your surroundings can gridlock a busy thoroughfare because you didn’t just move out of the flow before addressing your text, call, or quiz. A momentary glance to get an idea of your environs and appropriate action in response can make for a better experience for everyone.
Headphones. Use ’em. If you choose to include someone in your conversation, please make sure they are joining voluntarily, not being commandeered. It can be seen as a courtesy to those on the other end of the line as well. Using the speaker phone feature in a busy place like an airport or bus station makes comprehension and retention much trickier. Focusing the conversation through earbuds or the handset retains your privacy and demonstrates a modicum of respect to your convo partner as well as those around you.
“Oh! This reminds me of…”
Guilty. I am ohhhhh so guilty of this one. This little phrase can often be misinterpreted as a comparison instead of a connection. It’s human nature to try to put almost everything into a context, especially something wildly exotic, slightly uncomfortable, or just plain awkward. Drawing a comparison can help ease some of that newness anxiety, and also put some framing around a brand new experience. But sometimes folks take what was intended to be a compliment for anything but. “This tastes just like Mom used to make!” in a Michelin-star restaurant is sometimes greeted with a little side-eye. MY momma is the best cook in the universe, so that would be high praise indeed from my perspective. And that’s part of the reason we travel–to get some new perspectives and share the ones we have. In some conversations, these parallels will be welcome and enlightening. In others, they may receive a colder reception. I’m not saying do or don’t in this case–I just want you to be ready for it.
Navigating shared spaces
You’ve booked your ticket. You’ve packed your sunscreen, your swimsuit, your camera, your passport. You’re on the plane, in your seat, buckled and settled and ready for takeoff. WHACK. Somebody drops their carry-on on your head. THWUMP. You get “backpacked” as folks saunter and galumph their way to their seat farther back in the plane. CLONK. Once in the air, your shoulder and/or toes have just become casualties of the drink cart.
Mindfulness. If your backpack has enough in it to successfully facilitate a full semester of undergrad study, be mindful of its heft and dimension. If your bag needs find a place in the overhead compartment, check your surroundings, your proximity to others, and your ability to lift that burden overhead while storing it. I’ve been known to alert or warn others if I was going into space above their seats to stash my luggage. An awareness of one’s vicinity is helpful on all sides of this equation. It’s impossible to be fully aware of all that’s going on around you at all times, but it helps to keep a healthy vigilance to avoid insults, accidents, or injury.
Tip of the iceberg
This is by no means a comprehensive list of dos and don’ts for wanderphiles. It’s a brief account of a few situations I’ve encountered where a little more consideration would’ve been helpful to get all those involved where they were going efficiently, comfortably, and hopefully pain-free.
If you’ve got some suggestions or travel tips for keeping the travel machine running smoothly, please comment below. I’m sure there will be followup addendum posts to this one.
I don’t know of anything that will ensure your travel experience is 100% flawless, but keeping your wits about you and remaining present while in the throes of your adventure is a great start.
Love y’all.
