Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
more sensitive to herself and her own patterns of stress accumulation. She should learn
to recognize the physical signs or symptoms and realize that her worries and over-anxiety
could be signs of stress.
Sue should simply talk about the fears with her husband and close friends prior to the
party. Removing the air of secrecy will release much of the anxiety. It will then be less dif-
ficult to admit inexperience in hosting a party and to ask for help.
The most practical way to deal with a stressful situation like this is to get organized. List
things that need to be done for the party ahead of time and set priorities to tackle them one
by one. If anxiety arises during the preparations, slow down and do some relaxation exer-
cises. The hostess needs to constantly remind herself not to push past her own limits. With
self-awareness, organization and outside support, a hostess can handle her duty without
putting herself through unnecessary anguish.
V
ISITORS
ARE
STRESSFUL
!
Most people living far away from their home country or region will eventually receive vis-
itors, often with an expectation, spoken or unspoken, of accommodation. As enjoyable as it
is to be together again with family or friends, if the visit is over an extended period of time,
it can be stressful.
Ann's parents are visiting from Toronto for six weeks. The first two weeks were fine
but as the days go by, both Ann and her husband are feeling overwhelmed and stress-
ful.
“Besides taking care of my son, suddenly I feel like I have two other kids on my
hands,” Ann said.
Being visited by parents, other family members or friends is a joyful experience.
However, the preparations prior to the visit can be quite exhausting. Organizing the house,
shopping for extra food, making arrangements for guests' entertainment and trying to clear
your work schedule are no easy tasks.
When the guest finally arrives the host needs to make him or herself continually avail-
able for advice on getting around, where to shop without being ripped off, how to behave
in the foreign culture, and making sure the guests are having a good time. All these are real
work.
Sightseeing, too, may lose its sparkle when it's the eighth time in three months you have
taken visitors around to all the major local tourist attractions. You may not care to ever take
another glance at the spectacular view from an overpriced revolving restaurant or jostle the
crowds at must-see landmarks that you've seen a thousand times. Yet the honored guests
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