Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
When your trip is completed, you'll have experienced your destination in a way that few
tourists ever do. You'll have immersed yourself in the culture and developed a completely
new part of yourself. Your trip will have been filled with rich experiences, and if you travel
with a partner, then the two of you will be connected in a deep and unique way. In addition
to all this, you'll have created a wealth of memories to draw on in the future, both to share
with others and to enjoy yourself. Life will constantly remind you of your trip, and you
may find yourself drawn to new activities back home. In total, you'll be alive in a much
more complete way. The question then is what to do next.
To answer this question, there are two possible options to choose from. One option
is to plan a return trip to the same country you just visited, or to a country where the same
language is spoken. The second option is to plan a trip to a completely new destination.
Each option has its merits.
If you plan a new trip to the same location, you'll journey even deeper into your host
country's culture. You could also gain a new perspective on that culture by visiting a dif-
ferent region. For example, a foreigner would have to visit the United States many times
to develop an appreciation for its many regional differences. In addition, you'll find that
the absolute best time to study your language, other than when you're actually in a country
where that language is spoken, is immediately following your trip. With your brain fully
primed for learning by the immersion you've experienced, you might find that two weeks
of study following your trip to be more fruitful than two months of study prior to your trip.
And to build on your success, you might consider watching movies completely in your new
language, without subtitles, or reading some classical works of literature in that language
with translations to assist you. In fact, if you plan to return to your host country for your
next trip, you might pick up some books, movies, and music while you're there. Just make
sure that any media, such as DVDs, that you buy are compatible with your media player
back home.
On the other hand, you might plan a trip to a new destination altogether. This is the
more exciting option, as it will take you back outside your comfort zone. If you choose this
path, you'll again develop another side of yourself. But keep in mind that it's normal for
the transition to be difficult at first. You might find yourself speaking the language of your
last destination instead of the language of your new destination, especially if the two lan-
guages are from the same family. But rest assured, before long your brain will reorganize
itself and you'll start to keep everything straight.
So which option to choose? My suggestion is to start by planning trips to several
different countries so as to definitely determine which cultures and languages agree with
