Comments on: jag’s super duper tips for first time travelers http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/ clogging up the intertubes with more pointless crap Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:39:41 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Michael http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2894 Michael Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:01:56 +0000 http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2894 My brain is playing tricks on me....read the title and thought it said something about tips for time travellers.... As in travelling through time... I've got to stop obsessing about Dr Who. My brain is playing tricks on me….read the title and thought it said something about tips for time travellers….

As in travelling through time…

I’ve got to stop obsessing about Dr Who.

]]> By: newscoma http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2858 newscoma Fri, 13 Apr 2007 11:44:14 +0000 http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2858 Great list. Katherine, thanks for the explosive diarrhea story. I laughed out loud. Jag, when I was in Europe, I also found it helpful in Paris to know that they charge you to go to the bathroom. My mother paid 20 American Dollars in francs because she didn't know the conversion scale very well. A twenty dollar pee. Still amuses me to this day. Great list. Katherine, thanks for the explosive diarrhea story.
I laughed out loud.
Jag, when I was in Europe, I also found it helpful in Paris to know that they charge you to go to the bathroom.
My mother paid 20 American Dollars in francs because she didn’t know the conversion scale very well.
A twenty dollar pee.
Still amuses me to this day.

]]> By: tallboy27 http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2856 tallboy27 Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:50:26 +0000 http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2856 learn how to say, "i'm a vegetarian/vegan," "is there any animal product in ___," and "no thank you, i don't eat meat," in the language of whatever country you're visiting. learn how to say, “i’m a vegetarian/vegan,” “is there any animal product in ___,” and “no thank you, i don’t eat meat,” in the language of whatever country you’re visiting.

]]> By: saraclark http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2853 saraclark Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:41:19 +0000 http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2853 The last time I went to Germany, I took only a few essential clothing items and bought the rest when I got there. Despite the cost, I blended in like a local very quickly. My cousin re-styled my hair while I was there to make it look more European and less American too. Overall everything was looser, less shiny and more comfortable. It is strange to notice that you are dressed as a loud, bright obnoxious American and that it seemed perfectly normal over here. The last time I went to Germany, I took only a few essential clothing items and bought the rest when I got there. Despite the cost, I blended in like a local very quickly. My cousin re-styled my hair while I was there to make it look more European and less American too. Overall everything was looser, less shiny and more comfortable.

It is strange to notice that you are dressed as a loud, bright obnoxious American and that it seemed perfectly normal over here.

]]> By: melusina http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2852 melusina Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:11:48 +0000 http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2852 These are really good tips, especially the learn the language thing. No one really cares if you can speak fluently, but if you can speak the niceties in their language, locals love and truly appreciate it. But if you want a bit of Nashville in Germany, go to Magdeburg. They are a sister city of Nashville and they have a line dancing bar called the Nashville Saloon where Germans dress like Nashvillian tourists. These are really good tips, especially the learn the language thing. No one really cares if you can speak fluently, but if you can speak the niceties in their language, locals love and truly appreciate it.

But if you want a bit of Nashville in Germany, go to Magdeburg. They are a sister city of Nashville and they have a line dancing bar called the Nashville Saloon where Germans dress like Nashvillian tourists.

]]> By: jagadiah http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2851 jagadiah Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:04:51 +0000 http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2851 Parisians sound like lovely people. Wow. Parisians sound like lovely people. Wow.

]]> By: nm http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2850 nm Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:52:29 +0000 http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2850 The only thing I would add is that there's one exception to the "learn the language" suggestion. In Paris (not anywhere else in France; just Paris) you shouldn't even try to speak French to people. They will take time out to tell you how badly you speak it, and will insist on speaking English to you even when your French is twice as good as the English they've got. Don't take it personally. They are almost as bad to other French-speakers, including those from other parts of the country. The only thing I would add is that there’s one exception to the “learn the language” suggestion. In Paris (not anywhere else in France; just Paris) you shouldn’t even try to speak French to people. They will take time out to tell you how badly you speak it, and will insist on speaking English to you even when your French is twice as good as the English they’ve got. Don’t take it personally. They are almost as bad to other French-speakers, including those from other parts of the country.

]]> By: Nashville is Talking » Tone it Down http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2849 Nashville is Talking » Tone it Down Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:42:10 +0000 http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2849 [...] Mrs. Jag has taken the time to type up some traveling tips for noobs, especially those planning a trip to Germany: Don’t be THAT American Most important, this one. Don’t be that guy that goes to a cafe and asks what kind of cheese options they have for the ham sandwich. Just order it and eat it. It will be delicious. -Don’t get all huffy because you can’t read the menu. Ask the server what he would suggest and try that. Chances are you’ll love it. If you don’t, you’ll know not to order that again. -Don’t throw a fit when you realize that the kebap you just ate was made with lamb and not the beef you get at the gyro place in Brentwood. Rather than belittle the local cuisine, find a McDonalds or Burger King. They’re everywhere. -Don’t get pissed because you’re going to pay a shit ton for a magnet bearing the likeness of a castle. I can only imagine what magnets go for at Graceland. You’re a tourist. Expect to have those purse-strings tugged. -Don’t yell. We tend to holler at each other from across the room and proceed to talk loudly. Germans speak relatively softly, and yelling at your travel partners will be sure to draw some ill-infused glares your way. -Don’t expect people to act the same way they do at home. Observe how people behave in different situations in which you’re not sure how to act and emulate that behavior. And don’t forget to mind your manners! Even in moments where I may not have done what was locally deemed normal, if I knew that I’d been mindful and mannerly, I didn’t chide myself about it. If somebody looked at me cross-eyed for holding the door open for them or something, at least I still felt polite. -Don’t wear your American flag pins and your bald eagle sweatshirt. You’re proud you’re an American. I’m proud you’re an American. But the people whose land you’re on may not be so proud of your country right now, and could very easily take that out on you. Be careful. [...] [...] Mrs. Jag has taken the time to type up some traveling tips for noobs, especially those planning a trip to Germany: Don’t be THAT American Most important, this one. Don’t be that guy that goes to a cafe and asks what kind of cheese options they have for the ham sandwich. Just order it and eat it. It will be delicious. -Don’t get all huffy because you can’t read the menu. Ask the server what he would suggest and try that. Chances are you’ll love it. If you don’t, you’ll know not to order that again. -Don’t throw a fit when you realize that the kebap you just ate was made with lamb and not the beef you get at the gyro place in Brentwood. Rather than belittle the local cuisine, find a McDonalds or Burger King. They’re everywhere. -Don’t get pissed because you’re going to pay a shit ton for a magnet bearing the likeness of a castle. I can only imagine what magnets go for at Graceland. You’re a tourist. Expect to have those purse-strings tugged. -Don’t yell. We tend to holler at each other from across the room and proceed to talk loudly. Germans speak relatively softly, and yelling at your travel partners will be sure to draw some ill-infused glares your way. -Don’t expect people to act the same way they do at home. Observe how people behave in different situations in which you’re not sure how to act and emulate that behavior. And don’t forget to mind your manners! Even in moments where I may not have done what was locally deemed normal, if I knew that I’d been mindful and mannerly, I didn’t chide myself about it. If somebody looked at me cross-eyed for holding the door open for them or something, at least I still felt polite. -Don’t wear your American flag pins and your bald eagle sweatshirt. You’re proud you’re an American. I’m proud you’re an American. But the people whose land you’re on may not be so proud of your country right now, and could very easily take that out on you. Be careful. [...]

]]> By: Lesley http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2848 Lesley Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:24:09 +0000 http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2848 Great tips. I was able to blend in fairly well during my trip (so much so that the locals talked to me in Dutch), but only when my mom wasn't around. She of the fanny pack (but don't call it that in England!) and jean shorts and bright white "trainers." Soooo embarassing. Great tips. I was able to blend in fairly well during my trip (so much so that the locals talked to me in Dutch), but only when my mom wasn’t around. She of the fanny pack (but don’t call it that in England!) and jean shorts and bright white “trainers.” Soooo embarassing.

]]> By: Lynnster http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2847 Lynnster Wed, 11 Apr 2007 05:11:40 +0000 http://beingbrilliant.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/jags-super-duper-tips-for-first-time-travelers/#comment-2847 Heh heh... now I feel as if I just clicked on <a href="http://www.thedryspot.net/" rel="nofollow">The Dry Spot</a>. KC's tale is like a Smiley story. :) Heh heh… now I feel as if I just clicked on The Dry Spot. KC’s tale is like a Smiley story. :)

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