We’ve been going on adventures around the world for years, and have learned a lot along the way. Knowing that less is more when it comes to packing, that learning key phrases in the local language goes a long way and that being adaptable is always best, all come with that travel experience. However, there are also some specific lessons from the locals that we have picked up along the way that have influenced our day to day life, which we’re sharing here:

Live in the Present

Living in the present sounds simple, but this lesson is an accumulation of observations and conversations with local people in lots of different destinations. It’s also just as relevant to daily life as it is to traveling.

We often find ourselves holding to ‘what-ifs’. What if we save that expensive bottle of wine for a potential future promotion or celebration. What if the flight is late, what if the tour we booked isn’t good and so on. These theoretical scenarios can start to become all-consuming, meaning we are always thinking about the future rather than living in the now.

Watching Spanish people order multiple bottles of wine on a Monday evening just because they want to enjoy it with their dinner or experiencing the relaxed approach to time in Costa Rica, we realized that it doesn’t always matter what may happen in the future. No one really knows, so rather than being stressed, embrace and appreciate what is happening right now.

Wear a Scarf

This lesson comes from the Italians, who are notoriously concerned with their health. We’ve spoken to many Italians, young and old, who will swear by the importance of wearing a scarf to combat the dreaded colpo d’aria. Literally meaning ‘a blast of air’, Italians believe that drafts and cold air hitting your neck can cause all sorts of illnesses. The solution is a scarf; not just in winter for the cold and wet weather but also in the summer to prevent cold air conditioning affecting you.

While in reality a scarf will not prevent you from catching a virus or a cold, it is not a bad lesson to remember when traveling. Scarves are a very useful item to have with you as they can be used in a variety of ways. Follow Sarah’s lead and pack a scarf even if you’re traveling somewhere warm – you may be surprised to find how handy they are.

Eating Family Style

One custom we’ve embraced is to serve and eat food in more of a communal way, thanks to our experiences in southeast Asian countries like Thailand, South Korea and Cambodia.

In these countries, food is much less individualistic than we’re used to. Meals in both restaurants and in homes are served family-style, where dishes are in the middle of the table for everyone to help themselves to what they want. There are also no courses in the strict sense, food is served when it is ready rather than in a specific order.

After spending time in this part of the world we have to come to appreciate this approach to food. You generally take only a little of each dish at a time, so there is no pressure to eat more than you feel comfortable doing. There is also less waste as the leftovers are easy to save. 

This different mindset feels more sustainable to us, and is something we try to follow where possible both at home and when we travel to other places. Sharing a few dishes as a group in order to try local specialities makes more sense than everyone ordering multiple dishes.

Spend More Time Outdoors 

Coming from the U.S, seeing how much time people spend outdoors in other countries can be eye-opening. 

So much of life happens outside; commuting to work, going grocery shopping, exploring cities and the countryside, eating and drinking, sports and more. In Italy you will see people of all ages enjoying gelato in the street, in Paris people use the local parks as a shortcut to get to work and in Istanbul the outdoor market stalls are always busy.

Spending time outside not only means you get fresh air (crucial for staying healthy while traveling), but also means you will get to know your travel destination better. Walking everywhere makes it easy to see something new or discover a great local restaurant or store. Order an aperitivo at a bar in Sicily or grab a selection of street food in Cambodia and you’ll get a small glimpse of life for the locals.

If you’d like to join us on one of our adventures and discover your own lessons from the locals, you can find all the details of our upcoming tours here. There are also plenty more insights from Sarah and our team in our blog and on her YouTube channel.