The most bizarre thing happens when I am on vacation; I talk to everyone. Normally reserved around strangers, any hesitancy I have melts away under bright skies and exotic locales. It’s quite intoxicating. I will start up conversations with strangers in a queue, in a bar, on buses and trains, practically anywhere that I find someone standing still for a moment or two.
It was only after my somewhat dumbfounded husband pointed this out to me during our last cruise that I really thought about why and how this happens. Here are my thoughts.
When I am on vacation I am not as busy or absorbed with my own day to day life. When you have the time to look outward instead of in you see so many more opportunities. Perhaps it is someone who looks interesting, that offers a friendly smile, or is engaged in one of your favourite pastimes. We met a great groups of friends on our last cruise because we all loved trivia. We formed a team and met every afternoon for drinks and to test our skills.
No matter how reluctant you are to talk to strangers, while travelling you have the easiest of opening lines, “Where are you from?” Everyone is from somewhere so it’s easy to ask and easy to answer. I could not help but notice the instant camaraderie that happens when we find other Canadians. Even while adrift in international waters there is a sense of community and national pride that connects you immediately.
It’s then easy to follow the opening line with other standard travel questions; how long have you been travelling, where have you been, where are you going, what have you done (or are doing) today? These will lead to discussions about similar destinations, or the chance to ask questions about new ones for future planning possibilities. No matter how much planning and research we do there is always someone who has found a better or more cost effective alternative.
You can usually tell a lot about another person or couple from this simple and quick conversation, enough to make the decision to engage further or move on. Perhaps they will just be a nod and smile acquaintance that you see once in a while, or someone you want to get to know better. An invitation to share dinner or drinks can be a great way to move forward. For us, this can lead to a two week cruise full of entertaining evenings with new friends from across the globe.
This process is simple, and I have to admit, not originally mine. My son spent a month backpacking through Europe with a friend and he was the first to pass on this five question philosophy for effective travel interaction. If you start the ball rolling with the first question, not only will it lead to a potentially fulfilling and interesting interaction between you and another, but might encourage that person to try it on someone else.
The best part is that with social media you can continue these new relationships after your time abroad comes to an end. We have written to our new friends a number of times to gleefully reminisce and share tips for future travel.
Try this the next time you travel if you haven’t already. Perhaps you and I will meet someday!