Comments on: Confessions of a Cultural Idiot – Pt 4: Talk http://freedoniapost.com/2010/05/confessions-of-a-cultural-idiot-pt-4-talk/ Thu, 10 May 2012 14:24:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Joel http://freedoniapost.com/2010/05/confessions-of-a-cultural-idiot-pt-4-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-784 Joel Wed, 05 May 2010 04:05:28 +0000 http://freedoniapost.com/?p=527#comment-784 Thanks Mona - glad you like it! Nice suggestions about trains, boats and ferries - being on the bike could serve to unwittingly isolate me as I move from place to place. I'll have to make more effort to use alternate transport at times. Thanks Mona – glad you like it!

Nice suggestions about trains, boats and ferries – being on the bike could serve to unwittingly isolate me as I move from place to place. I’ll have to make more effort to use alternate transport at times.

]]> By: Mona http://freedoniapost.com/2010/05/confessions-of-a-cultural-idiot-pt-4-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-781 Mona Tue, 04 May 2010 20:07:00 +0000 http://freedoniapost.com/?p=527#comment-781 Fantastic blog, Mr. Travel Pants! Where does one start on this... between "egotificates" and French-fondling... Heheheh! Just hope, for your sake, you were very young at the time. Definitely awesome tips for the introverted traveler. Nice touch on the threat of (probably dead-on statement of the "treat" of being American) of being approached for convo as in "what are they truly after'? All your tips noted duly - loved the interviewing and photographer tag-along pal. Haven't thought of it before as I mostly have traveled with my daughter - which put me in the role of being both unknowingly. I am the [reserved] opposite of shy. Meaning, carefully, respectfully I will engage in conversation with mostly anyone, anywhere. Our last trip, in good American rush-get-in-as-much-as-possible fashion, was UK, Paris and Portugal in three weeks. Made friends in bounds everywhere, and took the London-office colleagues out of their shells over pints in fab local pubs. Taking the train, boat or ferry also helps (a-propos to your hostel suggestion). Made in fact so many friends, that I remember my daughter turning to me after I got an invite to a visit to Vancouver from a lovely woman, with her two sons on the ferry from Dover to Calais: "Mom, is it a thing only grown-ups do to be-friend each-other instantly? If so, I can't wait to grow up." Little did she know... I still haven't - completely. Fantastic blog, Mr. Travel Pants! Where does one start on this… between “egotificates” and French-fondling… Heheheh! Just hope, for your sake, you were very young at the time.
Definitely awesome tips for the introverted traveler. Nice touch on the threat of (probably dead-on statement of the “treat” of being American) of being approached for convo as in “what are they truly after’?

All your tips noted duly – loved the interviewing and photographer tag-along pal. Haven’t thought of it before as I mostly have traveled with my daughter – which put me in the role of being both unknowingly.

I am the [reserved] opposite of shy. Meaning, carefully, respectfully I will engage in conversation with mostly anyone, anywhere. Our last trip, in good American rush-get-in-as-much-as-possible fashion, was UK, Paris and Portugal in three weeks. Made friends in bounds everywhere, and took the London-office colleagues out of their shells over pints in fab local pubs. Taking the train, boat or ferry also helps (a-propos to your hostel suggestion). Made in fact so many friends, that I remember my daughter turning to me after I got an invite to a visit to Vancouver from a lovely woman, with her two sons on the ferry from Dover to Calais: “Mom, is it a thing only grown-ups do to be-friend each-other instantly? If so, I can’t wait to grow up.” Little did she know… I still haven’t – completely.

]]> By: Joel http://freedoniapost.com/2010/05/confessions-of-a-cultural-idiot-pt-4-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-776 Joel Tue, 04 May 2010 12:46:27 +0000 http://freedoniapost.com/?p=527#comment-776 Thanks Camden! I do like the thought of doing an interview - the challenge of talking someone into it will certainly push me to interacting right from the start! Often when I travel, I'm so overwhelmed by the sights and sounds, I just want to absorb things - that's one reason I'm glad I'll be spending extended stays in various areas. I'll be able to settle - physically and emotionally - and get to know the area & its people better. Thanks Camden! I do like the thought of doing an interview – the challenge of talking someone into it will certainly push me to interacting right from the start!

Often when I travel, I’m so overwhelmed by the sights and sounds, I just want to absorb things – that’s one reason I’m glad I’ll be spending extended stays in various areas. I’ll be able to settle – physically and emotionally – and get to know the area & its people better.

]]> By: Joel http://freedoniapost.com/2010/05/confessions-of-a-cultural-idiot-pt-4-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-775 Joel Tue, 04 May 2010 12:41:23 +0000 http://freedoniapost.com/?p=527#comment-775 Yeah, it's one of my personal challenges. While I'm very friendly, it takes cracking through that initial shell that's tough sometimes. That's the part I need to keep working on. Yeah, it’s one of my personal challenges. While I’m very friendly, it takes cracking through that initial shell that’s tough sometimes. That’s the part I need to keep working on.

]]> By: Camden Luxford http://freedoniapost.com/2010/05/confessions-of-a-cultural-idiot-pt-4-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-771 Camden Luxford Tue, 04 May 2010 12:12:34 +0000 http://freedoniapost.com/?p=527#comment-771 Terrific tips, thanks! I'm definitely going to add the weekly interview and daily five-minute chat to my to-do list. I've found travel's definitely loosened my up, and in a hostel situation I'm generally able to get past the shyness - strangers on the street is the next goal. .-= Camden Luxford´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBrinkOfSomethingElse-WorkingStudyingAndTravellingAbroad/~3/ZNcEjoWhykw/" rel="nofollow">Do You Believe In Magic?</a> =-. Terrific tips, thanks! I’m definitely going to add the weekly interview and daily five-minute chat to my to-do list.

I’ve found travel’s definitely loosened my up, and in a hostel situation I’m generally able to get past the shyness – strangers on the street is the next goal.
.-= Camden Luxford´s last blog ..Do You Believe In Magic? =-.

]]> By: Poi http://freedoniapost.com/2010/05/confessions-of-a-cultural-idiot-pt-4-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-770 Poi Tue, 04 May 2010 10:25:18 +0000 http://freedoniapost.com/?p=527#comment-770 It's great that your taking these steps and I'm sure your seeing the benefit everyday. I've got a lot of friends who are terrified of talking to strangers and often say 'why were they talking to me' I try to explain that some people are just nice but its not widely accepted. .-= Poi´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NoPlaceToBe/~3/WgoLltz8Oa0/" rel="nofollow">Random Traveller #4</a> =-. It’s great that your taking these steps and I’m sure your seeing the benefit everyday.

I’ve got a lot of friends who are terrified of talking to strangers and often say ‘why were they talking to me’ I try to explain that some people are just nice but its not widely accepted.
.-= Poi´s last blog ..Random Traveller #4 =-.

]]> By: Joel http://freedoniapost.com/2010/05/confessions-of-a-cultural-idiot-pt-4-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-763 Joel Tue, 04 May 2010 03:18:30 +0000 http://freedoniapost.com/?p=527#comment-763 Irish pubs always work, too, from what I've heard. Irish pubs always work, too, from what I’ve heard.

]]> By: Joel http://freedoniapost.com/2010/05/confessions-of-a-cultural-idiot-pt-4-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-762 Joel Tue, 04 May 2010 03:15:54 +0000 http://freedoniapost.com/?p=527#comment-762 Good call - when I'm not analyzing the crap out of people, I'm generally pretty smiley. It definitely perks other people up. Or makes them suspicious, which can be fun, too. Good call – when I’m not analyzing the crap out of people, I’m generally pretty smiley. It definitely perks other people up. Or makes them suspicious, which can be fun, too.

]]> By: Joel http://freedoniapost.com/2010/05/confessions-of-a-cultural-idiot-pt-4-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-761 Joel Tue, 04 May 2010 03:14:13 +0000 http://freedoniapost.com/?p=527#comment-761 Yeah, I'm good in one on one or small groups of friends, but when it's a larger group, I just sit back and watch the action. Yeah, I’m good in one on one or small groups of friends, but when it’s a larger group, I just sit back and watch the action.

]]> By: Keith http://freedoniapost.com/2010/05/confessions-of-a-cultural-idiot-pt-4-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-755 Keith Mon, 03 May 2010 14:47:06 +0000 http://freedoniapost.com/?p=527#comment-755 Great tips, and really helpful for me since I share some of your characteristics. Another one to add to the list: Have a mission. It becomes a lot easier if you need to talk to people to fulfill some part of the mission. Also, hang out in red light districts. I hear the people love to chat. :) .-= Keith´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TravelingSavage/~3/Z2umP6fsMJ4/" rel="nofollow">Trackpacking: David Gray</a> =-. Great tips, and really helpful for me since I share some of your characteristics. Another one to add to the list: Have a mission. It becomes a lot easier if you need to talk to people to fulfill some part of the mission.

Also, hang out in red light districts. I hear the people love to chat. :)
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Trackpacking: David Gray =-.

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