Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
At one point during my solo backpacking trip to Western Europe in 2019, it hit me how alone I was.
I was on the train from Lucerne to Munich, traveling through the Swiss and German alps, and I was also hungover. I’m not a heavy drinker, and the previous night, for whatever reason, I decided to go clubbing with a fellow backpacker I was roommating with in my hostel, and as I was having too much fun, I also stopped counting how much beer I was having, which meant I wound up going overboard - I will never allow that to happen to me again… you NEVER want to be drunk or nauseous, let alone in a foreign country, no matter how beautiful it is.
Point is that the next morning, be it because of my nausea or as a result of parting ways with my short-term backpacking roommate, I felt really depressed and alone.
Thankfully I could still Imessage friends from home, just that I needed someone to connect with who was within physical proximity. While I encourage each and every one of you to travel solo because of the freedom that it gives you - specifically when it comes to making decisions without having to compromise - undoubtedly there are going to be times when you’ll want to connect with other people. Sometimes you’ll want to be alone, and other times you’ll want to be with others. Both desires are natural.
So for those of you seeking a companion or a group of travelers to connect with on your backpacking journey, this article is going to be for you.
Without further ado, here are nine backpacking tips to help those of you that are looking to forge connections on your backpacking travels:
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Bunking Up: The Art of Social Stays
2. Bytes of Friendship: Navigating Digital Nomadism
3. Beyond Words: Language Learning and Cultural Connections
4. Traveling with Purpose: Volunteering for Connection
5. Nomad Networks: Blurring the Lines Between Work and Wander
6. Homestays and Heartfelt Experiences: The Art of Staying Local
1. Bunking Up: The Art of Social Stays
Photo by Marcus Loke on Unsplash
What’s up, gentlemen? By now you obviously know you’ll probably be staying at hostels, some Airbnbs, guesthouses, or even couchsurfing when traveling.
But did you know that not all of these accommodations are created equal? That’s right - some hostels are known for social gatherings, while others are more known for providing a more quiet, secluded, or even isolated setting to relax in.
Seclusion is great for when you want privacy and solitude, and it’s not so ideal for when you’re feeling the desire to connect with others. That’s why you’ll want to pick hostels where lots of travelers converge.
The best part about these types of hostels - aside from the pub crawls and city tours - is that you’ll meet backpackers from different backgrounds, which will educate you on parts of the world you’ve never been in (yet). These guest houses will also provide you with the opportunity to hear about tips and tricks that could help you on your own travel journeys to upcoming destinations on your itinerary.
How do you find a hostel that’s community oriented? You do your research. Apps and websites like hostelworld, booking.com, hotels.com, expedia.ca, and others are prime resources for finding excellent hostels around the world. Wherever you plan to travel to, these apps will give you all of the hostels in the area, and all of the reviews and ratings associated with them. That way, you’ll know in advance whether a hostel is worth staying in, or whether it’s dirty, got bed bugs, mice, etc.
I personally used hostelworld throughout my travels. Since I didn’t have my laptop on me, I found it incredibly easy to navigate through and book hostels on their app in advance of my arrival in cities. Not only do hostelworld’s reviews from previous backpackers who stayed in each hostel talk about cleanliness, food, and the overall quality of the hostel; they also highlight the social engagement aspects of the guest house. So I highly recommend using them as not only a place to book and pay for hostels, but also an app through which you can find hostels with lots of group activities, communal spaces, and social gatherings & events that facilitate communal interactions.
Speaking of social interactions, you might want to read up on what sorts of dormitories each hostel has. Some hostels offer individual sleep quarters, while others offer only sleep quarters for two or more people. Other places offer both types of quarters, yet you must pay more money in order to secure the rooms with more privacy & less people. If you’re looking to talk with lots of people, though, then getting a hostel with dormitories for multiple individuals is a great way to foster connections and make friends. Maintain sociability!
On a side note, some hostels are actually designed for solo travelers, so you can always read up on those, either on sites like Hostelworld, or even by searching “Hostels for solo travelers” on Youtube, or even Google. The benefits of staying in these types of places is that you’ll meet fellow solo wayfarers just like (or even different than) you, so you’ll feel accepted, and part of a community. Also, because you’re all coming from different parts of the world, every backpacker that you meet is going to have a unique story to share, so you’re going to learn a lot, both about other people, and various cultures. In other words, you’re going to experience some cultural exchange from staying in these types of accommodations as well.
By the way, keep in mind some hostels might even have events or day trips such as sports, games, hikes and adventures, tech expos, group tours, and more - always be sure to ask the concierge for goings on at every hostel you stay in!
Something else to keep in mind is that the more people are in your hostel or dormitory, the safer you want to keep your belongings. Most hostels offer some sort of storage cabinet, either in a locker room, beneath the bunk beds, or in a closet inside the dormitory, yet you want to bring your own lock to keep your belongings secured. I’ll never forget when - in Paris, at the FIAP Jean Monnet hostel (one of the better hostels I stayed in in Paris, by the way) - one of my roommates had his laptop stolen by a third roommate, who left early that morning, only to never be seen again. I still have the handwritten note that that heartbroken young man left me, begging for his laptop back, and suspecting that I might’ve been the one who had stolen it - I didn’t.
Bottom line, guys, keep your luggage safe. Bring some pepper spray in case someone tries to steal from you while you’re sleeping - I’m half joking, half serious.
2. Bytes of Friendship: Navigating Digital Nomadism
Photo by Mike Swigunski on Unsplash
Gentlemen, one of the best ways that you can have a FANTASTIC travel experience is by connecting with fellow backpackers or travelers before, after, and during your trip. Popular social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are prime for connecting with fellow travelers. Even if you’re traveling alone, it’s never a bad idea to reach out to other backpackers.
There are so many groups you can join and backpackers to follow that can help you navigate your own challenges, as well as tell you all the ways you can ditch that 9-5 for a life of adventure, freedom, and independence. Here are just a few pages you can follow on all the aforementioned sites I just listed:
Facebook:
· Backpacking Europe (OFFICIAL)
· Backpacking & Hiking Enthusiasts
· Backpacking Southeast Asia (OFFICIAL)
· Beginners for backpacking, trekking, and hiking.
Instagram:
Twitter:
As always, there are TONS more accounts and groups to follow out there, so please go out there and find your own.
Why do I recommend getting in touch with fellow backpackers? Well, gentlemen, it’s because connections not only allow you to get through times of loneliness; they also provide you with fun & memorable experiences, insights about countries, cities, towns, and attractions you didn’t know about, and who knows, perhaps in the future, you could connect again, either for more backpacking trips, entrepreneurial endeavours, or for whatever it is that floats your boat. But following social accounts isn’t the only way to make friends digitally while backpacking!
Yet another way to make friends online and meet fellow backpackers is to start your own blog or vlog (i.e. a Youtube channel), kind of like what we’re doing. You could film or write content that documents your journeys, appeals to your fellow backpackers, and that’ll help you get followed as well as meet people that share your passion for traveling.
Digital or multimedia storytelling, where you combine videos, images, and audio or music to connect with fellow backpackers is also one of the most effective ways to encourage travelers to share their experiences since these formats resonate with a broad audience, regardless of their language or whereabouts.
There’s SO much potential in building a community that shares your interests and insights, so definitely consider doing some of this - we’d love to learn from you! - as producing content is a great way to connect with your fellow backpackers. Just make sure to differentiate yourself in a crowded market, and niche down to really find those specific followers of yours!
Finding evangelists is all part of building your personal brand, which - if that’s something you want to do - can lead to opportunities for collaboration, networking, sponsorships, or partnerships. You could provide tips that reflect your individual travel style (i.e. solo backpacking) and values. Just beware that you’ll need to manage your online presence constantly.
As part of building your online presence, you can participate in online challenges and post about them on your social challenges. Such trends can lead to shared experiences and interactions with fellow backpackers who are interested in connecting with you - just be sure to use specific, travel-related hashtags to connect with a broader audience.
Speaking of your audience, there are also plenty of online communities and forums dedicated to travel, such as Reddit's travel subreddits or dedicated travel forums, like some of the following:
Once again, the benefits of participating in these communities include sharing experiences, asking for advice, and meeting potential travel companions. Some of these do require a membership fee, so always check in advance if any costs are involved. And look, if you’re not looking to spend any money on joining a forum, the free ones as well as the social media groups (especially the ones on Facebook) will do just fine.
But if you’re into working remotely and don’t mind spending a one-time fee for lifetime access to incredible travel networking benefits, then try exploring platforms like Nomad List, where travelers and digital nomads connect based on their current locations. I believe the fee is $99 for lifetime access, and you’ll get opportunities and benefits for collaboration, coworking, and socializing among like-minded individuals who all want to live and work remotely.
Kindred spirits can also be discovered on language exchange apps, where travelers can connect with locals and fellow backpackers to practice languages. Here you’ll make connections AND gain cultural exchange experience from language learning interactions.
To further your links with fellow backpackers, you can explore online meetups and backpacking events, which have seen a rise in the last three - four years, especially in response to COVID and other global events that limit physical travel. These online gatherings provide opportunities for networking and forming digital connections by allowing you to access virtual meetings, where you can meet travelers, learn about destinations to visit, take part in games / or cultural exchange sessions that allow you to glean tips and tricks for your own travels, and share experiences that allow your fellow backpackers to grow and learn from you.
Now, as with everything in life, you’ll want to maintain your digital privacy and safety while engaging with online communities. We backpackers are adventurous folk, and that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t keep our heads on our shoulders. Never give out information you’re not comfortable with sharing, especially with strangers, and always protect your passwords, addresses, and any personal information that you wouldn’t want others to know about in ANY community.
Now that we’ve discussed digital connections, let’s move onto…
3. Beyond Words: Language Learning and Cultural Connections
Photo by San Fermin Pamplona - Navarra on Unsplash
What’s the point of traveling if you’re not going to learn about the local customs and cultures of the places you visit? This is a rhetorical question - we all know the answer.
When backpacking, I encourage all of you to make connections with your fellow travelers as well as local residents of whatever town you’re visiting, regardless of their language or cultural differences.
You can do this through participating in local sports or activities, taking part in classes or artisan workshops, participating in historical or cultural tours, you name it, pretty much every country has got it (unless it’s incredibly off - the - beaten - path, then you’ll have to get creative).
Whether it's joining a pickup soccer match, watching a game, trying out a traditional sport, or simply cheering for the local team, these experiences can foster connections with both locals and fellow travelers.
I know a lot of you like to take part in Muay Thai, BJJ, or MMA sports, and the great thing about martial arts is that pretty much every country in the world has a local club you can visit and take a few classes in. Meeting members abroad from your global sport community is a great way to make connections and conquer the loneliness that often accompanies solo backpacking. And hey, if you don’t feel like rolling or sparring, you could simply watch.
Sports don’t need to be limited to just martial arts, though - they can include everything from rock climbing, to zip-lining, and participating in pretty much any physical activity, specifically ones that are culturally significant (i.e. Gaelic games in Ireland, Shinty in Scotland, pétanque in France, Basque Pelota in Spain, and many, many more). There are even some violent sports - such as Calcio Storico in Italy - that I by no means recommend anyone take part in, though if you’re interested in doing some cultural research, they might be interesting to check out as a spectator.
Other than that, you’ve always got your football (soccer), tennis, and other, more mainstream sports and activities that you can partake in pretty much anywhere while still immersing yourselves in local cultures.
Speaking of local cultures, if you’re into food and cooking, you can explore local culinary experiences, including cooking classes. A lot of men enjoy hands-on activities, and learning to prepare traditional dishes provides an immersive way to meet new people and connect with local culture - cooking is also a great skill to have in life, so it’s a win-win.
And if cooking’s not your thing, and / or you want to participate in alternative artisanal workshops, then consider taking classes in woodworking, pottery, or other crafts that are integral to the local culture.
Still, there’s nothing quite like experiencing some outdoor adventure expeditions, particularly when backpacking in beautiful regions like Europe, South America, Australia, or even the U.S. and Canada. These adventures showcase the natural beauty of whatever region you’re in, and whether it's through hiking, camping, or exploring off-the-beaten-path trails, these activities offer a unique way to connect with fellow travelers and locals while immersing yourself in their culture as well as the surroundings of each place you visit.
If you want, you can even do some of this sightseeing through historical and cultural groups tours or guides. Not only do such tours delve into the history and culture of the destination, since visiting historical sites, museums, and landmarks provides valuable insights into the local heritage, but they also provide you with the opportunity to meet new people, and to forge some connections.
If you’re really down to meet locals and perhaps even learn a new language, there are actually what are called language exchange events where travelers can not only practice the communal dialect but also engage in conversations about shared interests. These events often facilitate long-term connections beyond just language learning.
Regardless of whether or not you want to challenge yourself with the studying of a new language, I do encourage everyone to participate in local festivals and celebrations, which are PLENTIFUL in Europe (i.e. Semana Santa in Spain, Festa Della Bruna in Italy, Bastille Day in France, etc.). These events often involve parades, cultural performances, music, and other, traditional ceremonies that provide a vibrant, colorful, dynamic, and social experience - they’re also just plain fun!
And finally - I know this isn’t going to be for everyone of you -, consider doing some community service or volunteering, even if it’s just for a few hours. Some community service projects that allow backpackers to learn about and contribute to the local neighborhood abroad might involve participating in local outreach projects, environmental initiatives, or other community-focused activities. Just make sure not to take on any dangerous activities, and always have your wits about you - remember, your goal is to make friends, meet fellow backpackers, and learn about local customs (as well as to possibly contribute to the local community if the opportunity to do so safely exists), not sacrifice your wellbeing.
This leads me to…
4. Traveling with Purpose: Volunteering for Connection
Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash
I’ll keep this one short, but suffice it to say that choosing volunteer projects to partake in that are aligned with your skills and interests is a great way to connect with others, and build your resilience muscles. These efforts could involve contributing to community development, environmental conservation, or education initiatives. Engaging in projects that resonate with you on a personal level enhances your overall experience.
Collaborative projects with local community members can include mural painting, gardening, or organizing an event - basically joint efforts that create shared memories and lasting connections.
Speaking of connections, these initiatives are also a great way to build relationships through service, since you’ll forge genuine connections through shared goals and passions. Volunteering provides a common ground for forming relationships, as individuals come together with a shared motive of making a positive impact. And if someone has similar skills and interests as you, you never know where this connection could lean long-term!
Remember to reflect and possibly even journal down the impact of your volunteer efforts, and any connections you made during them. This will allow you to extract meaning from your travels, share your experiences and insights with others, and foster connections, not only within the local community but also with fellow volunteers or travelers who share a commitment to making a positive difference.
5. Nomad Networks: Blurring the Lines Between Work and Wander
Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash
And if volunteering isn’t enough for you, and you want to truly turn your travels into a lifestyle, then you might want to do so by understanding - and perhaps partaking in - digital nomadism.
Digital nomadism has seen a sharp increase in popularity the last few years - particularly since COVID -, especially amongst the male audience (although really anyone can be a nomad). For those of you that may not yet be familiar with the term, digital nomads are people who travel freely while working remotely using technology and the internet. That’s right - this lifestyle offers a unique blend of professional growth and travel experiences by allowing individuals the opportunity to work from anywhere in the world while they live out their dreams, ditch that 9-5, and explore whatever parts of the globe they feel like trotting.
Some of the best - or most well-known - destinations - primarily because of their high speed internet, expatriate communities, great infrastructures, party scenes, and visas - for digital nomads include Lisbon (Portugal), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Mexico City (Mexico), Canggu, Bali, and Berlin (Germany), among many, many others. Of the locations I mentioned, I’ve only been to two - Berlin and Lisbon - so I can vouch for their decent costs of living, internet reliability, ease of entry, and overall safety (oh yeah, and who can forget their incredible attractions, historical sites, museums, and cuisines!).
These locations also offer a ton of coworking spaces, and a vibrant community of fellow digital nomads, all of which are important for your work - travel balance abroad.
I mentioned coworking spaces, which are excellent hubs for remote workers. These environments are designed to accommodate people from different companies who come together to do work, and they’re often characterized by shared facilities, resources, services, and tools. The advantages of joining such spaces if you’re a remote worker or digital nomad is collaboration, inspiration, positive work environments, and networking opportunities. As a matter of fact, studies show that 70% of members who co-work become healthier, while 68% see an improvement in their focus. 64% of people who join these facilities say they see an increase in productivity as they complete tasks in a more timely manner. So yeah, these are worth it if you plan to work abroad, and most major cities will have them. Just make sure to do your research and book your space in advance on sites like:
And if you can’t find a suitable co-working space, consider the trend of working from cafés, and other public spaces in nomad-friendly locations, such as libraries, or even hostel common rooms. Just make sure to discover work-friendly cafés with reliable Wi-Fi (as we mentioned in the above destinations), comfortable seating, and a conducive atmosphere for both work and socializing (i.e. not too noisy or crowded).
Now I know we spoke earlier about joining travel forums and social media groups to meet fellow backpackers, and you can actually do the same thing to meet your fellow nomads. Yes, there are PLENTY of social media groups, websites, and forums dedicated to digital nomadism that facilitate connections, and create a virtual community that extends across borders. Joining these online communities allows for lots of support and advice from your fellow digital nomads, many of whom have been working remotely and traveling for years, so if you’re brand new and just looking to get started, they can help you out with some advice on how to best approach the digital nomad lifestyle. Or if you’ve already been a digital nomad for some time and are simply looking to connect with your fellow wanderers, then consider joining these groups in order to share your own advice and help others.
Speaking of helping others, you can provide strategies and give tips on how to balance your work commitments with the desire to travel and explore new destinations. You can provide others with tips on time management, setting realistic work goals, and creating a schedule that allows for both professional responsibilities and leisure activities. The great thing about working remotely is that you don’t have to work 9-5; you basically create your own schedule (one of the great things about living in a post-pandemic world). So as long as you figure out a way to balance your work and your travels, there’s no reason why you can’t do both. I suggest creating a weekly schedule for yourselves so that you have a rough guideline of how you want each week to look. This approach will allow you to make decisions about how you’re going to spend your time each day of the week in advance, eliminating decision fatigue in the moment since you’ll have allocated time for travel and work. Here are some schedule templates to get you started:
· Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Schedule Templates
· Canva Weekly Schedule Planners
I personally use the Seven Habits one as that’s one of my favorite self-help books (trust me, if you haven’t read it yet, it’s INCREDIBLY practical and actionable), and I find the organizational structure that Stephen Covey recommends incredibly effective. That said, feel free to browse around on the Internet and find whatever template works best for you.
What works for you might help someone else, and as you can tell, digital nomad communities are incredibly collaborative in nature, so it’s good to engage in skill-sharing initiatives, where individuals with different expertise collaborate on projects or share insights. This fosters a sense of community and mutual support.
For more brotherhood bonding, consider attending remote work retreats, the emergence of which has seen many tailored seclusions for digital nomads. These organized retreats provide an opportunity for backpackers to work, network, and explore a new destination in the company of like-minded professionals.
Linking up with digital nomads will also teach you how to integrate your work and life by helping you address the challenges and rewards of combining jobs and travel. It’s important to maintain a healthy work-life balance wherever you are, and it’s especially imperative to do so if you want to dedicate enough time and energy to both your job and travels, so setting boundaries (part of setting up extended time blocks in your schedule for specific activities and tasks), and prioritizing self-care (i.e. eating nutritious foods, drinking lots of water, looking after your hygiene, getting enough sleep - as in 7+ hours every night) while navigating the nomadic lifestyle is crucial, especially if you’re brand new to it. If you can do so successfully, you open yourself up to a realm of exciting possibilities that combine professional growth with global exploration.
6. Homestays and Heartfelt Experiences: The Art of Staying Local
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I’ll be honest with you, gentlemen, I’ve never done a homestay - unless you count Airbnb rentals -, and I’ll share with you what I know about them.
Homestays are basically a form of hospitality and lodging where travelers, students, or anyone visiting abroad share a residence with a local, or a family of locals in that area. Think of it as a prolonged Airbnb - since homestays can last anywhere from one night to a year or longer - where you stay with the family, and participate in household duties, meals, and so on and so forth. Normally, your host will also include you in any types of excursions, family time, and conversations.
As such, I understand the home stays might not be for everybody, especially for lengthy periods - if you’re super independent like me, and like spending time on your own without anyone telling you what to do and when to do it, then it might be a little bit awkward when your hosts invite you to take part in an activity, and you really don’t feel like doing so, but you’re too scared to decline -, hence why I’ll preface this tip right away with the advantages and disadvantages or participating in homestays.
Advantages include exposure to everyday life in a foreign community or another location, the opportunity to experience local traditions and culture, a chance for cultural diplomacy, friendship, intercultural competence, foreign language practice, and (depending on where you stay) a potentially lower carbon footprint, especially compared to alternative forms of lodging (i.e. hotels, hostels, Airbnbs, etc).
Another potentially big advantage of homestays is that you don’t necessarily have to pay for them, depending on what your agreement is with the host - sometimes you can do a homestay in exchange for housekeeping (part of the barter economy), swapping for the host staying at the guest’s property (either simultaneously or at a later date), or other forms of interchange in which the participants trade services without money. Social networking services where hosts offer homestays for free are called hospitality exchange services.
Disadvantages of homestays include rules and restrictions (i.e. curfews), restrictions on facility availability or usage, and work requirements, especially if you’re paying using the barter economy rather than money - this means lots of hard, manual labor! Also, depending on where you stay, there’s no guarantee that the home you’re staying at will have the same level of comfort, amenities, and privacy as other types of lodging.
To make up for the lack of comfort, though, keep in mind that there’ll be tons of cultural exchange and learning. Staying with locals provides a firsthand understanding of their traditions, customs, and way of life, fostering a deeper connection with the destination you’ll be staying in.
Now, not every homestay is created equal; you’re going to have to choose the right one for you. Most homestays won’t tick off all of your boxes, and you can find the ones that’ll checkmark the most. When choosing your homestay, you’ll want to consider factors such as location, amenities, and reviews from previous guests (if there are any). Some great resources to use when looking for a homestay include:
· Airbnb
· Vrbo.com
· Expedia
· Hometogo
· Tripping
· Atraveo
The aforementioned websites are great for finding trustworthy hosts and accommodations that align with your preferences. Feel free to do some of your own research and find more.
Regardless of what platform you use to book your homestays, though, the unique benefits of choosing this form of hospitality over conventional accommodations (like hotels and hostels) include making connections, personalized local guidance from your host(s), homemade meals, and the opportunity to engage in everyday activities with the host family, enhancing the overall travel experience and making it feel more authentic and memorable.
This is because you’ll build meaningful connections that could extend beyond your homestay, which will facilitate the forging of lasting friendships with host families.
Part of creating meaningful bonds involves the language immersion opportunities that homestays present. Whether you’re looking to enhance your language skills or simply engage in authentic conversations, staying with locals provides an immersive linguistic experience.
And if you’re looking to further immerse yourself in the authenticity of the local culture, consider participating in the daily life of your host families. From helping with chores to joining in celebrations or rituals, these interactions contribute to a more genuine and memorable travel experience. Just remember to navigate cultural sensitivities when staying in someone's home by respecting local customs, etiquette, and house rules, to ensure a positive and respectful interaction between you and your host(s).
Also be sure to take safety into account when choosing your destination and homestay. All of the aforementioned websites provide you with the opportunity to read reviews from previous homestayers, as well as to research your hosts before reaching out to them. I encourage everyone to communicate openly with your potential hosts about what exactly it is that you’re looking for - be as descriptive and detailed as possible -, and what their rules and policies are before confirming a reservation to ensure a secure and comfortable stay. Remember, a host can - and probably will - rate you as well, either during or after your stay, so you want to make sure you have a successful vacation with them. That way, you increase your chances of receiving a good review from your host, meaning you’ll have an easier time booking future stays on the platform, since a high rating makes you look responsible and trustworthy.
I speak from personal experience when I say I’ve had some great experiences with hosts on Airbnb, and some others that went a little awry, simply because I didn’t communicate with the hosts in advance of what some of their expectations might be of me as a guest. This resulted in some less than stellar ratings on my account, which didn’t prevent other hosts from renting to me - it just made them a little skeptical about how good of a guest I might be. Anyways, you live and learn, and to avoid making the same mistakes as I did, heed everything I just told you.
Overall, homestays - if you’re up for them - invite you to embrace a more intimate and culturally immersive form of accommodation. They impart a rewarding experience that encourages you to open your hearts, minds, and souls (and sometimes your own homes, if that’s part of the agreement) to new connections, memorable experiences, and shared stories.
7. BONUS TIP: Breaking Barriers: A Backpacker's Guide to Social Ease
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There’s one last, quick tip that I want to impart to you, gentlemen, and that is this: When you travel, you’re going to encounter lots of potential social barriers, such as language differences, cultural nuances, or - and this isn’t just when you’re backpacking but in general - personal reservations. A lot of these barriers will play a role in shaping social interactions on your solo travels.
As such, it’s important to develop a positive mindset when approaching social situations. Embrace your inner curiosity, open-mindedness, and willingness to step out of your comfort zones to initiate connections.
Speaking of stepping out of your comfort zone, if you struggle with anxiety - like I do - then it’s important to learn techniques to manage your nervousness. Practice meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, cognitive behavioral therapy (if necessary), and even consider watching video content or reading some books on the topics of managing anxiety and learning how to socialize. Some good ones that I know of - and some of which I’ve personally read and found helpful - include:
· How To Stop Worrying and Start Living
· How To Win Friends and Influence People
· The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
· Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind
Mel Robbins also has a great Youtube channel and podcast that frequently discusses tools to deal with anxiety. It includes interviews with doctors and leading experts on anxiety; they provide their techniques for managing stress. Also, while Tony Robbins doesn’t necessarily deal with anxiety per-se, I have found his first two books, Unlimited Power, and Awaken the Giant Within, to be helpful in generally raising confidence and overcoming obstacles.
His books might help when it comes to practicing ice-breaking techniques to initiate conversations with fellow travelers and locals, which could include simple greetings, compliments, or asking open-ended questions that invite others to share their experiences.
Generally, you’ll find that the more you take an interest in others (i.e. through asking them questions about themselves), the more receptive they’ll be to you, and that’ll create great conversations. As a matter of fact, having this knowledge - that conversations aren’t about you, but about others - helps to alleviate the anxiety that comes with engaging in conversations in the first place, since a lot of that worry stems from feeling like everyone’s thinking about and judging you. While we can’t control the latter, trust me: people think way more about themselves than they do about you, so chances are if you’re feeling nervous to approach somebody, they’re feeling likewise.
Remember to take it easy, not believe every thought that comes into your head (especially the negative or self-critical ones), and think of each social interaction as an opportunity for growth and improvement. You don’t have to be perfect; authenticity, listening, and the understanding that everyone is on a unique journey go a long way in fostering an environment where travellers can connect on a human level. As you build up your self-esteem and confidence in this area, you’ll gradually expand your comfort zones in social situations.
Speaking of expanding comfort zones, I touched briefly upon cultural nuances, and I think it’s important to discuss non-verbal communication in cross-cultural interactions. Your body language, facial expressions, and gestures can be interpreted differently in various parts of the world, so it’s important to learn the customs and social rules in each place you visit in advance of having any major social interactions so that you convey friendliness and receptiveness, even in the absence of a shared language. Respecting local customs, traditions, and social norms is a must to ensure that you approach social interactions with cultural sensitivity.
To address this challenge of language barriers, you can use language learning apps - such as Google Translate - to learn basic phrases, watch Youtube videos on how to learn a language that you’re interested in, maybe take a couple of online language courses on platforms like Preply, and play online language games to overcome linguistic challenges. All of these options will help you foster meaningful connections despite differences in language.
For example, when you join group activities, or communal events such as group tours, workshops, or local gatherings, you’ll be able to put these language skills to use and interact with others.
Remember, there’s a lot of potential for personal growth through social interactions. I encourage all of you to reflect on your experiences - either by journaling or through creative endeavors - in order to recognize the resilience and adaptability gained through navigating diverse social environments, not just in travel, but in life.
Phew, that was a long one! Alright, gentlemen, that about does it for forging connections while you’re on your adventures. As always, let us know in the comments of this blog post, or on our social channels - Facebook, Twitter-X, and Instagram - what topics you want us to discuss in the future, and feel free to like us on those platforms in order to get more backpacking advice, as well as tips and tricks on how to become a more resilient traveler, and overall human being.
Until next time, have a great week!