If you don’t allow yourself to try and put yourself in other people’s shoes, then you can’t recognize their struggles or views. As I was traveling in different countries, there were different norms specific to that place. For example, in the United States, we are accustomed to walking around while eating or drinking, talking on the phone, searching through our bags, and more. In Japan, most places don’t even have to-go cups and you are expected to dine in since it is against the norm to walk and drink. It seemed weird to me at first, and it seemed impossible to hold my soda and not sip from it, but it is seen as rude to do so when out walking. When you stop to think about it, it does make sense, especially because the streets are crowded and people walk so quickly there.
In Mauritius, there are a variety of languages and cultures represented. There are still protests for equality and fairness across the board, so we knew that it would be important to be aware of their difficult history before visiting. Researching allowed me to begin my time in Mauritius with an open mind when communicating with others, understanding their background and what was and wasn’t acceptable there. But reading online isn’t enough because the information can be misleading or misinterpreted, so I continued to learn while I was in Mauritius. When traveling abroad, it is important to do as much as possible to understand the varying perspectives you may come across and always keep an open mind.
