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Books

Don't buy new books in Buenos Aires.

Julie Turkewitz

24 Jun 2009

Argentina

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Buenos Aires is pure temptation for book lovers. Glossy new books practically spill out of stores on Santa Fe and Corrientes, and you can't get off a colectivo without seeing yet another bookstore. But literature nerds: Don't purchase those unread books. Save your pesos for something even better -- BA's healthy used book business. If you are into low prices and dusty pages, head to a great no-name place at the corner of Corrientes and Rodriguez Pena. Or, if you have some time, take the the A subway and get off at Acoyte. You'll find a great plaza with tons of used book stores and plenty of salesman happy to discuss their favorite works.

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Getting Around

How to stay safe on Ecuadorian buses

Sara Shahriari

30 Sep 2009

Ecuador

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Most Ecuadorian towns have a central terminal terrestre so you can check out all the bus companies in one place. Be careful with your belongings. Watch the porter put your bags under the bus, and carry your most valuable things in a small bag onto the bus. Keep that bag on your lap; never put it in the overhead rack or on the floor. Whenever you go on a long trip, take a bus that goes direct and will not stop to pick up passengers on the road. I lived in Ecuador two years ago and recently returned, and my impression is that crime levels have risen. I would not take an overnight bus anymore, especially on, to, or from the coast. Personally, I travel direct by day. Also, learn when the dry season is and travel then to minimize mudslide issues.

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Festivals & Events

Easter extravaganza

Madeline Blount

06 Jan 2010

Cyprus

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No one does Easter like the Orthodox. On the South side of the island, it's a week-long affair with strict fasting (and then feasting) rules and choreographed services. On the Friday before Easter, go to a church and parade around the town with the whole congregation and a flower-covered coffin for Christ. The next night, bring a candle, watch the flame pass through the whole church in the dark, started by a chanting priest holding an antler candelabra. You'll then get pulled outside the church in a river of people (careful with that candle), and the priest will knock on the door of the church loudly, asking if the Resurrection has happened yet. Then, all Sunday and probably Monday, you'll eat more than you have in your life.

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Culture Shock

A more relaxed attitude toward life in Alentejo, Portugal

Margherita Bandini

28 Aug 2009

Portugal

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When I moved to Evora, Portugal, to start working on a project with otters, I was full of energy and new ideas regarding not only the project but just about everything. I soon found out that this scorchingly hot, dry region (called Alentejo, which means "across the Tejo," the largest river here) is amazingly similar to sub-Saharan africa: slow, relaxed, and in no hurry whatsoever. Their favorite phrase is "a mana," which technically means "tomorrow." I've been here for three months, and it's become my favorite sentence, too! That might be why it took so long to write this tip...

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Must Do

Galápagos on a Budget

Sara Shahriari

01 Oct 2009

Ecuador

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if you can get to the Galápagos you don't need a zillion dollars to enjoy it. First, it is true that if you go to Puerto Ayora (fly to Baltra, take the ferry to Santa Cruz, bus into town) and wait, you probably can get on a nice boat at the last minute for deep discounts. When I was there two years ago, I saw discounts of up to 50 percent on some cruises. Second, if you don't want to spend the night on a boat, or if you want to do a quick trip, you can stay in Puerto Ayora and take day trips from there. I went on a great snorkeling and dive trip to Floreana and a trip to Bartomolomé. I also explored Santa Cruz, all while staying in a hostel. I spent under $300 during four days on the islands and really enjoyed it. For me, swimming with sea lions was the best!

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Etiquette

Bargaining with street vendors

sara roger

31 Aug 2009

India

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When you're shopping on the street or in a store that lacks glass displays, it's almost always okay to bargain. Usually, the rule is to cut the vendor's initial offer in half (due to the so-called "white tax"). Don't be shy or worry about being aggressive; everyone barters with vendors here and they are used to it. If they won't budge, then feel free to point out whatever you think is wrong with their product, or make a deal like 2 for 1. If you are still unhappy with the price they're charging you and don't care for the item too much, feel free to walk away. They will usually stop you and accept your price.

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Food

Try the local seafood and beef

Matthew Hintsa

06 Feb 2009

Chile

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Chile isn't known worldwide for its food, but I had some impressive meals during my time in the country. You'll definitely want to try some seafood. Congrio a la Plancha (Grilled Conger) is a personal favorite. If you happen to be in Puerto Montt in the south of Chile, stop by the fishing port of Angelmó and step into a 'concinería', a small, often family-owned restaurant with only a few tables at most. I visited Local 21C a couple of times when I was down there and loved it. Beef was also a big hit. All of the beef I ate in restaurants was spectacular and available for a fraction of the price it would cost in the US. Most likely, it's also grass-fed.

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Film

Play instead

Marshall Worsham

06 Jan 2010

United Kingdom

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The film industry in the UK has a hard time keeping up with its U.S. and Continental counterparts. Think of “Love Actually,” “Shakespeare in Love,” and that awful early-1990s “Moment of Truth” series, and you’ll get a sense of the purple in which British cinema is steeped. Go instead to a play. Many of England’s smallest towns have independent theaters with some top-notch actors. If you’re in London, go the tourist route and see a musical, or Shakespeare performed at the Globe. Or go underground and check out the Rose – a hip new black box company that performs above the ruins of the South Bank’s first Elizabethan theater, just down the street from the Globe. You shan’t be disappointed.

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Packing

Immerse yourself in local style

Emily Strasser

11 May 2009

India

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Pack light and buy clothes there! Even though people told me before I left for India that the standards of dress are much more modest, I still ended up bringing a few things I never wore because I found out they were inappropriate. Though you will see tourists and young hip Indians in tank-tops and short skirts, as Westerners, what we wear stands out, and it's safer to stay on the conservative end of things. Your best bet is to pack lightly, and buy some Indian-style dress once you are there. It’s a fun experience to pick out bright, decorative cloth and have it tailored to fit you perfectly, as most Indians do. Women can enjoy wearing Indian kurtas, and men can rock neon, sparkly, fuzzy sweaters (I’m not even joking).

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Religion

Walk-in church services

Madeline Blount

07 Jan 2010

Cyprus

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In the Turkish-speaking North of Cyprus, you can visit a mosque by taking off your shoes (women, they give you a headscarf) and walking in, except during prayer hours. In the Greek-speaking South of the island, you can walk into an Orthodox church, and it's expected that people will walk in any time during a service. You'll see whole families come in an hour after a service starts, kiss an icon right in front of the singing priest at the front of the church, and then walk out and leave again. Don't worry about walking in and walking out in the South, but don't interrupt a service in the North!

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Politics

Politics as usual

Matthew Hintsa

10 Feb 2009

Chile

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Chileans are constantly complaining about their political situations and discussing the political situations of the major world players. In the conversations I was a part of, Obama and the promise of change in the US was always a topic. Domestic political issues ranging from healthcare to pension plans to public transportation funding are always making headlines and thereby fueling conversations. There are no major political struggles that directly impact the well-being of visiting foreigners, although during my visit, all public sector workers stopped working for a period of four days, which caused some disruptions.

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Music

Listen locally

Rebecca Jacobson

20 Jan 2010

Malawi

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Malawi has a wealth of local musical talent, and the small scale of the scene means it’s easy to see top-notch acts for cheap. For an introduction, check out the Black Missionaries’ upbeat reggae, silky-voiced Lucius Banda, rapper Tay Grin, international act The Very Best, or the versatile Ben Mankhamba (in photo). All can be found on YouTube. In cities, keep an eye out for posters advertising upcoming shows. Every September or October, both Malawian and international musicians converge on the shores of Lake Malawi for the annual Lake of Stars festival. This is a prime – though overwhelming – opportunity to see some of the country’s best acts.

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Sports

Strength, solidarity, and durability in the Mongolian wrestling palace

Lindsay Myron

23 Nov 2009

Mongolia

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Bokh, or Mongolian wrestling, is one of three of the country's most popular sporting events. If you’re in Mongolia in July, whether you’re in bustle of Ulaanbaatar or just roaming the countryside, you’ll see an endless number of matches during the Naadam festival. But don’t fret if you miss the summertime festivities -- Ulaanbaatar has a wrestling palace, Bokhiin Orgoo, east of the city center where, for a 1000-5000 tugrug admission fee, you can catch a match throughout the year.

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TV

Can't understand the comedians? That's Kansai-ben.

Saleem Reshamwala

15 Dec 2009

Japan

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A disproportionate number of Japanese comedians come from Osaka, or at least pretend to. The city has a reputation as the funniest, most lively area of Japan, and the local dialect, "Kansai-ben," is often used by comedians, regardless of their actual place of origin. So, learn just a bit and Japanese evening television will start making a lot more sense. The "Kansai dialect" wikipedia page is a bit dry, but has a good vocabulary list to get you started.

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Fashion

Fashion forward thinking

Anna Schwaber

24 Nov 2009

Indonesia

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When traveling and sightseeing in Bali, Indonesia, like other sacred spaces in Southeast Asia, be certain to wear modest clothing. For women, this means clothes that cover the arms and legs--long-sleeved and light-weight cotton is always best. In any event, try not to make too much of a statement with your attire. If you can, find a prayer shawl that is worn around the waist (for women). Respect for the culture around you will grant you access into a world worth witnessing.

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Dating

One on one?

Madeline Blount

07 Jan 2010

Cyprus

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Both young men and young women in Cyprus tend to live at home until they are married, which can put a conservative spin on the dating scene on the island. Beyond this, most Cypriots tend to hang out en masse, going out in groups of friends rather than as couples. Coming into this as a foreigner makes it hard to meet people in any one-on-one situation -- though it can make it easier to find a cadre of friends.

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Health

How to get vaccinated for free

Julie Turkewitz

28 Jun 2009

Argentina

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Keep in mind that if you are in Argentina and want to travel to Bolivia, you'll need to get a vaccine against yellow fever. If you don't want to shell out the 100 pesos for the vaccine -- that's almost $30 U.S. -- you can head to a free clinic at Avenida Ingeniero Huergo 690. The staff there does the vaccine without charge, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. I showed up at 9:45 a.m. and was done by 10:30 a.m. Good luck!

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Slang

Pretty fly for a laowai

Katrina Klett

26 Mar 2009

China

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As a foreigner in China, I am quite used to overhearing conversations about myself in public places. They usually range from guessing my country of origin to commenting on my clothing, etc. One day, while eating lunch, I overheard some men at the next table talking about my, well, physical attributes. After several minutes, I turned to them and used this idiom: "Dui zhongguo ren shuo, tian bu pa, di bu pa, zhi pa laowai shuo zhongwen hua!" It means, "The Chinese do not fear the earth nor the the heavens, they only fear the foreigner who can speak Chinese!" I use this phrase only when I overhear things about myself I would rather not be hearing. Feel free to do the same.

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Nightlife

Climb into bed with a stranger

danielle hayes

06 Nov 2009

Croatia

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One afternoon in Zadar, while wandering by my lonesome, I met a fellow traveler. We struck up a conversation, watched the sunset over the water and half an hour later I was lying in bed with him. This was not a case of fast track romance. We were at a beautiful bar called "The Garden" with a boardwalk full of beds overlooking the sea. It was the perfect way to end an afternoon of wandering, to rest weary feet, to have a drink, and to enjoy the fresh air a little while longer.

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Being an American

You’re not the only American here

Julie Turkewitz

25 Apr 2009

Argentina

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Referring to yourself as an “American” in South America is tricky. Most U.S. citizens learn to identify themselves simply as “American,” with the understanding that this communicates they are from the United States. But remember that a Mexican, Chilean, Argentine – really anyone from North or South America – is also an American. While some Latin Americans freely use “americano” to specify a U.S. citizen, others think using the term in this way implies a certain arrogance. To avoid appearing socially unaware, just skip the word altogether. You can use “estadounidense” to describe yourself.

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