ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR

HOW TO AVOID CONFLICTS WITH LOCALS WHEN TRAVELING ABROAD

- REUBEN BOLIEU

Having spent many years traveling abroad, I learned early on that it doesn't take much to alert local officials. Be it police or military, it is possible to find yourself subject to a full shakedown. It's equally as easy to find yourself in a "bad spot" with the locals after taking a wrong turn.

But you don't have to end up in hot water while traveling abroad. Read on to learn about how to blend into your new environment and make like a local.

AWARENESS

Whether we travel for business or pleasure, we can count on being mixed in with locals from the time we land at the airport, train station, bus, or port. We will depend on them for taxi rides, guidance, money exchanges, to ring up our goods at stores and to make our food in restaurants. And that's only to start; we will also rely on local firefighters and police for protection and order wherever we go, and even the military, if there is unrest.

Our duty as visitors in a new place is to do our best to acclimate to the country and familiarize ourselves with simple customs, etiquette, transportation and even dress codes in some more conservative countries. It helps to know a little of the local language, too. Learn a few phrases or words, especially greetings. Even if it isn't perfect, the effort goes a long way in the hearts and eyes of the people.

On the flip side, you'd be surprised at how many English-speaking people become annoyed when local people don't speak English with visitors, even while at home in their own country.

People spend a great deal of time and money to be able to travel to someplace different. My advice is to do just that: Be someplace different and adapt.

LOCAL OFFICIALS