Traveling abroad is seemingly exciting before the trip, but the challenges can be overwhelming with adapting. I share in this blog some of the things that were difficult for me and how I adjusted.

Traveling is one of my favorite hobbies, but sitting in planes or standing in long queues at airports for long hours has never been fun. However, I always sigh a loud relief when I roll my luggage out of the airport. No matter the season, l always feel the air in front of the airport in the other country is fresher.

Whether I traveled for tourist or study reasons, I have left every country with a bucket full of lessons.

 Some have been on a personal level, and others on a social basis.

Continue reading my travel suggestions.

1. Be flexible with accommodation

Generally, before buying a flight ticket, we constantly search for accommodation as it’s the norm.

For me, after reading through pages of reviews and swiping over dozens of pictures, I typically make reservations after I buy my ticket.

However, sometimes when I arrive in these countries, some facilities have lower standards than what was inferred on their websites.

The disappointment on my face is usually apparent to these owners. My solution after several unhappy situations over time has been to reserve just a single night for the first day. This has helped me to deal with either ‘dirty’ rooms, poorly ventilated areas, or noisy neighborhoods.

I use part of my touring as I wander around the next day to find a better place. Most times, I take long walks while I battle with following online GPS directions and searching for a new hotel. It’s physically and mentally exhausting.

I always consider the walk worthwhile when I find a comfortable or at least better place. 

My mental strategy has been to be flexible and not expect to see precisely what is online. No hotel or Airbnb will be as comfortable for me as my home. It’s only a temporary place for rest as I continue my adventure.

Thus, reducing your expectations is the best way to stay in a new home for a short time.

This indirectly means being ready to intrude into your comfort zone when you plan to travel.

2. Be ready to try other cuisines

Eating exceptionally healthy food is paramount for health and strength.

Being the picky eater I am, l had to learn quickly to change my eating habits on trips. 

Initially, I wouldn’t eat anything l don’t know or hadn’t eaten before, but after traveling, l had to change my mindset.

I found myself spending over 10 mins at restaurants flipping through menu pages, unsure if l should trust the cooks. 

During my travels in Asia, it was rare to find Cameroonian meals. For several meals, l had to taste without completing it. I often had to cook similar foods at home without using all the spices.

But, I survived by carrying Cameroonian ingredients – dried vegetables and spices, among others as I regularly returned for vacation. 

Other times, I requested for Cameroonian food items to be posted/ shipped to me from other countries, or I bought online from African/ Cameroonian food businesses.

Being willing to eat unfamiliar food is fundamental before buying a travel ticket.

3. Be ready to spend money when traveling

Traveling is expensive, and worrying about our budget can be overwhelming sometimes. Spending money here and there is part of the fun as a travel lover.

Personally, I have hardly spent exactly what I estimated to spend. There has always been an unpreviewed situation. Sometimes it was either the hotel prices, food expenses, or flight changes, among others.

So personally, I have learned to travel with more money than I will need. It has saved me the stress of instantly calling people to wire me money.

4. Be patient with learning a new language

Patience is a unique virtue. It was pretty scarce for me in relation to communication before I started traveling. 

The communication giant language stands out as my final point. 

I learned sooner or later that I had to learn another language to communicate effectively.

The learning process felt overwhelming for me as l had to adjust everything I had known.

For example, learning Korean was complicated because it had a different structure from English. I had endless questions about this structure, but with time, I had to accept the uniqueness of the culture.

Adapting to writing new language characters and straining to memorize alphabet sounds are a list of some of my many challenges. But I quickly realized I had to be patient with myself and others.

Part of the patience-building process meant denying my previous impressions about myself. Similarly, I also had to admit we are all different in the world.

So traveling is a suitable option only if you have an open mind to quickly accept other languages and cultures.

In conclusion, traveling brings a million excellent experiences. So before hopping onto a plane, be sure to analyze yourself if you can quickly learn another language. How much flexibility do you have regarding handling discomfort in lodging?

The fun is tied to money somehow; are you ready to spend money? If all these questions are ‘yes,’ you should be prepared to receive the smiles of some warm welcoming immigration officers.

For more of my travel stories to these ten countries, please click here.