When traveling around – especially if in a country where you don’t speak the language – it’s easy to end up chatting to people who speak your language. Quite often they are visitors like you (doesn’t matter if flashpackers, backpackers or honeymooners) or foreigners that live there, expats.
While visitors, especially tourists, are often over excited about the place and can’t wait to share their fantastic experiences with you (oh, you must absolutely do that!), expats are more relaxed and often not too bothered to talk to yet another visitor like you.
So keeping in mind that talking to the locals would be the ideal solution to get to know more of a culture, here are the 10 reasons why expats are a better chat than tourists while traveling:
1. Expats just know more about the place, in any aspect. Simple and straightforward: they’ve been there way longer than any temporary visitor.
2. They’re not afraid to criticise some aspects of the culture so can be more objective regarding the place. They’re no longer super-excited to be there and looking only at the good things.
3. Their contact with the culture it’s just real. It comes from everyday life, not guidebooks. No other way to put it.
4. Expats can give you tips on off the beaten track. Whether a bar, a temple, shop, etc., including where to get real good local food (at local prices). Not just touristic spots.
5. They can translate and teach you some words in the local language. Not simply “where is the station” but more everyday (often slang) sentences, that will help you to connect more.
6. They know and can teach you how to “survive” being a foreigner there. Depending on the place, how to avoid scams, places that pretend to be real but are just for tourists or simply how to fill an application.
7. They can be introduce you to their local friends. That way you can end up at a local party or event, join a new network, see a part of life there that would have never seen as a visitor.
8. Expats know what’s the real price for everything you’d like to buy. They live there after all.
9. They can tell you how to relate, be friendly and respectful to the people living there.
10. Expats can give more insight on a country. They are familiar with local news: a minister arrested for corruption, a tourist attacked there, a traditional festival coming up.
So what do you think? Any reason to add, or any reason why visitors are a better chat than expats?
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