Greetings, greetings, color aficionados.

It’s been a while since we’ve corresponded, friends! I’m finalizing many projects behind the scenes and expanding LFB Color in some new directions. We’ll tackle that later.

Today we’re talking culture and travel. I’m set to embark on another trip for which details are forthcoming. Let me first be sure to board the plane and arrive to my destination! At top of mind for me today is how to be a culturally mindful and curious traveler, alongside the popular notion that U.S. Americans are loud, presumptuous and obnoxious travelers in the collective global eye.

Is there truth to that? To a degree, I would say so having witnessed some of our countrymen in action abroad. Haha! We are perceived as expecting everyone to pander to us and speak English, and we sometimes fail to learn basic greetings and phrases in the destination country’s language.

This is a stereotype, and I’m not a proponent of perpetuating stereotypes, so let’s note that many, many of our OTHER countrymen ARE courteous travelers who respect and immerse themselves in other countries and cultures as they travel the globe.

As a culturally adventurous, immersive traveler myself, and a person with a heightened interest in language learning, I’d like to share the top 5 things I do to be a gracious, all around affable traveler, especially when exploring internationally.

1. Learn basic phrases in the destination language and practice their pronunciation prior to embarking on your trip.

These are the bare minimum, basic phrases and greetings that I recommend you master before ever setting foot in your country of choice. Pronunciation and a little bit of effort will reap great rewards and garner favor with locals.

Learn the following at least:

Hello, goodbye

Please, thank you

Do you speak English?

Yes, no

Pardon me, excuse me

Good morning, afternoon, evening

I am learning your language. Thank you for your patience.

2. Do research on etiquette, culture and customs of the people and country.

Take your time to read articles and blogs about etiquette, concept of personal space, how demonstrative or reserved a people are, how loudly or quietly they speak, what foods they eat, body language and meaning, and generally how to maneuver within that society. Do an Instagram or Google search to find travel bloggers and influencers in your country of choice. Read their etiquette and cultural tips. Be informed before you travel, so that you better understand how to interact with the people and present yourself as a polite guest in their country. Better yet, meet someone here in the States from your travel destination and ask them about their culture and customs.

3. Put some effort into your attire. Please! I beg this of you, and especially for your airport attire.

What a privilege it is for us to be able to travel at all these days! I urge you to treat it as such and smarten up your airport wardrobe for starters. The airport isn’t the place for flip flops, dirty tennis shoes, sweatpants and t-shirts. Opt instead for chic, comfortable yet casual pieces that are figure flattering and of quality material. Understated and classic pieces work best. I will report on airport attire and share my own tips in a subsequent post.

Study the fashion trends of your destination country, as well, and use that level of style and formality to dictate your wardrobe choices when packing for the trip. I always express my unique fashion sense when traveling while respecting and conforming to a degree to the countries’ dress codes as I visit.

4. Familiarize yourself with the history, politics and social issues near and dear to the people of your visiting country, at least at a high level.

Each country has a unique political and social landscape, and it behooves you as a visitor to simply be aware of the high level but important aspects of a country’s fiber and fabric.

My next piece of advice is to refrain from commenting on any politically or socially sensitive topics. Remain as neutral as possible. Observe. Be a gracious guest of the country and be cognizant of the fact that its citizens know far more about the complexities and history of their land than you as a visitor ever will.

5. Go into every new travel experience with wild curiosity and a mind open to learning bits of language, customs, culture, music, art, food, history, and so much more that only an in-person visit to any country can provide. Be immersive!

I learn something new every hour I spend in a foreign country. This in fact has formed the foundation of my #ColoringMyWayAcrossTheGlobe hashtag and upcoming campaign. Meet the locals, interact with them, and ask them where THEIR favorite restaurants and spots are. Ask a lot of questions and search out not only touristy spots, but also those places “off the beaten path” of which I consistently refer.

By the way, friends, #ColoringMyWayAcrossTheGlobe is a hashtag I developed a few years back to merge my passions of color, language learning, travel, art, culture, customs, landscape, and exchanges with locals as I travel.

Coloring My Way Across The Globe is a chronicling of the most colorful people, places and experiences I encounter as I travel off the beaten path both near and far. I can’t wait to share more about this campaign as it evolves and unfolds in early 2024 and beyond.

For now, I leave you with these cultural insights of mine and welcome your feedback. What tips do you have for us here? Please do comment below. We’d all love to hear from you.

Until next time, colorfully yours,

Lauren