Barcelona Archives - Expat-terns

Chilling Out in Catalunya: Barcelona

Last week, I engaged in the time old tradition of exchange students taking a trip when we should be focusing…

My Expat-terns

121. Using a little Mexican slang will get you a long way, wey.

92. Do not let your ethno/national-centrism get the best of you. For example, Canadians do celebrate Thanksgiving; it is just in October, not November. If you go to the store Thanksgiving weekend thinking it will be a normal shopping spree, you will be punished for your ignorance when you cannot find any goddamn pecans or rosemary.

31. Frugality is fantastic. Don’t spend extra money that you don’t have to. If you are in a host family, perhaps just eat with them for free. It is always good to know exactly what you want to buy if you get souvenirs, and haggling can save you some dough. It takes work sometimes to spend less.

99. In Vancouver, it does not usually snow in the city. However, it is wet enough to ice over. Careful now!

38. People often travel to escape and start fresh. I’ve done it; I am not ashamed. However unless you are truly nomadic, you will have to return to dwell in familiarity eventually. Always make sure you have a home waiting for you. Of course, “a home” is a loose definition.

34. Sometimes life is so complicated, surprising, and/or just bizarre at an instance, all you can do is throw your arms in the air, equate the situation to where you are, and exclaim, “Because [Insert Country’s Name]!” For example, you might find about 600 Soles in your host family’s oven while looking for food – Because Peru!

111. This may sound grim, but if you ever are lucky enough to observe a minor car “accident” in Israel, just enjoy what unfolds as fifteen people who did not see what happened come up to explain what they saw.

57. It’s smart to not bring a lot of baggage with you when you travel, physical and emotional, and especially ties to your past that can deter your attention and focus from your surroundings. You’re on a journey, put the phone away; that can wait.

73. Stay out late, let the night guide itself; I’m more of “the night is still young” sort of guy though.

58. Is snapchat really the medium in which you want to remember your adventure through? Travel journals are always good as well …

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