Do It Right, Stay to the Right

Riding some public transportation while abroad? Then it would be important for one to have knowledge of proper etiquette when it comes to riding the train, tube, or metro. This etiquette includes everything from entering the station, riding the escalator to the trains, and behavior on the train itself. 

First, when entering the station, it is important to have tickets or metrocard ready. Locals will become frustrated or flustered if they have to wait while people fumble through their bags for their tickets. Get the ticket out and ready before you get in queue to enter the station. 

After swiping the metrocard or ticket, normally it is required to go up or down a set of escalators or stairs to reach the trains. If people are in a hurry or do not wish to "ride" the escalator, they will walk down the left side. If you are strolling at leisurely pace or wish to ride down, then stand to the right. For a set of stairs, people in more of a hurry push down on the left, slower walkers stick to the right. This is widely known in most European countries, and for those where it is not, signs are often displayed. An example would be in German train stations there are often signs by the escalator reading, "Rechts stehen, links gehen" – "stand on the right, walk on the left."

Once riders are waiting on the platform for the train, it is courteous to move down the platform as far as possible so that people entering have room to stand. When the train arrives in the station, remember to mind the gap and enter the cars carefully. There are always seating and standing options aboard. The seating to be aware of is the handicap or disabilities seating. Normally those are marked seats by the doors to the train. Also in London there are special seats sometimes marked for pregnant women or signs that say to give them seats if necessary. The important part to remember is offer your seat to those who need it more than you. 

Riders must be courteous and polite to other passengers, not only by giving them the special seats, but also by making as much room as possible so that everyone can fit on the train. Another obvious rule would be to keep to yourself and not cause distractions to other riders. These riders do not want to hear others loud conversations or watch any obnoxious behavior. 

If all these rules are remembered, and etiquette is followed, it will make for a great trip on public transportation in Europe. The ride will be smooth and easy, and people may even take you for a local. 

To Tip or Not to Tip?

When you think about etiquette, you usually think about manners at the dinner table and saying "thank you"  after something is passed to you. However, one of the biggest etiquette mishaps while in America and abroad is tipping. Tipping is paying a sum of money for services rendered. It is a sign of appreciation and gratitude for someone's services to you. Tips can be given in restaurants, bars, or to concierge workers, bell caps, maids or to many other workers and places. In some locations, tipping is encouraged and expected from customers, while in others tipping is discouraged and considered insulting. Bottom line is that tipping rules vary by country, region and scenario. 

In America, the norm is to tip no less than 15% on a restaurant bill. It is common courtesy to tip the waiter after a meal in the United States, as it is seen as a fundamental part of the social contract. Many restaurant workers complain that they do not receive a sufficient amount of tip after waiting on a table. In a bar, it is highly recommended to give tips to the bartender depending on the amount of drinks you ordered and type of drink. Bartenders are more likely to give better service and make better drinks if they are receiving tips in return. 

In terms of foreign countries, tipping is not the norm like it is in the United States. I found this guide to global tipping from an article in the Huffington Post. It is the key to all tipping advice from restaurants to hotels to taxis for the countries of Europe, Asia, Asia and the United States. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/28/tipping-guide-a-travelers_n_2646654.html

Avoiding a Currency Crisis

Before attempting to understand currency exchange rates, it is important to know what a currency exchange rate really is. The term "currency exchange rate" essentially represents the value of a particular country's money in comparison to another country. A country's monetary value often fluctuates and is heavily dependent upon the strength of their economy at a particular point in time. 

As we all know, communication is a significant barrier when traveling to foreign countries, especially when there is a language barrier preventing you from communicating effectively. However, it is important to be aware that money can also be a significant barrier to traveling. Currency exchange rates can be extremely confusing for individuals traveling in various countries because there are various currencies used around the world. Although the euro is commonly accepted throughout Europe, many countries have other preferred currencies and even the euro can be confusing to work with if you haven't had a lot of practice.

Check out the steps we have listed below to avoid a currency crisis while traveling abroad!  

Step One: Determine the two currencies you will be working with. Select the currency you will convert from and the currency you will convert to.

 Step Two: Research the rate for converting your money in the new currency. Each country’s conversion rate can be found online.

 Step Three: Establish the relationship between the two currencies. Be aware that when you are converting money to a stronger currency, you will lose some purchasing power in that particular country.

 Step Four: Visit your local bank to convert some of your money to the local currency before leaving for your trip. Exchange rates tend to be much higher in airports or hotels, which may be your only option once you have arrived at your destination.

 Step Five: Be aware of surcharges that may be required to convert money. There may be a percentage rate on the transaction or a flat rate to complete the transaction.

 Step Six: Contact your credit card company to inquire about exchange rates and fees when using your card. Exchange rates and fees will vary by company. 

Language Barrier: French Edition

Before entering France most people brace for the worst, hearing that the French are rude or abrasive. When I went to Paris I was prepared to do anything to find the exception to the rule. There had to be something I could do to see the lovely side of the French people.

The stored list of French words I used in my iPhone!

There is a solution. Attempting to speak the language amasses brownie points and help from all sorts of people. The words to know are “hello”, “thank you” and “I don’t speak French”. The trick is that you use your French words in all French interactions.  This includes at an attraction, any restaurant form five-star to fast-food and people on the street when you ask for directions. People will appreciate if you make the effort to speak the language that the French value so much.

 Laws are intact to continue the use of French. For example, a quota of 40% of French music must be played on the radio to continue the diversity of music and stop foreign music and language from stifling the French.

Preparing for an evening at the Eiffel Tower!

France also has L'Académie Française or the French Academy which was established in 1634 to regulate French grammar, literature, and spelling and to keep the purity of the French language. The Academy is still open today and making recommendations about current issues concerning language.

The French take pride in their history and language, so any effort to brokenly speak French should be taken. By a few small steps you can avoid the “rude French”.

Golden Words:

Hello: Bonjour (bon-joor)

Thank you: Merci (Mer-si)

Sorry: Pardon (Per-dón)

I don’t speak French. English? : Je ne parle pas francais. Anglais? (jay nay par-lay pas fran-ces. Ahn-gleh?)

Do you speak English? : Parlez-vous anglais? (par-lay vou ahn-gleh)

A Smart Traveler is a Happy Traveler

Throughout the entirety of our travel blog, we have emphasized the importance of educating yourself before you depart. Learning the language of your country of travel is no different. Learning a new language is one of the hardest things to conquer. We are not saying that you need to be perfectly fluent in a new language before you leave, but being able to learn and recognize common words, phrases and the lingo can make the transition very smooth.

Depending on the University you attend and the study abroad program you are participating in, there are many different requirements when it comes to classes that must be taken. Certain programs require taking a language class before you leave, others require language and culture classes to be taken once you are already abroad. Classes taken beforehand can be beneficial and very comforting when you arrive in a new country and already understand a lot of their language. Language classes taken while you are abroad can be neat too because the learning and experience are simultaneous. If your program does not require either option, it is important to buy books, a translation dictionary or use internet resources to educate yourself and grasp some basic knowledge of the country's language.

Learning and adapting to a foreign country's language and culture can be a very critical component to your study abroad experience. Not only will it make it easier, but a lot more enjoyable! A smart traveler makes a happy traveler!

Felices viajes! (Happy travels!)

Bad at Languages?: There's An App for That

If you are anything like me, you are not blessed with the ability to learn languages effectively. And from somebody who loves to travel but also failed out of intermediate Spanish in college, I have excellent news for you.

The iSpeech translator, an application available for both Android and iPhone users, allows the user to instantly translate phrases and questions from their native language to another simply by typing or speaking. The resulting text can either be read or simply shown to the person you are trying to communicate with in order to get your point across.  If pronunciation really isn't your thing (I know rolling my "r's" is never going to happen), iSpeech will even read aloud these translations in 18 different languages, with more to come!

Instead of lugging around a heavy translator book, this application makes it easy to learn the phrases that you are going to be using the most on your travel adventure.  Its ability to easily switch its translation from one language to another allows the user to customize and change the settings depending on what country you travel to.  From a vacation to France to a full European adventure, this application has what you need to succeed!

I have attached the links to the application bios to this post so you can learn more about them! If you have plans to travel over the summer, these are a great addition!

UK English Is Not American English

Many students will choose to study abroad in London or other parts of the UK because they assume they will not have to be concerned with any language barriers. This assumption is somewhat false. Although the native tongue in the UK is English, there are many different slang terms used commonly that differ from what we use to describe people, places, or things. 

English Football, not American Football like the NFL. 

Most are familiar with the fact that football in America, and football in England are two completely different sports. English football is American soccer, and the closest thing they have to American football is rugby. This is just one of the many words which are changed in meaning. 

English Fish and Chips with a side of Cider = American Fried Fish and French Fries with Hard Apple Cider. 

Going out to eat? Well just be prepared that when you get your fish and chips, chips are french fries, not potato chips. If you want potato chips, then order some crisps. Also if you ask for an order of biscuits, you'll get a dessert, not an appetizer. Biscuits are not those savory buttered rolls served popularly in the American South, but cookies in England. If you order cider as a drink, expect it to be hard cider with alcohol, not apple cider served around Christmas in America; don't even try to order it hot. 

When going shopping, remember to ask where the trousers are or to compliment someone on their new trousers. If you tell someone, "Nice pants," or ask for the pant section, you'll be talking about what American's refer to as underwear...that could get embarrassing. Another one to remember is if you say you'll get something stuck in your braces, in England that means in a pair of suspenders. 

Now to get to the big ones to remember, such as in England if you need to find somewhere to pee, say you need to go the loo or the toilet, not the bathroom. A bathroom is where you'd wash up and bathe. If you're in the apartment and you door knob breaks, don't go around saying you have to adjust the knob because in England a knob is a penis. Finally, another good thing to not say in public is, "I fell on my fanny." It may be something you heard Grandma say in America, but in England a fanny is not a butt. Everyone can go look up what that is on their own time. 

Overall, be careful what you say in England. You may assume that you think you know everything about the English language, but you only know everything about the Americanized English language. In the UK, there are so many slang terms, therefore it would be good to know what you're asking for. It will make for a safe trip, a good time, less language barriers, and no communication mixups. 

Overcoming Barriers

Hola, Bonjour, Halla, Ola, Hei! Feeling a little out of place already? These are the most simple ways to say "hello" in Spanish, French, Swedish, Portuguese, and Norwegian. 

One of the top challenges in studying and traveling abroad is the language barrier. Not knowing a single word of another language can be scary when you just got off the plane. It can be extremely intimidating. You might feel helpless and want to turn around. However, do not let the language barrier stray you away from your upcoming experience abroad. Learning a language is easy if you try. 

Even if you have studied the country's language for a while now, that does not mean you will be up to par when trying to converse with the native people. There is sometimes a disconnect between the accents, slang terms and other factors contributing to language. Being enriched in the daily culture of another country is a great way to learn the language. It may take some time to get used to the new words, but as they say "practice makes perfect!" 

There are many ways to learn the language of the native country. 

1. Download free podcasts to your iPod. You can listen to them while working out, doing homework, or just in your free time!
2. Buy Rosetta Stone. It is a software that uses images, text, sound and video to teach words and grammar. For more information, visit http://www.rosettastone.com/ to check it out! 
3. Visit the Apple or Android App Stores for great applications made for mobile devices that teach almost every language. 

Traveling abroad is a lifetime experience that you will never get back. Do not let the language barrier hold one back. Language is only the beginning, so make sure to invest time and energy into this aspect.

American Airlines Responds to Twitter Threat

Yesterday morning, a Dutch teenager issued a very serious threat against American Airlines.  The tweet threatened the airline with terrorist activity.  Using this popular social media tool, American Airlines immediately responded and swore to take action in response to the threat made against them. 

Despite both parties deleting the tweet, with Sarah deleting her entire twitter account, this incident shows the importance of social media in all aspects of life, including national security.  In the aftermath of September 11th, these threats are taken extremely seriously.

According to Twitter's "Guidelines for Law Enforcement". the information of a specific Twitter user can be turned over and used as evidence “if there is an exigent emergency that involves the danger of death or serious physical injury to a person that Twitter may have information necessary to prevent.”  While there has not been substantial information released concerning the incident, Dutch police tweeted an update as of this morning confirming the arrest of Sarah in response to this incident.  Despite the teenager tweeting at the airline multiple times in response to their response, it is clear that they are still taking these threats seriously and are taking action against her. 

A representative for the popular social media site told Business Insider, "We’re not in a state that we can communicate any state of charges at this point, we just thought it was neccessary to bring this out mostly because of the fact that it caused a great deal of interest on the Internet."  

After this incident, it is important to remember to be careful on social media sites.  What may seem like a joke to you can be taken extremely seriously, especially if the content is aggressive and threatening in nature.  This story also shows the emphasis on security that airlines are implementing.  While security can be a pain when it adds on time to your travels, remember the service that they are doing and the lengths that they go to keep travelers safe!

Are you the next Study Abroad Global Duke?

ATTENTION JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: 

While many of our readers are interested in traveling or studying abroad, we also appreciate those readers who already have travel or study abroad experience!

If you have studied abroad or are currently studying abroad, then check out this great opportunity offered by James Madison University! 

JMU is looking for students interested in becoming a "Study Abroad Global Duke." Global Dukes are student peer advisors who want to share their study abroad experiences with potential study abroad students. This opportunity allows you to provide first-hand knowledge regarding the study abroad experience to engage and interest other James Madison University students. 

While the study abroad office provides fantastic information and resources, they recognize students often respond better to other students. JMU's Study Abroad Office wants your help to further the success of their study abroad programs!

While many leadership opportunities on campus demand a large time commitment, Global Dukes only requires seven hours a week of your time. As a Global Duke, you will spend approximately two hours a week in the Office of International Programs and around five hours a week planning study abroad projects and events. 

If you are seeking ways to stay connected to your study abroad experience after returning home, then Ready, Set, Roam encourages you to apply for a position as a "Study Abroad Global Duke!" The deadline is quickly approaching so be sure to fill out your application today and submit it along with your resume to Andriana Hench at henchaj@jmu.edu!