#1 Being “That American”
You know that person; he or she is constantly saying close-minded things like: “Well, in America..,” “America’s the greatest country in the world,” and “America, Eff Yeah.” Here’s a helpful piece of advice: no one cares jerk-face. By constantly repeating how much BETTER America is than every other country, you’re immediately demeaning every other nation on this planet. It may be shocking to you, but there are other awesome places that aren’t within the boarders of the US of A. America, get over it.
#2 Making Out With Everything That Moves… And I Mean Everything
Everyone should make out with everyone as long as you’re not being a jerk about it. With that being said, public displays of sex should be kept away from the public eye, animals, and random pieces of art. Why my phone is filled with multiple photos of drunk people making out with inanimate objects is beyond me.
#3 Being That Person That Always “Needs To Borrow Money”
Traveling can get expensive fast. Make sure you budget accordingly and learn how to say “no” to things you can’t actually afford. FOMO (aka the Fear Of Missing Out) is a very real thing while abroad so it will be hard to sit out of certain adventures, but it’ll keep your reputation clean and the social invitations constant. Don’t alienate your new travel friends by being a burden and making promises you can’t keep.
#4 Not Learning The Local Language
Respect the culture and country that you’re in by learning the local language. This will make your life easier, the surrounding community’s life easier, and ensure that you’ll be able to find the restroom when you so desire. It’s also just more fun that way!
#5 Complaining that “This Isn’t How It Is Back At Home”
Keep in mind that the reason you left home is because you wanted an entirely different experience. Home will always be there. When else are you going to get the opportunity to live/travel in a different country with unfamiliar cultures and interesting languages? It’s hard to say. Own it and relish in the novelty.
#6 Talking About “How Weird” The Cultural Differences Are
Shut up. YOUR culture is probably the “weird” one. Who else eats what you eat, talks the way you talk, and is unable to adjust to basic cultural differences. Weirdo.
#7 Being On Your Phone All The Tim
Anticipatory memories kill actual experiences. Relish in the moment and stop trying to record it for Instagram… unless you’re a blogger, like me, so get off my back about it.
#8 Being A Stupid Tourist
Screaming at the top of your lungs, taking pictures of anything and everything that moves, and picking fights with the locals is an obvious no-no. Go beyond the tourist attractions and really dive into whatever the country has to offer. Try to befriend a few of the locals to get some good tips, hints, and potentially, a kiss good night. However, avoid making the locals feel uncomfortable at all costs! You never quite know how someone will react due to a misunderstanding or cultural differences…
#9 Making Frenemies
Because most abroad experiences are temporary, don’t feel the need to make “frenemies” just to have friends. Dump those people like a bad habit. Enjoy the opportunity to be alone or take this opportunity to meet new people!
#10 Constantly Saying “I Wish Everyone Would Just Speak English”