This post is for all you foodies out there. Guest blogger Andrea Proulx provides three great ways to make sure you make the most of your trip abroad…by eating! Read more about Andrea at the bottom of this post.
Exploring a new culture while traveling abroad can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time, but one of the best ways to get acquainted with a new destination is to embrace unfamiliar surroundings completely. Why? Because some of the greatest experiences of your life happen when you step outside your comfort zone.
One delicious way to experience a new culture is through local foods. Since food is a way cultural groups express their way of living, you can learn a lot about a country’s people, social structure and history just by eating a local dish. Whether it’s paella in Spain, Masala Doas in southern India or rice and beans in Costa Rica, traditional foods in all countries are prepared and served in a way that has been passed on for many generations.
While volunteering in South Africa, I was able to learn a great deal about the local culture when invited to a braai, which is an African barbecue where families and friends gather to socialize and relax. A braai consists of a variety of meats, gathered and cooked by the men, and are accompanied by salads, desserts and pap, a porridge dish, traditionally prepared by the women. With good company, delicious food and exciting music, my experience at the braai was one I’ll always remember.
Not staying in local housing or with a host family? No worries. You can still get a true cultural experience from dining out abroad. Here are three simple ways to maximize your cultural experience, one spoonful at a time:
Eat like a local – Skip the inevitable golden arches that may feel comfortable and familiar. Instead, take a look at what the locals are eating, visit the local markets or try cooking up some local favorites for yourself. Going out for every meal can make a trip feel very vacation-esque, but going to local markets to buy ingredients to cook yourself is a fun way to feel like you’re really living in your host country. Try it out!
Ask around – Get suggestions on where to eat by asking locals in the area for their favorites. They know best! I had great experiences doing this when traveling around Europe during a semester abroad. For example, in Italy, where every Italian named restaurant sounded intriguing, I turned to the locals to point me in the right direction. With a little help from some new Italian friends and Google maps, my travel companions and I found a few delicious dishes in Florence and Pisa.
Don’t ask, just eat – If you’re a picky eater and don’t know the host language, go with it! Try not to ask what you’re eating unless you like it. This will help you try more foods you would not normally try in your home country and get a true culturally rich culinary experience. This was most appropriate during my travel to India. Not only was every food item impossible for me to pronounce, they were also nearly impossible for me to identify. Although it took a little getting used to initially, Indian food has become my absolute favorite and I’ve been on the hunt for tasty Indian restaurants in New England ever since.
No matter how open minded you become with food in other countries, it’s always a good idea to take precautions in countries where food handling and water sources may be unsafe. Become aware of your food source and keep in mind that the water you are cautioned not to drink may have been the same water used to wash your fresh salad. When in doubt, order dishes that have been cooked for a while with heat and avoid unpeeled or freshly washed fruits and veggies.
Exploring the culinary influences of a country can be a great way to learn about a host country. What have you learned through food in your travels abroad?
About Andrea Proulx:
Andrea is a social media consultant who studied Marketing and International Business at Suffolk University. She’s traveled internationally to Central America, Europe, Africa and Asia both as a student and as a volunteer. She is passionate about global travel and loves learning from new people and new experiences.
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United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
