Category: Travel

Adventure with Engagement AWE · Family · Travel

Hidden Treasure

dawnhirnLeave a comment

When you think of bonding with your family, does it put a knot in your gut? Your husband (or wife) will always be busy. The kids can think of about 250 better things to do than to hang out with their brothers or sisters. If you announce your ‘family time’ plan before you have a plan, you are in for some attitude.

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You want an Adventure With Engagement. But what is your plan?

When we announced our plans for a seven-month trip, the boys probably first thought we had lost our minds. Then of course, came denial. During the planning process, they began to show more interest. Of course, it was an ebb and flow, one day studying the countries we would visit with enthusiasm, the next, being hit with reality; they would be away from their friends and comfort blanket of electronics for a good seven months. And we got a lot of attitude.

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You don’t have to jump right into a world trip, like we did, but unless you take a step toward AWE, you will stay stuck no matter where you go, no matter how long you are gone. There are so many things to do that will drum up AWE in your family:

-At the beach, (or near a stream, lake or river) rent a salt-water metal detector and at low tide push your way onto the shoreline. There is nothing quite as exciting as hearing the sound the detector makes when you find a treasure. No matter how small, it is an adventure you will never forget.

-After a day of treasure hunting, take your family to the beach Souvenir Shops and plunk down a few bucks on some oversized conch shells and other larger shells. I know – it’s not something I would regularly do either. But I know a lady who wakes up before daybreak and “seeds the beach” with these shells.   She gets her cup of coffee and her lounge chair and sits back to watch complete strangers find treasures.

AWE. Adventure with Engagement. Make it part of your family life.

It is where you will find real Hidden Treasure.

education · Encouragement · Travel

Still can’t speak the language!

dawnhirnLeave a comment

And the old joke still circulates:

A person who speaks three languages is tri-lingual.

A person who speaks two languages is bi-lingual.

A person who speaks one language is American.

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Before we left for our World adventure, we required everybody to learn at least five words/phrases-“thank you,” “your welcome,” “please,” “excuse me,” and “hello”-in the language of each of the countries we were going to visit.   Saying “hello” in that language doesn’t cover it when you need to find a restroom. And crossing your legs and jumping around doesn’t always translate. Kids always level the playing field with their complete candor.

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Here are some communication tips when you don’t know the language:

  1. Use your hands. Pantomime to your heart’s content.
  2. Use your smile. They know you’re a foreigner. Smiles are a great ice-breaker.
  3. Memorize just a few phrases. Put the words to music and it becomes a lot easier!   Wǒ xiǎng xiān qù cèsuǒ  “Where is the bathroom?” in Chinese. Sing it to: ‘I heard it through the grapevine.”
  4. Use your phone apps. Google Translate or iTranslate is good. Waygo is great studying Chinese, Japanese and Korean. You can actually take a photo of what you don’t understand and say “Aha.” (BTW, the word  “Aha” is pretty much the same in every language!)
  5. Take chances. Don’t worry about proper pronunciation. People are kind – they will want to help you and, of course, you open the door for them to practice their English on you.
  6. They’re not laughing at you; they’re smiling to encourage you (Paris, France may be an exception to this rule).
  7. Pay attention. Great communicators mirror their audiences.

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And remember- communication takes two people. Don’t be shy, find one.

dawn

Family · Travel

Can’t speak the language . . . .

dawnhirnLeave a comment

The greatest barrier to communication is our ‘fear of looking stupid.’   The Hirn Family had jumped that hurdle when we lived on the Texas border.  Every good doctor must first understand what his patient needs, and Ron was determined to offer the best to his Spanish-speaking patients by communicating with them in their native tongue. And, as social as I am, nothing was going to stand in the way of my getting to know people.   We all speak Spanish pretty well; problem was, we hadn’t chosen Spanish-speaking countries to visit!

American’s pride ourselves in the fact that English — the International Language — is understood almost everywhere in the world.  But unless we are forced into a situation, too few of us find it important to learn another language. Why not? Communication is a powerful tool.

Before you leave for your trip, pull up the website: Omniglot http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/          Great tool for learning a few phrases!

People are generally quite forgiving, but occasionally a blunder causes a large problem:  In the 1960’s Pepsi took it’s “Come Alive with the Pepsi Generation” slogan to China, which was not well received. The Chinese translated the slogan to: “Pepsi brings your relatives back from the dead.”

Clairol attempted to sell a new curling iron in German markets, dubbing the product a “Mist Stick.” “Mist” in German means “manure.” Who wants a hot roll of manure in their hair? www.fluentin3months.com

If you’re selling a product, do your homework. Otherwise, get out there and practice.  The people we met loved helping us.

Check out my Blog Thursday for some great communication tips I brought back. We’ll have you ready to go in no time!

Talk to you Thursday!  Dawn

Family · Travel

World travel? Can’t afford it.

dawnhirnLeave a comment

“Face it. I can’t afford to take my family on a world adventure.”  (Nasty buzz sound).    Wrong answer.  Save your money.  Clip coupons.  Trim your lifestyle.  And when you hit your goal and people ask you “what are you going to do now?” ditch the “Disney World-response,  (no offense Walt) and buy yourself a ticket around the world.  About $6500 is what we spent. Each.

You’re on your own getting to Disney.   Walt will charge you $6480 at the Polynesian bungalow for 4 nights, 4 people.  We traveled the world for  180 days, but you won’t want to stay at Disney as long cause it’ll cost you $291,600.

Choose China.  We stayed 4 nights, six of us, for under  $200.  The hostels are fabulous. (The hostel we stayed in Xi’an was rated #1 in the world).

A Five-day pass to Disney is $393 adults and $372 children. Park food is pricey. All you can eat dumplings in China, cost $5 for six of us.  And ‘yes’ we did get tired of dumplings.  But rice, chicken, pork and vegetables are standard and reasonable.

In India, your kids, sisters, aunts and grandmas’ souvenirs could run you as much as 60 cents for a pair of sandals, sans the Disney mouse ear logo.   What I’m telling you is you can do this.  We did.  Stay with me here.  I’ll give you more tips Tuesday.

How much does it cost to go to Disney World? (including example trips)