🤝 How to make friends with people from different cultures
Plus: Lilian Smith wisdom, Serbian hangover food, Rosh Hashanah, & the Dominican Republic
One evening I was brushing my teeth at the Poets Hostel in Lisbon, Portugal.
Walking back to the six-bed dorm room, creaking the door open, I soon realized I wasn’t alone.
Two male twenty-something travelers had just arrived with their bags.
I didn’t speak Portuguese, so I broke the ice with the only local word I knew, “Obrigado!”
It was soon clear none of us were from Portugal.
“Where are you from?” One guy asked in fluid English.
“Near San Francisco in the US! What about you guys?”
“We’re from Cairo, Egypt but I live in Zaragoza (Spain).”
I began thinking, wow, these are the first people from Egypt I’ve ever met.
Here we were, three travelers from opposite ends of the planet meeting in a different part of the planet.
I felt timid because I didn’t know much about Egypt and was worried I’d offend them.
However, as the conversation continued, we found a comfortable middle ground:
Our enjoyment of Spain and traveling.
Soon we found another common interest: Exploring Lisbon over a round of beers.
The rest flowed naturally and we openly shared more about our cultures.
I’m happy to say Hassan and Yassin are now my friends.
If you meet people from different cultures and want to be friends, here are some tips:
Remember that we’re all people who deserve respect, love, and want acceptance.
Show interest in who they are and where they come from. (Dale Carnegie tip)
If you feel like you don’t know much about their culture, be honest and say so.
Find things you have in common, in my case with Hassan it was traveling.
Avoid trying to debate about world politics and don’t act like your country is “right” or “better.” Be willing to see your own country from the other person’s perspective. Be willing to laugh at your own culture’s stereotypes.
Be curious, but not in a judgemental or offensive way.
Relax and enjoy any awkward moments!!
I’m a huge fan of hostels. Moments like this are why I always recommend them.
🚀 Travel Quote of the Week
“I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.”
– Lillian Smith
🤲 Did You Know?
According to Taste Atlas, the best breakfast on earth in 2024 is the Komplet Lepinja. Originating in western Serbia dating back to World War II, the hearty dish is full of savory goodness.
It consists of a flatbread (lepinja) topped with a coalescence of eggs, milk cream, and meat drippings (pretop).
It’s best to eat with your hands. Diners get their share of carbs, grease, and energy. It’s also a Serbian hangover cure.
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🎏 Culture Corner
Happy New Year to all my Jewish friends!
October 2 marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. This two-day festival represents the start of the Jewish New Year.
In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means “Head of the Year” and is one of the most sacred celebrations in Judaism. It kicks off Days of Awe, which for ten days Jewish people reflect on their conduct and try to make amends for the new year.
It’s very common for families to join together to feast, celebrate, and reflect.
Afterward comes Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), which includes fasting and is more solemn.
Some common symbols of this holiday include:
• Pomegranates: These seeds represent abundance for the upcoming year. It’s common to eat pomegranates on the second night of Rosh Hashanah.
• Apples and honey: Eating these gives optimism for a “sweet” year.
• Rubia beans: These symbolize growth and expansion.
• Shofar: It’s common to blow a ram’s horn (shofar) to announce the new year.
For more information about Rosh Hashanah, visit My Jewish Learning.
🌆 Fun Things to Do in Samaná, Dominican Republic
Located in the northeastern part of the Dominican Republic, Samaná offers adventure activities, lush vegetation, serene beaches, and a treasure trove of wildlife. It’s a contrast to the resort-infused Punta Cana.
When you arrive, be aware there’s a town and peninsula named Samaná. However, the biggest town in the region is Las Terrenas.
According to Rome2Rio, you can either drive (2.5 hours) or take a bus (3 hours) from Santo Domingo to Samaná.
Here are five fun things to do around Samaná:
• Visit Salto El Limón Waterfall: A 1.5-mile hike through dense tropical forest will lead you to a majestic 130-foot waterfall called Salto El Limón. Once you’re there you can take a breather in a nearby emerald pool.
• Find your perfect beach: Samaná is ripe with easily accessible and virgin beaches. Some are only accessible by boat. One such beach, Playa Playitas, is a walkable from the town Las Galeras.
Recommendation: All sites I researched say it’s best to visit these beaches without anything valuable. Just to be on the safe side.
• Watch humpback whales: From mid-January to late March you can view the impressive migration of humpback pods around Samaná Bay.
• Visit Los Haitises National Park: This 600-square-mile national park is in the southeast of the Samaná Peninsula. Here you can discover over 100 bird species, limestone rock formations dating back 50 million years, and large cave systems with the country’s biggest collection of prehistoric wall paintings.
• Eat stewed fish in coconut sauce: This is the signature dish you should try in the Samaná Peninsula. Coconut milk and fresh ginger are the key ingredients.
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Much love,
-Daniel
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You always have such fascinating information, Daniel! It's so interesting to read your postings. Best to you, my friend.
I'm always amazed at the amount of info and knowledge you have at your fingertips, Daniel. On so many places. What a traveler you are! Bring it on!