I'm hoping that once I'm able to travel, I'll be able to visit a country in which I already have a friend (not traveling with other people, though I would probably do that too). I don't know if it's extraversion or because we always had contacts we knew for my university's study-abroad programs, but I feel like knowing people in the country will provide more benefits than not knowing anyone. Basically having an old friend like Sallah from Raiders of the Lost Ark, whom I could visit with during my stay.
For one thing, I could interact with someone I already know in the target country. For another, I'm learning another language and thought it would be cool to be able to use it with someone who is a native of the target country. And, of course, it would be cool to get some amicable pointers from a friend about what to do and what to avoid, maybe go out for an authentic dinner recommended from a native. Potentially, I might be able to have a place to stay for a couple nights if that gives more of an "authentic" experience. I just think it would be cool to learn a language, make (a) friend(s) in the target country, then go to visit them in their country (like "hey, I'll visit my German friend when I go to Germany") and keep in contact after the adventure. All of this would definitely be a lot easier than walking up to people who are just minding their own business and trying to befriend them and get them to tell me all about what to do in their country while butchering their language (though I'm sure I would be doing that too; making immediate friends off the streets is half of the challenge of navigating around a new country, right?).
Some ideas I've thought of include using a language-learning-partner app, using AirBnB and making friends with the owner, or having some kind of universal social media platform (HelloTalk maybe?). Any other ideas?
Submitted October 19, 2020 at 11:19PM by WingsOfReason https://ift.tt/37laQuH
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