Aspies and traveling

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Hey fellow Aspies,

I just thought I'd share something that has really helped me in tough times, and that's traveling, especially to foreign countries where they don't speak your native language. Before I was diagnosed, I loved to travel, and I have since figured out why. Abroad, there will already be plenty of communication issues and social customs broken, not being in your home turf. If you do speak another language, but not as well, you're sure to make some language errors. They will too. I can't tell you how many times I made errors speaking Italian or Spanish, and had other make mistakes in English. It's ok. Nonverbal language? Again, it tends to vary by culture. They won't think you're a freak, they'll think you're a foreigner. Not only that, you might be treated like a celebrity. I'm not even kidding. I know many people local to me who aren't American, who tell me in their home countries, they are just another Brazilian, German, whatever, but here, they are THE Brazilian, German, whatever. Same for me abroad. I am THE American. Anyways, I just thought I'd post something I have found helpful. Bon voyage!

I've thought about this before. It's one thing I always liked about being the 'new kid' in school. Although, to be honest, from one side of America to another, things really aren't all that different. But most people don't know that. People in California thought that people in the southeast can't read and don't have any sort of modern technology. People here in the southeast think all Californians are celebrities with overinflated egos who are openly gay to each other. No, it's not like that. But I remember when I was in middle school when people asked me why I was so weird I would say that it's because I'm not from the area. But I can't do that anymore, because now I live in a military town where half the people are from other places, and they all know how it is.

I normally don't like dravelling, i have to plain it before. But i don't dislike it.
About foreign country, i often visit Switzerland and France.
In Switzerland they talk italian (My grand parents live in Ticino)
About France, i understand french a little and they understand italian.
Next year i will go in Norway. My parents will come with me, they have said just 5 days.

Some tips: First off, do not wear an American flag t-shirt. Not everyone likes Americans. And from a personal experience, I have to say that I enjoyed overseas travel. Do read up on customs: that's really important.

I love travelling. Especially on my own.

Back to the first post - a couple of years ago my husband and I had the opportunity to go live in a different country, with different language and culture for 3 months.

I loved it. I felt the most free, most accepted and most like "me" that I have ever felt. I think this was because although I had difficulty communicating, people *expected* that I would have difficulty communicating because I was foreigner who didn't know the culture well and only spoke a little of the language. The pressure was off me to understand everything so I could, for once, relax. I could be part of a group and completely zone out and people thought it was because I didn't understand the language, not because I was "being rude" or "weird". It was a great experience for me, only marred by the fact that I had to come home; it was then that I started to seriously consider why things were so difficult for me here.

My husband, on the other hand, struggled because of the language/communication barrier and was very glad to come home after three months because he found it difficult to make friends in the way he can in our own language and culture.

It highlighted the difference hugely.

My boss recently came back from a holiday where he was visiting friends in a country where he didn't speak the language - he said it was really difficult, that it was tiring and lonely to be in a group where everyone was speaking but he didn't understand unless someone took the time to translate for him.

My immediate thought was: "Welcome to my everyday world!".

yeah i noticed that when I went abroad. In Japan people thought maybe i was Korean or something because my Japanese wasnt as smooth as theirs, but when they found out im American I became like a celebrity lol.

Also, im in colllege right now and everybody i meet instantly thinks im cooler when I tell them I am from Hawaii. So here, I am that guy from Hawaii and my friends from Cali, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Illionois wherever like to shaka (hang loose sign) at me and it makes me stand out.

When I was a kid we use to drive from Buffalo, NY to War, West Virginia near the Virginia boarder. It was like a 12 hour drive I would zone out staring out the window. It was great except for when we would meet my mom's side of the family they were loud talkative huggers. My dad's side of the family were quiet and happy with a wave they knew I did not like to be touched.(I was not the only family member that was like that in my dad's family. Guess what side I got my autism from?)

I love traveling, and not just to other countries or countries where English isn't the native language. I even enjoy exploring new places in my own backyard so to speak (as I live in the second most populous urban area in the world there is plenty to explore). So I'm not sure it has to do with being an "outsider" -- though I am very much a city person and I like the anonymity that comes with being in a city, which I guess is something like always being an "outsider" inasmuch as everyone generally minds their own business.

I know we are supposed to love routine but I am generally a pretty curious person, I love going new places and trying new things (including new foods, for example). That said I am the sort of person who likes to plan things ahead at least to some extent. When traveling I think it is important to have some kind of "framework" around which one has planned but at the same time being too rigid simply does not work... You are not going to be able to follow your plan 100% and there are good surprises as well as bad ones; most experienced travelers will tell you that some of their best experiences are unplanned. On the other hand, planning makes things run smoother. So I think it is important to have a balance.

One thing I haven't really done is true solo travel and that is something I want to explore a bit more. I traveled a fair bit growing up and of course that was with my parents (and on their dime) so that does color things a lot. Now that I am adult I have gone places and met friends once there, but I have never gone anywhere very far truly alone, that is, going to another city/country on my own without plans to meet anyone in particular once I'm there. I'm not sure how I'd like that, it is something I want try but not on a very big scale at first. I have friends who have done plenty of it and as someone who doesn't mind spending time alone it shouldn't bother me but there is always a certain amount of anxiety that goes with doing something new. Also I am not the kind of person who is likely to meet people once I get where I'm going; I generally don't initiate social contact with strangers, which might have an effect on my level of enjoyment.

It's interesting about the feeling of being THE American, or whatever, in an overseas country. Yet if I travel abroad I don't feel like THE Lilliputian, because I know I'm not typical of people of this country.

I love traveling, actually. I have no problem with it at all because my parents started traveling with me when I was really young... so it was easier for me to adapt to it, even with having Autism. I loved it because to me, it was like going on a brand new adventure. As long as my parents were there to help me, I really had no problem adjusting to surroundings.