Not So Serious
by
Donna Kollee
Many people often wonder what they should bring when travelling
abroad. As someone who has just returned from a trip to Athens, I offer the
following advice for how to make the most of your trip. But first, a little
background...
When Mr. Keenan invited me to be a member of "Team Canada" at the
Harvard Model United Nations Conference in Greece, I was ecstatic. I must
admit, I was a little nervous about going to Athens with my travelling
companions. Of the four, one was my best friend, one was someone I had
always wanted to know a little better, one I had an idea of who he was, and
the other I had no idea about. After many e-mail communiques, I had a
feeling that we would all get along fine. When we checked in at the airport,
I knew it was going to be a great week.
The most important quality you can take anywhere with you is a sense
of humour. As we talked on the long plane ride across the ocean, I saw that
the other four had this quality in abundance. We had only been together for
a few hours and already we were laughing. It was obvious that we were headed
for some good times. And so we were. I can honestly say that I never laughed
so hard on such a continous basis in my whole life. We found the humour in
everything, from not understanding Greek to bad seafood to the attitudes of
our fellow delegates. It was our ability to do this which united us and
forged a genuine bond of friendship. Despite our individual differences, we
found ways to relate to each other and to make the unfamiliar familiar.
Humour got us through the best times and moments of adversity. Don't leave
home without it.
The second most important quality you can bring anywhere is a
willingness to try new things. While you should always be up for any
adventure, I urge you especially to try local food and drink. It leads to
some interesting situtations, many of which will later require your sense of
humour in the morning. Seriously, give things a try, as you will most likely
emerge a better person for it.
The third quality you need to take with you is an understanding of
several common facts. People DO associate Canada with hockey, there really
ARE McDonalds' everywhere and women do have an innate sense of direction. IF
you can accept these things, you will get along fine wherever you go. And if
you get lost, it is not a sin to let the women get you back on track. We do
ask for directions.
Finally, I think you should take with you a sense of curiousity. Ask
lots of questions. Take the time to talk to people. Look around you at all
times and wonder what's going on. You learn the best things that way.
Whatever else you take on a trip with you, don't forget about these
things. They will serve you well. You might want to bring a camera too, so
that when your travelling companions are showing their willingness to try
new things, you can capture it forever...