Travellers know how to communicate with anyone
Life skills!
In project management, success depends on effective
communication.
But how do you communicate effectively with nearly everyone?
My experience as a digital nomad has taught me that people, regardless of their culture, background, gender,
language and race, are more open to communicating if they have something in common.
I had the best time of my life travelling around the world and meeting new people in random places. These kinds
of life experiences lead you to learn and apply certain skills that are extremely necessary when travelling solo:
Research and planning, time management, adaptability, teamwork, networking and diversity.
These experiences, apart from improving the mentioned competencies, have also enhanced my attitude towards work ethic,
communication and people management.
Khinsapel
While walking around Yangoon Port, a girl named Khinsapel caught my eye. She was about 14 years old and was the only girl selling postcards within a big group of very young locals selling things to foreigners.I bought her postcards and we started chatting. Soon after, I was on a boat, on my way to visit her house and family.
She invited me for lunch and told me her story: She lived in Dala with her mum and sister.
The army owned the land of the village where she lived, and her family was required to pay them 30000 Kyat (about 17 euros) a month for a very small bamboo house. So, she has been working in the same port since she was 5 years old in order to help her mum and sister pay the rent and to purchase food for the family in a country ravaged by war and poverty.
I was incredibly amused by Khinsapel’s life story. She was also engaged to marry the boy in the photo and together they were business partners. On a scooter, they took me around all the rice fields and temples, told me a bit of their land story and send me back to Yangoon… for a small fee.
I lost my phone on a bus in Battambang, Cambodia.
My Catalonian friend Marc, who was working and living there at the time, helped me communicate in Khmer to the police.
The policeman was so surprised when Marc started to speak to him in his own language that he immediately helped us and spoke to us a bit about Battambang history.
He complained about foreigners living in the city always expecting them to speak in English, particularly in a country ravaged by years of political violence and oppression. Most people don't make the effort to at least learn basic Khmer. The phone was returned to me and we gained a friend!
My first couch surfing experience
When I decided to go to Varanasi, I was looking for a hostel and remembered that I had an account with Couchsurfing.I never investigated it properly, but I'm glad I decided to stay at Ashy's home. As a female solo traveller, everybody knows that India can be a bit difficult for women. So, it was important for me to meet people that wanted to explore the city.
Ashy and his mum have an incredibly positive record of people staying in his home. The whole experience was fantastic! The breakfast menu was delicious; mostly taken in a beautiful garden of the house. I met two girls that like me, were travelling solo and were first-time couch surfers.
We walk around the Ganges river; the most sacred river to Hindus, and the primary site for Hindu cremation in the city. We try the most delicious Dahi Puri (a popular snack) and had a marvellous time staying in one of the oldest cities on earth!
Inka Jungle trail in Machu Pichu
Travelling to Machu Pichu was a very physically demanding experience.When I signed up for a three-day expedition to the seven wonders of the new world, I never imagined I would endure an Inka Jungle trail.
Such an adventure can only be done with a big group of friends. I have been lucky to meet so many interesting people along the way, and this trip was all about biking, rafting, zip-lining, hiking, laughing, and sharing all these experiences with a very happy bunch of diverse, friendly, young and talented people.
A family Portrait
I was walking on my own in Nepal when this family, attracted by the lens of my camera, started speaking to me in a language I could not understand.After a bit of sign language and lots of smiles, I realized that they just wanted a family portrait!