Guidance for mindful cultural interactions while traveling

Critical consciousness is a theory developed by Brazilian educator Paulo Freire that focuses on achieving in-depth knowledge of social, political, and economic structures in society to solve real-world problems. When traveling, this concept can be viewed through the lens of cultural humility, where the globally minded traveler steps beyond the awareness of their personal assumptions, values, and biases, opening oneself to difference and discovery. The traveler examines their own background and social context to understand how it shapes their experiences when interacting with other cultures. Cultural humility is the acknowledgement that we lack full knowledge and understanding of others’ lived experiences and therefore should approach these interactions in a curious, humble fashion.

Self-awareness and reflection

Take some time to reflect on your own identity. Identity informs your understanding and influences your experiences of complex social problems, especially within the destinations and cultures you will be visiting. Your identity is a complex mix of your traits, characteristics, race, gender identity, beliefs, friends, romantic partners, family, and social groups, to name just a few. As you think about what comprises your identity consider how it will factor into the culture, politics, religion, and economics of the regions you will visit. Think about how individuals in these cultures view themselves and how they might view you.

Recognize biases

Biases are defined as the attitudes, beliefs, or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions unconsciously. Take personal inventory of biases you might have about the destinations and cultures you will be visiting, such as race, ethnicity, age, gender, LGBTQ+, and ability biases. Social bias and stereotypes are some of the most common biases in tourism, which are attributed to prejudicial attitudes toward certain groups or races found in a destination. For example, a sizable portion of the population of a country you are visiting may practice a religion that is different from your own beliefs. In parts of Africa, animism plays a role in the spiritual connection to living things and ancestry. Voodoo is often a name associated with these spiritual rituals and practices in some African cultures. Thanks to misleading Hollywood depictions, Voodoo often quickly raises biases of evil in our unconscious, something that is a gross misrepresentation of the positive role it plays in the cultures that practice.

Understand power and privilege

Privilege is an advantage one receives from perceived membership to dominant social groups (e.g., white, male, heterosexual, middle class, etc.) and often comes at the expense of others. Power is the ability to influence and make decisions that impact and potentially marginalize other groups. Anu Taranath, PhD, provides perspective on the complexity of power, and how it can vary from person to person, culture to culture.

“We have lots of different identities that play out at once,” says Taranath. “I have more wealth than many others. I have more stability, opportunity, mobility, safety, and choice. My U.S. passport gives me privilege. But my small, brown, woman of color status—not in my eyes, but in the eyes of others—gives me less privilege.”

When researching your destination, observe what these differences in power and privilege might be and reflect upon them.

Learn historical context

When preparing for your trip learn about the history of your destination and how things such as war, famine, economic collapse, and colonialization have shaped its present context. How might you and your potential differences be perceived in this space? For example, some differences may come in the forms of advantages you have that people in the destination do not. Be aware of and acknowledge those advantages.

Understand the present

Exploring the present day provides us with context and insight into local cultures. Politics, religion, economics, resource availability, and conflict all play a role in shaping the lives and values of people within a destination. Be mindful that present day issues may not be monolithic throughout a country. There may be regional differences in cultures that are based on and influenced by the previously mentioned factors.

Interactions will often reveal needs, expose fears, and identify preconceived beliefs or understandings. Spend time creating an atmosphere of understanding through patient and thoughtful listening that considers the elements of mercy and truth.

Notice and acknowledge difference

When traveling, the culture, customs, and laws of the places you visit can differ in ways that may conflict with your personal beliefs. For example, wearing appropriate clothing, or wearing a head cover, might be objectionable to you. In these instances, you have the option to comply or opt out of that situation. However, refusals and disagreements to honor local customs might be found offensive to your hosts and in certain circumstances even result in legal repercussions for you. Additionally, you might be visiting a place where you are in a position of disadvantage in power, privilege, economics, race, etc. Be prepared to acknowledge and understand these types of situations.

Listen

Your tour manager and/or tour guides often lived or were raised in the place you are visiting. They will help you foster conversations, interactions, and aid in your reflections.

Stay engaged

Be present when interacting through active listening and thoughtful questioning. Slow down and take a cleansing deep breath in moments of guilt and discomfort. Be curious and humble.

Be authentic

Share your honest feelings and allow space for others to do the same.

Experience discomfort

Acknowledge that cultural interactions and conversations might cause you to feel uncomfortable, and welcome this discomfort as you engage in learning new information and embracing new experiences.

Expect and accept non-closure

You may not reach a point in your interactions where you have agreement with another person on matters such as cultural customs.

Local news

Consider consuming the local/regional news of the area while you are visiting to gain insights into local culture and observable differences. Your accommodations may provide access to English spoken or subtitled regional televised news as well as regional English language newspapers.

Journaling

As you travel, you are often exposed to a huge amount of information and confront a wide range of emotions. Consider keeping a journal to help process and record all that you experience during your trip. Jotting down thoughts as you travel or spending a few minutes each evening recording the day’s events might be beneficial. You likely possess a wonderful tool to assist in this endeavor: your cell phone. Often phones are equipped with a notepad function, voice recorder, camera, and video recorder. Any or all of these features can be useful to record important moments as you travel.

In her book Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World, Anu Taranath, PhD, shares how travelers leave their comfort zones to fully engage in a multicultural world while traveling yet return home and do not incorporate what they learned abroad into their daily lives. Therefore, it is important to take time to mentally unpack and process all that you encountered and absorbed during your travels. Through reflection and sharing we allow ourselves to:

1. Rethink who we interact with at home,
2. Integrate new knowledge and skills, and
3. Follow through on the concept of global citizenship, viewing every person as a citizen of the world, not simply their local context.

Take time to reflect

Review notes, recordings (video and audio), and photos, and examine and contextualize your experiences using the tools and resources you explored in pre-trip preparations.

Maintain relationships

Continue conversations and communication with your fellow travelers and contacts made during your travels as this may aid in your reflections.

Share your experiences

Upon your return, share stories, pictures, videos, and experiences via social interactions and/or social media. By sharing new knowledge and experiences you provide greater access to and understanding of places and cultures many may never visit. This potentially helps others become mindful global citizens, like you, in their own communities.

Commit to lessons learned

Now that you have arrived home with new knowledge and understanding of other cultures, consider ways to use your learnings to support more safe and inclusive interactions and environments at home and in future travel.