The main reason why people want to travel abroad is to see the world in its variety, beauty, and culture. Accordingly, we want to experience different customs and cultures with the aim of broadening our understanding of other cultures. The main problem, however, is when we come to a place unprepared and experience the so called "culture shock".

No matter how broad minded we are, sometimes we may get offended, disgusted or irritated with some of the practices that we see in another country. Of course, this works both ways. We may also offend the locals of the country. This in turn may lead us to misunderstand another culture or worse, vow never to return to the place again. That is why it is very important to prepare ourselves before our overseas travel so that we could have a truly worthwhile and satisfying experience.

Seasoned travelers who consider themselves "citizens of the world" have the following advices to give.

1. Research thoroughly the culture of the place that you are planning to visit. Try to learn the customs of the people, the way they do things and the common courtesy that should be practiced. For instance, in some places in the Middle East, it is illegal for a man to touch a woman if she is not his wife. This travel advice should be kept in mind, if you are visiting places in the Middle East.

2. Learn basic phrases in the local language of the place that you are about to visit. A common misconception is that English can be understood everywhere. Although it may be true that English is spoken in many parts of the world, this doesn't mean that it is understood everywhere. We should try to research if the country we are visiting is an English speaking country. If not, then it's better to learn simple words and phrases that would help us get around. We should always know the local translation of words like "thank you", "how much", "where', and "please". That way, the locals will be more willing to help or assist us.

3. Look up on the local cuisine of the country. This is a must especially for vegetarians who may not be able to adequately explain to the locals that they don't eat meat. Although partaking of the local cuisine truly heightens the experience of overseas travel, it is always wise to know about the food. That way, there will be no surprises if we suddenly found out that we tasted a snake or an alligator. This also ensures that we don't offend our hosts of the locals.

4. Be culturally sensitive in taking souvenirs with you. In order to remember our travels in other countries, we often take souvenirs with us. However, we must be careful that the items we take are handled properly. This is especially true if the souvenir we got is an object which is considered sacred by the locals.

Immersion in different cultures is truly an enriching experience when one keeps an open mind. Overseas travel would surely result in a deeper appreciation of other cultures if we are prepared. This makes our travel experiences more enriching and colorful.