I’m just back from a business trip to Norway and have a very non-technical viewpoint to share today. : )
Over nearly 25 years in business, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to some interesting international destinations. I have visited all the continents except Antarctica and I don’t plan to go there anytime soon for supply chain design work!
These years overlap with the years I’ve been raising a family, so most international trips were scheduled to minimize time away from home. Even when I wanted to take a few extra days, it always seemed to be someone’s birthday, there was a playoff hockey game, or something else the prevented an extended stay. For many years, people would tell me how cool it was that I travelled overseas. My standard reply was “I’ve been to some very interesting places and saw nothing but the hotel and the inside of an office building, which looks pretty similar worldwide”.
But over the last couple of years, my attitude on international business travel has changed. While my standard reply has some truth to it, I’ve realized that working & interacting with people from other countries in their normal environment gives you a view on life in those countries that no tourist excursion can provide. I haven’t seen all of the tourist sites in the places I’ve visited, but I have learned about the country & the people – what they’re like, how they do business, what their families are like, what they think is funny, what they do on weekends, how the politics work, what holidays they celebrate, what they eat (and don’t, and why), how they get to work, how they like their coffee, etc. I’ve learned about local customs in the workplace, like offering fresh waffles every Friday afternoon – what’s not to like about that?!
With all this in mind, here are a few ideas to pass along…
So next time you travel internationally, get home soon, but while you’re there, do whatever you can to experience life in that country!
(below: snapshots of Bergen, on the west coast of Norway)
Over nearly 25 years in business, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to some interesting international destinations. I have visited all the continents except Antarctica and I don’t plan to go there anytime soon for supply chain design work!
These years overlap with the years I’ve been raising a family, so most international trips were scheduled to minimize time away from home. Even when I wanted to take a few extra days, it always seemed to be someone’s birthday, there was a playoff hockey game, or something else the prevented an extended stay. For many years, people would tell me how cool it was that I travelled overseas. My standard reply was “I’ve been to some very interesting places and saw nothing but the hotel and the inside of an office building, which looks pretty similar worldwide”.
But over the last couple of years, my attitude on international business travel has changed. While my standard reply has some truth to it, I’ve realized that working & interacting with people from other countries in their normal environment gives you a view on life in those countries that no tourist excursion can provide. I haven’t seen all of the tourist sites in the places I’ve visited, but I have learned about the country & the people – what they’re like, how they do business, what their families are like, what they think is funny, what they do on weekends, how the politics work, what holidays they celebrate, what they eat (and don’t, and why), how they get to work, how they like their coffee, etc. I’ve learned about local customs in the workplace, like offering fresh waffles every Friday afternoon – what’s not to like about that?!
With all this in mind, here are a few ideas to pass along…
- Learn how to say “please” and “thank you” in the local language. I think people appreciate your attempt. An interesting phenomenon here is that when I say “takk” or “merci” or the “thank you” equivalent in whatever language, the person typically says “you’re welcome”. I’ve noticed this in many countries and it amuses me every time.
- While you’re there, GET OUT! Do not eat Marriott room service every night. Don’t stick with TGI Friday’s (sorry, Jason). Try the local and/or favorite foods. If they don’t have an English menu, someone will generally translate for you. In this case, don’t be picky! Don’t make them spend 15 minutes trying to explain ingredients in English. Just pick something that sounds interesting and go with it. Cold salmon with potato salad. Sounds great. Done. (this is one of my favorites in Sweden)
- One of my favorite things to do during international travel is “Running as Sightseeing”. I will take a good look at Google maps (obviously after inquiring about safety and in some countries, acceptability of a woman alone in public), find an interesting park or a street or path and go for a run. I run with my iPhone, stopping to take pictures whenever I see something interesting. Sunday morning I had about an hour to spare in Bergen, Norway before my train. I seriously considered snuggling into my couch and working on my weekly project update. Instead, I hauled myself up & out and had an awesome sightseeing excursion. I ran up the winding streets of the high fjord walls and experienced beautiful views over the city, as well as everyday houses that you or I might live in. I could have glimpsed some of this on a tourist excursion, but even better that I did it on my own two feet.
So next time you travel internationally, get home soon, but while you’re there, do whatever you can to experience life in that country!
(below: snapshots of Bergen, on the west coast of Norway)