You want to conquer North America?
#May Travel Support Fund
Hello! I am a high school student currently studying abroad in the US.
I went on a friendship trip to Vancouver, Canada with my best friends for a month last year around this time. Canada? The US? I will share with you all the information about North America that you don't know today!
Based on my and my friends' experiences, I will tell you everything from A to Z on how to fully enjoy the North American continent, so if you are planning to travel to the US or Canada in the future, please read my article until the end!
1. Do I really have to tip employees?
When you think of North America, one of the first topics that comes to mind is "tipping culture." My American and Canadian friends already think tipping is a given, so I asked my international students who do not have a tipping culture in their home countries about this topic, and the answers I got were similar. "It seems polite to give $5-10.", "It's burdensome to give, but it seems rude not to, so I cut off the last digit of the amount I'm paying with a 0 or 5." That was the answer. I don't think I've ever tipped more than $5 unless I ordered food delivery. But I think it's appropriate to tip based on how satisfied you are with the way you're treated. Just be polite and polite~
(In most hotels in the US, if you tip at the lobby counter, they'll even give you a free room upgrade!!)
2. What if I can't get used to the taste of the water?
The taste of the water is definitely different when you go to another country. In North America, there are many areas with clean tap water, so you can drink tap water in a cup. In my case, I've been studying abroad for 7 months, but I still haven't gotten used to the tap water culture? So I buy bottled water. Is the unique smell too strong..ㅋ But bottled water also tastes different, so I bought a bottle of each brand at first and tried it out. I chose the one that I liked the most and drink only that brand every day. Here are some brands I recommend based on the opinions of Korean students and friends I traveled with: Smart Water, Ice Mountain.
3. What if I experience racism while traveling or studying abroad? Based on my personal experience, you will encounter racism wherever you go in the world. But don't get upset every time you experience racism. If you experience racism, what we need is "Alpano Mind." When I was studying abroad for 2-3 months, I experienced racism from a friend at school. I got upset and it just kept happening. It was no use getting upset. Let's cast Alpano.
4. Are there frequent gun-related accidents? I'm scared to travel!
It seems to happen more in the US than in Canada, but it's hard to say because there are huge differences from region to region, but if I had to answer, it's not frequent! In the state where I'm studying abroad, there was a shooting incident at a school in the same group as my school? Foundation? at the end of last year. Considering the reactions and responses from those around me, I can say that gun-related accidents aren't common enough to warrant wearing a bulletproof vest 24/7 or carrying a knife in your bag for self-defense. But!! Don't be 100% at ease. Every house should have at least one emergency gun.
5. How do you survive the long and boring flight?
The national rule is to stay up all night the night before and get on the plane and fasten your seatbelt! Sleep! More than half of the 13-15 hour flight time can be solved by sleeping. I think I spend the rest of the time talking to my friends on the in-flight Wi-Fi or watching dramas. After watching a few dramas like Strange Lawyer Woo Young-woo, Wise Doctor Life, and The Summer I Turned Pretty, it's time to get off.
Today, I explained five basic pieces of information about North America. The information provided is extremely subjective, so you can believe it or not. I would appreciate it if you use it only for reference.
Thank you for reading my article to the end! If there is a lot of response, I will come back with more tips and information next time. I love you!
#Canada #Vancouver #USA #North America #Overseas travel #International student perspective #International insider perspective #Tips