24 Aug
Travel Tips for Traveling Light
The single most important aspect of planning for a trip is the packing process. I travel quite a bit and thought I knew how to pack with purpose. But I have discovered a website that has changed my entire viewpoint of packing. At www.onebag.com, you’ll learn to pack just what you need without all the extras. As a woman, I seem to pack my share of extras. Some of my favorite items to pack include my Karen Neuburger chenille socks (www.karenneuburger.com/pl/c/129.html), eye shades, and night light.
Since traveling is so grueling these days, it’s important to pack a couple of items that remind you of home. If I am checking luggage, I travel with my sleep sound machine (http://www.hammacher.com/publish/60586.asp). It is a device that produces a gentle white noise…a must if you are a light sleeper or staying in a noisy hotel. When I check into a hotel, I request a quiet room located on a high floor, away from the elevator or ice machine. You can even ask for a room that is NOT connected with another room for maximum privacy. If you are staying in a hotel for more than two days, you might consider requesting a refrigerator from the housekeeping department. Seek out a grocery store when you arrive and purchase a few of your favorite munchies. This will also save you some money (which your clients will appreciate). These little extras add comfort and convenience when traveling.
And one last tip…if you hate paying those extra charges for Internet access, invest in an air card. My Sprint Air Card simply plugs into my laptop and I have access to the Internet anywhere, anytime; except when I’m 30,000 feet up in the air. Got to run and catch a plane. Happy traveling!
Guest Blogger: Janet Spurr Offers Her Top 10 Beach Etiquette Tips
Today we have a guest blog from my friend, Janet Spurr. Janet and I met at the Maui Writers Conference (www.mauiwriters.com) in 2002.
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My favorite time at the beach is when I get to experience the quiet moments which help to center me in a crazy world. There are few places left in the world, were we can just be and not have to do. In my book Beach Chair Diaries, Summer Tales from Maine to Maui, I try to bring that great relaxing feeling of being at the beach to all my readers. I hope that the next time you visit the beach, you’ll remember some of these top ten beach manners.
- When walking on the beach, try not to flip sand on people’s towels. When leaving the beach, take your sandy towel far from other people to shake it.
- Respect a person’s personal space. Do not sit too close to someone else or another party.
- Position your umbrella deep into the sand, so it doesn’t blow away.
- Keep your radio down so others don’t have to listen to your music.
- If you smoke, move away from others, especially the people down wind.
- Don’t yell into your cell phone.
- Take any sports, such as ball throwing, kite flying, etc. far away from others.
- While enjoying water sports, be sure that you aren’t riding a wave on top of others.
- Do not feed seagulls, ever.
- Remember to pick up all of your garbage. Try to recycle and be mindful of sea grass, dunes and other environmental areas.
Janet Spurr grew up on Cape Cod, lives north of Boston and can be found at any beach, almost anytime. Her new book, Beach Chair Diaries, Summer Tales from Maine to Maui was created for the beach lover or summer person who misses it and wants that warm relaxed feeling year round. To order the book go to http://www.beachchairdiaries.com.
Children Enhance Reading Skills When Tutoring with Taylor, The Therapy Dog
My yellow lab, Taylor, is a certified therapy dog and has been spending the dog days of summer at the West Palm Beach Public Library, where she tutors children. The children each have the opportunity to spend up to15 minutes reading to Taylor every Saturday morning. They enjoy Taylor because she is a good listener and doesn’t judge them if they make a mistake or mispronounce a word. According to a segment on MSNBC, it is becoming a trend for therapy dogs to visit public libraries and classrooms to tutor children in reading. To watch the segment, go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#26011422. These programs are having positive results and the children are reading more words per minute.
10 Chinese Etiquette Tips to Observe at the 2008 Summer Olympics
1. Banquets: You don’t have to eat everything (you can’t possibly anyway, there will be too much food). But try a little of every dish by putting some on your plate or rice bowl. You don’t have to eat it, but as foreign guest, you’re supposed to be served first. If you don’t try something, your host will be embarrassed—and most likely, will put it on your plate for you.
2. Bargaining: Open air markets, privately run stores are best for bargaining. (Large department stores have set prices.) Remember to establish a friendly rapport first. You are creating a relationship with the merchant, not a price war. Think of it this way: Bargaining is to the Chinese what seduction is to the French. Shouting, arguing, and pointing are not very seductive. Smiling, being friendly, offering to buy more for a better price are. And don’t be afraid to ask, “Can you offer me a better price?”
3. Cars: Never, ever assume pedestrians have the right of way. Cars will not necessarily stop for you. Cross with a group if possible at a designated crosswalk. A car won’t stop for a single person necessarily but will stop for a group because the driver doesn’t want the car to be dented. Chinese really love their cars.
4. Chopsticks: Don’t point with them at other people’s faces. Don’t stab your food with them like toothpicks. Don’t lick them. And by all means don’t stick them upright in your rice bowl—that’s how the Chinese honor the dead at graves.
5. Face: Never shout even when someone has done something wrong. Losing your temper will only make the other person feel that he or she has lost face (i.e. dignity) and will often cause that person to refuse to take responsibility for a problem. Best to smile, keep friendly, and persistently ask the person to *help you* solve whatever problem has arisen.
6. Male-female relationships: Alas, the image of the loose American woman perpetuated by Hollywood movies is alive and well globally including in China. If a man makes unwanted advances to you, say loudly the Chinese word for “No,” (bu) which is pronounced like the English word “Boo!” If you say it forcefully, it will be in the correct tone. If you are a man, don’t be touchy-feely with Chinese women lest they think you are propositioning them.
7. Public displays of affection: While younger Chinese can be as openly demonstrative as Westerners, if not more so, older Chinese are not used to PDAs. Be aware of your surroundings. Around older Chinese anything more than holding hands with your partner or a quick peck on the check might embarrass people.
8. Respect for elders: It’s fine to open doors and give up a seat to an older person of either gender. And don’t be offended if younger Chinese—male or female—offer you an arm going up stairs or other assistance if you are older. They don’t think you’re infirm. They’re just trying to be polite.
9. Smiling: Chinese smile for more reasons than Americans. A smile can mean the person is embarrassed, trying to be helpful, curious, happy or friendly. In the middle of an argument, smiling means that the speaker doesn’t want this to become personal. When all else fails, smile in China. It shows you have no ill intentions and can work wonders in getting better service.
10. Tipping: If you plan to return to a restaurant, then tip. Guidebooks say not to, but in fact most Chinese know enough about the Western world to know that tipping is practiced regularly in other countries. Tips are rarely (in our experience, never) refused and create goodwill.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23615910/
Authors: May-lee Chai and Winberg Chai