Things they don't tell you about travelling for the first time or travelling to a new place...
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In the East Midlands of England, in the county of Leicestershire is the culturally diverse city of Leicester. With a rich history dating back to 47 AD marking the arrival of the Romans, a famous landmark in the city is the King Richard III Visitor Centre after his recent reburial in 2015. This city is also a major educational hub that boasts two universities: The University of Leicester and De Montford University.
1. It's scary.Whether you're fifteen or fifty, you'll find yourself somewhere between "constantly self-conscious and terrified" and "at ease with the occasional anxiety" depending on how experienced you are.
Relax, it's normal and you're most definitely not alone. Most of the nervousness comes from dealing with something new without anyone around to help or do it for you. When in doubt, just ask for help politely. The other common cause of concern is your safety and not getting lost. Both of these can be managed by taking responsible precautions. For me, since I was travelling abroad for the first time too, even just getting out of my hotel room was a task. I'd delay leaving for some unknown reason. I'd stand in the doorway and suddenly feel like checking my pockets to ensure I had the key card with me. If I had to call the reception, I would actually rehearse what I was going to say. I'd plan my route in great detail and then once I was out in the open, the anxiety would fade and I'd abandon the plan and just roam around. If you’re one of those people who have been flying for as long as they can remember and know what to do and where to be at the airport- lucky you! However, if you’re like me- someone who has never even been to the airport (until recently anyway) and is clueless and kind of scared about messing up, fear no more as I break this down for you! 1. Documentation
You’ve decided where you want to go and know that the entirety or part of your journey to your destination includes air travel- now what? The first thing you need to do is make sure that you have a valid travel document i.e. a passport issued by the government of your country that is up-to-date and accurate and does not expire in the very near future (at least until you are due to return home from your stay abroad). Once you’ve got that sorted, you need to find out if you require a visa to visit the country of your destination. This is basically a license to allow you to go to a place outside your country. There are a few possibilities: a) You don’t need a visa. b) You need a visa before leaving your home country. In this case, you need to take into account the time it might take for you to obtain the visa. c) You can obtain a visa on arriving at your destination. d) You need a transit visa for the country where your flight halts. This is applicable for connecting flights in a country that is not your destination. Nestled in the eastern foothills of the Pennines, Sheffield is a vibrant city in South Yorkshire, England. It has transformed from a 19th century Steel City to a city so green that it has the highest number of trees to people ratio than any other city in Europe. It is home to two universities (The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University) and has a diverse and friendly population.
The first thing I noticed about Sheffield was the number of trees and slopes. I took a taxi from the railway station to the hotel and that seven-minute ride was a constant struggle to keep my suitcases (and myself) from rolling back and forth. Unlike the taxis in India, these have a large space in front of the passenger seat and I was not prepared for that. In hindsight, it was really funny and the driver was polite enough to not laugh at me. Walking around the city over the following four days really gave me a sense of how green and beautiful the place is. The local government has worked hard to get rid of the dull, grey structures you would expect to see in a town with strong industrial roots. Sheffield is not simply beautiful, it is beautiful and interesting. The city centre exhibits many intriguing structures that honour the steel industry. Their unique shapes are modern architectural marvels. The Peace Gardens and the Town Hall add a stunning historical touch to the city centre. Following my last blog post, a lot of you asked me about "quirky ways to heat up food in a hotel room". Here it is!
So you’ve just bought some food, say a wrap and fries from McDonald’s, and you’re walking back to your hotel in 2-degree weather with nothing but the paper bag to shield your dinner from the icy wind. You reach your room, settle down and you’re ready to devour your yummy meal... only to discover that it has become cold. Bummer. You look around your room helplessly and what do you see? No microwave, no hob (stove), no oven. Not even a fireplace. So, does that mean you simply chew on cold food? Hell, no! What kind of person would I be if I let you do that? Say hello to your new best friends... I made it to the airport! As I start this blog post, I’m sitting near Gate 78 at Terminal 2 of the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport (Mumbai). Looking around me, it dawns on me that for the next 10 hours, I’m going to be cruising through the skies with all these people: young and old, friends and strangers, tired and wide awake. I must say that the airport is BEAUTIFUL. I’m not sure I can ever get bored of roaming around it. I bet it’s even more fun when you’re here with family and friends. As if to prove this very point, a couple in front of me are joined by a group of their friends and their warm greetings and cheerful laughter fills the air for a moment. Before I can dwell anymore on the present, let’s get down to the real talk... how did I get to this moment and what you can do to be here someday too! 1. Purpose for travel: Do you need a purpose? Not really but most people do. My reason to travel is to experience something new on my gap year. What better than to visit the place I’ve always wanted to go to? People travel for various reasons: business, medical treatment, education and of course, tourism.
I've known for a while that I'm going to be travelling soon and in that time I've packed, unpacked, re-packed and re-re-re-packed about fifty times. And no, I'm not exaggerating.
Before you can label me as an indecisive lunatic, I do have a few things to add in my defense: 1. I'm travelling abroad for the first time. 2. I'm travelling alone for the first time. 3. I'm flying for the first time. 4. I'm staying away from home for a month...for the first time. What I've found out in the last month or two is that there are a LOT of things to consider when travelling, especially when you're an obsessive planner like me. Since this is my first ever blog post, I'm just going to list all the things I considered before leaving home in the hopes that it might help you plan your trip. Let's get started! 1. Passport- this may seem obvious but you'd surprised how many people don't realise that their passport is about to expire when they make travel plans. So ensure your passport is valid for the entire duration of your trip. 2. Visa- Depending on your destination, you may or may not need a visa so you should check on your country's government website or ask a travel agent or somebody from your country who has visited the place you're headed. Bear in mind that some visas can be obtained on landing at your destination but others may need to be obtained in advance before leaving your home country. Take in account the time it might take for you to receive a visa before making any travel bookings. 3. Purpose of your visit- A lot of your activities, budget and travel plans will depend on the reason you are going. Is it a relaxing sojourn? A whirlwind tour? Solo exploration? Family time? Backpacking with friends? Attending a conference? Or a bit of all? 4. Budget- It's best to figure out how much you intend to spend for your trip before you get there. This way you can find out the best deals or the best room ever, depending on your budget and purpose. This will also depend on how long you intend to stay there. You can either spend a lot for a few days or a little for many days...the choice is yours. Planning your expenditure ensures you don't end up in the middle of the Sahara Desert with no money for a ride home. So decide how much you want to spend on transport, accommodation, food, shopping, attraction tickets, souvenirs, etc. |
AuthorNikita is currently a prospective medical student on a gap year before starting university. She has experience mentoring students for IGCSE and A Level exams. Her current area of interest is neuroscience. Acknowledgement and Gratitude
A heartfelt thank you to the following people for their encouragement, help and support: Mum & Dad Martin, Tina & Roshni Timms Preeti Bhatt Anjana Rathore Sanshriti Mehta Eeshani Juthani Indraja Polubothu Abhishek Ghoshal Vibhavari Desai Ananya Singh Tanishqa Naithani Vineeth Lekkala Archives
August 2017
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