What My Asian Dad Taught Me About Travel

My dad, among so many other things, loves making the distinction between what it means to “Know How to Travel” and to “NOT Know How to Travel”.  Among my childhood memories, there are a smattering of times that I remember being in trouble for being of the latter category.  Mr Sun, you see, has been a Seasoned Traveler for decades, and to travel with him, is to get nonstop lessons in “Knowing How to Travel”. 

1.  You carry your own bag.  So don’t ever bring anything you can’t carry.  If you ignore this advice and pack a bag you can’t carry, you’re still carrying it.  

2.  No complaining.  Ever.  Complaining accomplishes nothing, gets you nowhere faster, and only makes things worse.  He grew up in communist China.  If you have something to complain about that tops that, submit in writing later on your own time. 

3.  Eat whatever there is.  Especially if it’s weird.  Weird food is usually even more delicious than not weird food; it had to overcome its weirdness for anyone to ever want to serve it.  Especially while travelling, there is no such thing as a diet.  THE VERY WORD "DIET" MEANS FOOD.  That's typed in all caps because it's been yelled in my face.  

4.  If you ever hold up a line for ANY reason, you will be left there.  There is no excuse for ever holding up a line.  By the time you get to the threshold of a line, the very truth of having a line exist means that you have stood in said line and watched several people get through.  You should know what to do, and prepared for your moment.  If, for example, you experience a sneezing fit while in line and inevitably hold it up due to a compromise in your health, you will be skipped in line.  If you are then still able to see and hear, you will see a Chinese man roll his eyes and mutter under his breath, “Some people just don’t Know How to Travel”. 

5.  Consider the value of your time.  As a first generation immigrant from China, the easy assumption to make about my travel education would be that Price Trumps All.  We’re a race of penny pinching money savers, right??  Not so, young grasshopper.  Mr. Sun makes it very clear.  Travel time is finite.  The opportunity to acquire money is not.  Nothing is worth wasted time.  Spend the money, save the time.  Bribe the taxi driver to wait for you so you don’t have to waste time finding a cab back.  Throw the security guard a few bills to keep the gate open a few minutes longer.  Money is a fluid aspect of life, time will run out.