The People of Our Travels – Shops

When you travel you once again head to local stores to pick up a number of things from souvenirs, to necessities and just to browse. Like anywhere in travel if you take the time you can meet some friendly people willing to talk and you can once again learn a lot about their country and living where you are visiting. We have had the chance to talk with a lot of interesting people at some of the shops we have visited when we have had the time to chat. Here are a few stories from our travels around the world while shopping.

A Hobby for Nice People in Vienna, Austria

We were visiting our favorite city in the world in Vienna, Austria and were walking along the main pedestrian shopping zone (in many European cities they have wonderful shopping streets that are pedestrian only) and we happened to find a store that sells a little hobby of mine that is collecting toy soldiers. We went in and it was a small shop with all kinds of toy soldiers. The owner was the only other person in the store and we started to have a conversation as I browsed. We started talking about how it seems like most Toy Soldier Collectors are nice people that seem to respect others. He mentioned he’s never had a mean customer come through for the most part. We then started talking about living in Austria (one of the most livable countries with Vienna being one of the most livable cities in the world). He like we have found around the world was surprised at some of the US’s more draconian seeming policies especially around Healthcare with it being so expensive and being tied to employment. He mentioned that in Austria like in many countries they have public and private systems. Everyone is covered regardless of their situation with the public plan but if you want to pay a little extra or have insurance you could go to the private system. He said he is more conservative but the most conservative people in Austria would not accept some of the US systems like healthcare, vacation time, some un-employment and other things since they are too harsh towards people. I learned a lot about European healthcare and their care for people with that visit. After talking for about 30 minutes I purchased some unique soldiers and then headed out after having broadened my knowledge about different ways of life.

A Song and Friendly Conversation in the Turks and Caicos

In April of 2022 we took our first trip to the small and somewhat remote nation of the Turks and Caicos Islands. We had a great time touring the island and swimming in the crystal clear waters of the beaches. While walking around the area around our hotel we decided to stop in a locally owned “Ma and Pa” giftshop. In there was the owner who was an older lady and she had her granddaughter with her. We started browsing and the owner and her granddaughter started chatting with us. We talked about how long we were there, and why we came to the Turks and Caicos. We told her we love to travel to learn about different cultures and she pointed us to a book she had about the local language of the island. It was part English and the other parts a type of Creole like language. The Granddaughter had the most questions of them all for us. She first asked about why we were wearing masks (you still had to test to come home at that point) so we explained we are just being careful to protect us and everyone. She then started asking her grandmother for her mask which she really didn’t need. The grand daughter started asking where we were from and all about what it was like in Texas. We explained everything about our home to her with our culture. We bought a map of the island and a variety of other things and the Grand Daughter wanted to give us a concert with the map in a tube before we left. The Grandmother didn’t want to keep us but we said that would be fine. So the Granddaughter sang us a local song we were not familiar with. We gave her a round of applause for her song and then we said goodbye as we headed back to our room with our gifts. We really enjoyed getting the chance to learn some more about the Turks and Caicos and also share aspects of our culture. It was nice seeing the enthusiasm, and friendliness of the Granddaughter as well.

Coffee Excitement in Costa Rica

We have visited Costa Rica twice with one time being the first international trip we took after the Covid Pandemic started. On both trips we stopped by a coffee plantation. On the first trip we stopped by a nice larger family owned coffee farm where they explained how they make their coffee and in the shop we did purchase coffee and learned a little bit about Costa Rican Tamales that are much different than the ones we have. They are square and wrapped in green banana leaves. On the second trip on the Pacific side of the country we visited a much smaller coffee family owned coffee shop and farm near the cloud rainforest. An older couple owned it and was working there and though they did not know much English my little bit of Spanish allowed us to talk a little bit. We tried their coffee and a small breakfast pastry and it was great. They were very excited some Americans where there enjoying their coffee and food at this more remote and small shop. We decided to buy some coffee bags from them and that really made them happy to know some of their small family coffee was going to the US. We said goodbye and headed back on our way to the cloud rainforest. We have found that the US in many countries is looked upon highly and shop owners are proud when we buy things from them and give them compliments. This happened to us as well with a street painter in Spain who wanted to know where his painting was going so he can think about that and a nesting doll shop in Prague where we complimented them heavily on their well done hand made nesting dolls (think Russian dolls with the many different sizes you open up and they get smaller).

Shopping in the Middle East

While not a cultural conversation like we have had in other shops, shopping in some places in the Middle East can be much different than what we are used to back home. In one shop I walked in to buy a few things and the employee wanted to show me so many more things. When he found out I liked coins he showed me some “Ancient” coins and offered me a price of $900. I said no thank you and the price dropped to $600. I still said no thank you and started walking away after getting my change. He walked with me and offered it for $400 and a hug from a friend as he hugged me. I still said no thank you and I made it out of the shop. He stopped me and placed the coin in my hand and said $250 and its a done deal. I gave it back and moved on. In the Middle East in many cases they expect you to haggle with them. At a Turkish Rug store we bought a rug we were interested in but not after a lot of haggling and negotiation. Its completely different to us outside of a few places in the US but its very common in the Middle East and something unique to learn while traveling.

Misconceptions of Texas

On our travels we have had come into a lot of misconceptions about the United States and especially Texas. Pretty much everyone knows about Texas from the movies they have seen and what they have heard. Most movies show Texas as a vast desert full of cowboys and bandits. One such time was in a shop in Lithuania. They asked where we were from and we let them know Texas. They asked about cowboy hats and riding horses in the cities. They also asked about the desert heat in Texas. It gave me the chance to set things straight. I let them know that while cowboy culture is a part of Texas culture that not everyone wears a cowboy hat or has a horse. I also let them know how diverse the state of Texas is with us living in a sub-tropical swamp closer to Louisiana than the desert. I let them know we have huge pine forests, rolling green hills with German cities, and then in the West the deserts more like the movies. I let them know we have a huge shoreline and many different kinds of animals. In a short conversation we dispelled misconceptions and helped others learn. In London at our hotel the staff at the restaurant got to see some of the diversity of Texas first hand. A man with a cowboy hat, wrangler jeans, large belt buckle and boots was walking around. He was quite the site for the English people at the hotel. They were asking him about why do you wear that and are you from Texas (he was)? After they talked with him I mentioned we are from Texas too and he said you look nothing like him with just a polo shirt and jeans on. I told him Texas is very diverse. You do have those who wear Western clothing and do ranch work but there are many who are professionals who are very different. At that same restaurant a Polish lady who found out we were from the US asked us all kinds of tips for traveling to the US and New York City especially as she had never been to the US. We helped her all we could. I have gone through those conversations about Texas and the US at many different shops and with many different people around the world. Its another area of travel that I love that goes beyond just seeing the sights. We have the chance to learn ourselves about them and then they can learn about us and we can all hopefully find we are not all that different after all.

In Conclusion

Throughout our travels when we have the opportunity having conversations with people in stores has helped us learn so much about different countries and cultures. We have shopped in ways we are not used to and had heart warming experiences like the young girl in the Turks and Caicos singing for us. We have many other stories from around the world such as the ones above. If you don’t get in a rush and take some time if you can people want to talk and learn about you and tell you about their life and country. Its such a great way to help everyone learn and stop misconceptions. Give it a try on your next trip and you will be rewarded for it!