Kyoto, Japan. Photo: Vanessa Christensen
Whether at home or abroad, it’s never too early to enrich your learning through travel. Here are six ways you can engage with different cultures:
Food is an essential part of every culture. Explore new-to-you flavors, ingredients, methods of cooking and ways of eating.
Discover traditional arts and crafts and the meaning behind them at galleries and through classes. Colors, patterns and imagery are significant for many cultures.
Seek out opportunities to attend festivals or special events. Public events are often held in local communities and allow you a unique opportunity to partake in cultures different from your own.
As a children’s author, books hold a special place in my heart. My family always insists on visiting local bookshops when traveling. We often plan a whole day around it, especially if it’s rainy.
We are never too young or old to start learning a new language. In our family, we like to practice a few basic phrases with our children before traveling abroad.
Music is a universal language that has shaped cultures around the globe for generations. Make an effort to get out to local shows and performances that showcase an array of cultural music traditions.
Vanessa Christensen is a children’s book author, travel blogger and photographer. Find more at cvgotravel.com or follow @cvgotravel.
