fix the meaning of visting a friend

If you have relatives or friends who live or study abroad – don’t miss that chance: Go, and visit them! Take such an opportunity, and you will always win – an experienced guide through the city, a cheaper stay, or just the peace of mind that you are not alone there if you get lost. But, of course, it is not always a bad thing to get lost – sometimes we need to get lost to find ourselves. Well, this is not usually my case, as I can get lost even in my hometown, but I still haven’t found myself. So, let’s think about some of the checks you better make before visiting your friends and relatives abroad. There are some questions to ask yourself before starting to pack. In the end, we share a short checklist for homework, which might help you find your next travel destination and the right person to visit. Looking back, I have missed the opportunity to visit my friends (or the friends of my friends) in Florence, St. Petersburg, Shanghai, and Barcelona. Still, I have taken the chance to travel to Vienna, Rome, and Essen (Oh, that trip to Germany! What a lovely holiday with one of my best friends!) So, “Not so bad result,” I have been telling myself since then, trying to accept the reality. It’s nice to convince yourself: The missed chances are not the last options you will have. Barcelona is still on the top of my wish list. The air in Shanghai was so bad that the visit wasn’t a good idea at all. Florence and St. Petersburg are not going to be single city tours but part of long voyages in different cities, so they are still on the list too. Well, if you don’t really like your relatives or friends there, don’t go! You don’t need that stress! Be sure you have another already planned vacation on the other side of the world, or your colleagues desperately need you at the office. So, you can share that info with a friend of a friend a bit earlier, and later you can always use a phrase like “O, that city is really on my wishlist for such a long time. But you know – as I have already told …/name/, I have so much work at the office right now, they just can’t manage it without me…” (sadly face, deep sigh)Well, if you don’t really like your relatives or friends there, don’t go! You don’t need that stress! Be sure you have another already planned vacation on the other side of the world, or your colleagues desperately need you at the office. So, you can share that info with a friend of a friend a bit earlier, and later you can always use a phrase like “O, that city is really on my wishlist for such a long time. But you know – as I have already told …/name/, I have so much work at the office right now, they just can’t manage it without me…” (sadly face, deep sigh) Before buying the tickets, think about your tour: Is this going to be the tour you imagined? If there is a big festival, some event, or a specific time of the year when you wish to be there – is this visit at the right time? Are you going to enjoy the festival? Are the giant Christmas tree and all the holiday lights going to be there? Probably not! Imagine it: It’s August – hot weather, no Christmas trees, but many tourists. And you – sweaty and sad about the missed festival. “I didn’t see what I wanted, the weather was too damn hot, I had to meet that annoying relative, but man, I saved 20 euro!” says nobody sane! Be sane! Do what you want, and do it when you want it! Not every option is a good option. Be sure to compare the pros and cons and to make the right decision for you. Before buying the tickets, think about your tour: Is this going to be the tour you imagined? If there is a big festival, some event, or a specific time of the year when you wish to be there – is this visit at the right time? Are you going to enjoy the festival? Are the giant Christmas tree and all the holiday lights going to be there? Probably not! Imagine it: It’s August – hot weather, no Christmas trees, but many tourists. And you – sweaty and sad about the missed festival. “I didn’t see what I wanted, the weather was too damn hot, I had to meet that annoying relative, but man, I saved 20 euro!” says nobody sane! Be sane! Do what you want, and do it when you want it! Not every option is a good option. Be sure to compare the pros and cons and to make the right decision for you.