I've lived in 7 different countries. Here are 11 things that surprised me about living all around the world.
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Ms. Nasha Smitha (MSN user)
After living in seven different countries, I've learned a few things that surprised me.
Prague was the hardest place to adjust to because of its cold temperatures and language.
Moving abroad can be exhausting, but I've done it multiple times, leaving my native island of St. Lucia for college in the US almost 15 years ago. Since then, I've lived in places like Wales, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Traveling was daunting at first, especially coming from a country with a population of less than 200,000. But I loved immersing myself in new cultures, forming close friendships, and discovering new delicacies in every possible city.
I felt knowledgeable about my destinations from my education, books, and television, but you never truly know a country until you've lived like a local.
Here are 11 things that surprised me during my travels:
Living in Spain can require a lot of paperwork:
There's always a lot of paperwork involved in traveling, but Spain is a different level of bureaucracy if you plan on living there for more than six months.
First, you must secure the Empadronamiento or "padrón," which is a document necessary to register with the town hall in the region of Spain you live in. This document adds your name and address to your city's census and is also necessary for administrative tasks like applying for a social security number, residency, public healthcare, opening a bank account, and getting married.
The process needs to be repeated if you move to another city and your residency must be canceled before leaving the country. Though the process seems simple, spots are often unavailable so booking an appointment to do so can be very difficult.
The food scene is vast and varied in Prague:
As a tourist in the Czech Republic, there are certain meals that you must try: beef steak tartare, Kulajda, Svíčková, and kolache.
Prague's international food scene is impressive, with restaurants representative of multiple cultures and palates. I was even able to find the ingredients to cook a local St. Lucian meal that included chicken backs and ripe plantains.
If you're not sure where to start or want to sample a variety, Manifesto Market features an eclectic mix of cuisines including authentic rump steak tartare with shiitake mushrooms, traditional Mexican tacos, and Mediterranean dishes.
The bars are also stocked with Italian prosecco and a selection of craft beers.
Italian food is actually as good as advertised:
I had often been told that you haven't had real pizza or pasta until you go to Italy, and I can confirm that this is true.
The best pizza I had was at a small, family-run joint in Crocetta del Montello, a tiny commune about an hour outside of Venice. It was simple, with some well-seasoned sauce and cheese on a crispy crust, but tasted amazing.
The same can be said for the gelato, which is velvety with intense fruit flavor.
I have also always loved spaghetti Bolognese, but enjoying the savory sauce in its native Bologna was unmatched.
Some states participate in Dry Sundays:
During the two years that I lived in Texas, I discovered Dry Sundays, during which liquor sales are prohibited on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
If Christmas or New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the liquor store is closed the following Monday.
The law itself can be a bit complex, as beer sales on Sundays are permitted from 10 a.m. to midnight and wine sales are regulated within special hours.
There are also different stipulations in place if you're attending a fair, festival, concert, or sporting event.
Other states like Kansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee participate in some variation of Dry Sunday as well.
Showering can be an extreme sport in some places:
Showers in Europe can be small, making it difficult to move around. The half-door, which doesn't extend all the way across the tub, can also result in a very wet and messy floor.
The shower nozzle can be handheld, and once you figure it out, showering will be a breeze. However, washing your hair can be difficult, so be prepared to lay some towels out on the floor.
Greece has a Caribbean vibe:
As a native of one of the premier vacation and honeymoon spots in the world, if the water is cold or there are rocks in lieu of sand on the beach, I am not interested.
But as I drove along the coastline to Olympia, the blue sea and sunny sky were reminiscent of St. Lucia. Skafidia Beach made me feel at home and showed me that Greece is a fantastic option if you can't make it to the Caribbean.
Some parts of Spain take siestas very seriously:
In Prague, my Valencian roommate retreated to her bedroom every day around two o'clock for siesta, the Spanish tradition of taking a nap shortly after lunch. Our professors at a Barcelona university also scheduled classes during the morning to observe the ritual.
In my L'Hospitalet de Llobregat neighborhood, well outside of Barcelona's city center, the practice was going strong. Stores closed every day from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and I even witnessed a shop owner ask a woman to leave so that he could close at two.
KFC and many other fast-food chains don't have the same menu around the world:
Kentucky Fried Chicken struck gold when it opened in the Caribbean Islands, becoming the most popular fast-food restaurant across the region, beloved even by Barbados native Rihanna.
Besides the fried chicken, one of the most popular sides is the golden buttermilk biscuit. Or at least that's what I thought until I wandered into a KFC in Wales only to discover that they didn't have it. After some confusion from workers that I was trying to order a cookie, they offered me rice, which I never knew was an option.
Major food chains like McDonald's, Wendy's, and KFC offer location-specific menus to appeal to target audiences worldwide. This can range from a Samurai Burger in Asia to a Chee-Zee Marmite Stuffed Pizza Crust in New Zealand.
People are friendlier than you might expect across the globe:
Friendly faces are always a welcome sight and in Spain, Greece, and Italy, I found the locals to be patient and helpful even if I wasn't fluent in the language.
In the US, I met some of the warmest people when I lived in Detroit, Louisiana, and Texas.
In the UK, I initially thought people were a bit more reserved. However, when I had a problem with my visa, an amazing family in Wales helped me through it.
Though I thought Czechs, had a tough exterior, they also have a wonderful, dry sense of humor.
I learned to travel with an open mind and ignore the stereotypes — otherwise, you might miss out on connecting with some incredible people.
Prague was the most difficult place to adjust to:
With its Romanesque architecture, steep hills, and small rivers, Prague is one of the most gorgeous cities in Central Europe.
However, Prague is also a cold city, so I bundled up in layers — coming from the tropical Caribbean, this was a tough adjustment.
The Czech language was also difficult to learn and unlike in Spain, where English was very prevalent in the city center, Czech was spoken virtually everywhere. Because Czech falls in the West Slavic language group, it didn't have the familiar structures shared by French, Spanish, and Italian, which made it hard for me to retain.
The Czech Republic is very dog-friendly:
I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Prague's pet owners proudly walking with their dogs and on the trams instead of strays roaming the streets.
The pets were also incredibly obedient and well-behaved at restaurants and on public transportation. This is the antithesis of St. Lucia's cultural norms, in which pets are not typically allowed in restaurants or public buses.
The world's biggest tourist attractions in winter and summer:
Travel is a year-round option, and just because cold weather has arrived doesn't mean the vacation is on hold. In fact, winter can transform a destination. A blanket of snow, for example, adds a magical veneer to any visitor attraction, lending it seasonal sparkle and extra "must-see" appeal.
But are you a winter wanderer, or do you prefer a sojourn in the summer? To help make up your mind, here are some of the most celebrated tourist sites listed in their summer and winter coats by MSN.
Browse the below list and decide what time of year you want to travel.
The Colosseum, Italy:
This majestic Roman-era amphitheater was the stage for many gladiator battles and public spectacles.
Roman Forum, Italy:
For centuries it was the center of Roman public life, as well as a place for ceremonies and elections. The landscape takes on a frosty air during winter!
The Big Apple is often under snow in winter, providing stark
contrast between the gray-black skyscrapers and the snowy white sidewalks.
Times Square just always seems to get the brunt of it.
Saint Basil's Cathedral, Russia:
Temperatures in Russia plummet in winter, and Moscow is no exception. Red Square is nearly always hidden under a blanket of snow, which serves as a striking contrast against the multicolored cathedral.
Statue of Liberty, USA:
And she's just as attractive in winter when tourists take the ferry out to Liberty Island to greet one of the most powerful symbols of the free world.
The Louvre, France:
Winter sometimes sees the French capital under snow. When this happens, the museum's iconic pyramid takes on a totally different appearance.
Dome of the Rock, Palestine:
Even in winter and brushed with snow, the shrine's landmark dome appears to glow like a beacon.
Charles Bridge, Czech Republic:
Known for the baroque statues that line the parapets, the bridge is always fun to cross after fresh snowfall: get up at dawn and be the first one to embed their footprints over the white mantle!
Eiffel Tower, France:
But the scenery is equally stunning when the tower and its surrounding gardens are covered in snow.
Hagia Sophia, Turkey:
Once a church, then a mosque, and now a museum, Hagia Sophia is a year-round "must-see," even in winter when the building is often shrouded in snow.
Brandenburg Gate, Germany:
The 18th-century neoclassical monument is hugely symbolic both in terms of conflict and of peace. In winter, the structure takes on a particularly appealing luminosity.
Florence Cathedral, Italy:
During the winter months and snowfall, the cathedral resembles an impressive cake decoration, lightly dusted with icing sugar.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany:
If you think Neuschwanstein looks magical in summer, gaze upon it in winter!
Acropolis, Greece:
It doesn't always snow in Athens, but when the gods decree, the odd flurry transforms the veneer of this venerated destination.
Stonehenge, England:
Compelling at any time of year, the weathered stones, erected in the late Neolithic period about 2500 BCE, are at their most beguiling in a silent, mid-winter landscape shrouded in snow.
Great Wall, China:
Follow these ancient series of walls and fortifications in winter and you get a tangible sense of isolation and of history frozen in time.
Temple of Bacchus, Lebanon:
The Baalbek temple complex dates back to around the second century CE. Open to visitors all year, the ruins sparkle in winter under snowfall.
Machu Picchu, Peru:
At 2,400 m (7,874 ft) above the sea level, the ancient citadel tends to be enveloped in cloud during the winter months, and it's often cold and wet. Snow is rare, but frost is frequent at night.
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland:
In winter, the stronghold takes on an imposing appearance, its seemingly impregnable walls inviting anyone foolish enough to try and breach its garrison.
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