How to Navigate a Foreign Country: My Russian Experience

How to Navigate a Foreign Country: My Russian Experience

By: Isabella Goldberg-Jussup

Traveling to a foreign country is always sure to be a learning experience. Whether the trip is for business or pleasure, we are sure to experience several things during our voyage that will take us out of our Western comfort zone. While in Russia for the G(irls)20 Summit this year, there were countless things I learned, and many of these lessons will definitely help me in all future travels.

The foremost challenge I faced in Russia was without a doubt the immense language barrier. I am fortunate to have been able to travel to many places in my life thus far, but I have never experienced a language barrier in my life! I speak French, I understand most Spanish, but the Russian language is one that I am entirely unaccustomed to. Aside from things we cannot control while in a foreign country (such as not understanding the native tongue), there are several key things that I would like to share that I found made my journey a little bit easier to navigate.

1) Carry a map and mark your own reference points.

Especially in a place where you are unfamiliar with the language and/or alphabet, street signs will mean next to nothing when trying to figure out where you are at any given time. Having a map with your own personal notes will help make sure you don’t get yourself lost.

2) Apps are very helpful.

Take advantage of today’s amazing technology! If you have a smartphone, be sure to download some apps that will make life in a foreign country a whole lot easier. Two apps that I found to be particularly helpful were a translation app, and a currency conversion app.

The idea of a translation app did not occur to me until one of my final days in Russia, but this tool would have made communication with non-English speakers a breeze. These translation apps allow you to select the language you are speaking and the language you want your message to be translated to. It’s as easy as typing in your message and pressing translate! Once it is translated, simply present your screen to the other person, and they can then translate their reply to you on the same app.

Conversion apps are a simple tool to help remind you the value of what you are buying. In Russia, it is over 30 Russian Rubles to one Canadian dollar! This can make it very hard to figure out how much something actually costs before calculating.

3) Keep an open mind to cultural differences

There is one major thing that will make navigating a foreign country much easier on you. It is key to try and stay open-minded. Be willing to accept that things are going to be different than what you are used to, and realize that these differences are part of what makes this country so special.

Traveling to Russia with the G(irls) 20 Summit was one of the most amazing and eye opening experiences of my life. I hope that my tips for navigating a foreign country will help some of you in the future!