35: Transgender Networking in the Workplace | Feedback Friday

Immersive Travel

Jordan Harbinger and Jason DeFillippo emphasize the importance of engaging deeply with local cultures when traveling. Jordan recommends CouchSurfing.org as a great way to meet locals and other travelers, and suggests volunteering or taking classes to immerse oneself in the local community 1. Jason shares his experience of staying with a local family in Ukraine, which significantly improved his Russian language skills and provided a rich cultural experience 2.

I want to kind of hang out, practice my Russian. And they went, “Okay, cool.” And one of the teachers, it was like her cousin or her friend, they rented me a room and she was so stoked to have a foreigner in their house that they treated me like a brother.

--- Jordan Harbinger

They both agree that these immersive experiences can lead to lasting friendships and a deeper understanding of the places visited.

   

Solo Travel

For solo travelers, Jordan and Jason offer practical advice to make the journey more enriching. Jordan suggests using CouchSurfing to connect with locals and other travelers before the trip, which can lead to meaningful interactions and possibly even free accommodation 3. He also recommends signing up for day tours or longer group tours to meet people and explore new places together.

Sightseeing, all that stuff. It's fine, but you kind of get this superficial view of the place. I recommend CouchSurfing.

--- Jordan Harbinger

These strategies help solo travelers feel more connected and less isolated during their adventures.