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Travel as a multicultural couple

A&Z: what it’s like to travel in a multicultural couple

The differences between traveling solo and with friends (or as a couple) have been covered extensively in travel publications. Solo travelers tend to advocate that “being alone one tends to interact more with strangers”. While those who travel with someone else often think that “when you travel as a couple, you learn and grow together, giving each other support on the road and, as such, enriching your journeys.” But not many discuss what it is like to travel in a multicultural couple, and that’s what I’d like to share with you.

Traveling around the world I have seen plenty of mixed race couples. But most of them, even if of a different race, were born or have been long term residents of a given country – more often than not, the USA. But traveling in a multiracial couple is not what I am referring to – what I mean is a multicultural couple. Because being multiculturally distinct adds a twist to travel most don’t get to experience.

I am a Portuguese girl married to an Indian guy. Ashray and I met in Dubai, where we used to live and work until 2011, when we set off to travel around the world. As a couple who dated and decided to eventually get married it’s obvious that we have a similar outlook towards life. But that doesn’t mean that we are culturally identical or that people treat us as such everywhere we go.

 

So, how does being in a multicultural couple

influence our travel experiences?

 
 

Travel Plans

 

Travel guides, by westerners for westerners:

We’re not into researching our travels in advance that much, we like going with the flow. But still, particularly in the beginning, we did read travel books and online guides and quickly realized that most travel content is written by westerners and for westerners. Those were things I wouldn’t have noticed as such, if Ashray didn’t point out details such as “why would they explain how to use a squat toilet?”. And it’s funny if I think about it: I never come across guidebooks explaining to people how to use toilet paper, for instance. One would think such tips are “obvious”, but the truth is that, depending on where you come from in the world, such details can indeed be different. And this is one of the reasons why we started our travel blog – because we wanted to share with the world what it’s like to travel, no matter where you come from.

 

Visas:

Most couples share the same nationality so they won’t usually come across the instance when one gets visa on arrival to most countries, while the other person has to apply to obtain such privilege. For those used to get their passport stamped when they land in a new place, let me tell you that applying for visas in advance is not sweet. It’s time consuming, expensive and, sometimes, you’re almost treated as a suspect of something you haven’t even done – you must show proof of financial solvency (up to 6 months of bank statements), sometimes even a letter from your employer allowing you to “go on vacation” or a write-up detailing itineraries you haven’t even made. It’s like you have to prove you are “worth it” to visit certain countries. Quite often, even after going through all of this, you are granted a visa for a shorter duration than those who get stamped on arrival.

Traveling with Ashray I have learnt how to appreciate the fact that I can get so many visas on arrival – and for free! I think travelers often forget how much of a privilege that is. Now, for me, tourist visas are something we have to get.

[This is also the reason why Ashray started a section dedicated to share his experiences and info necessary to obtain tourist visas when you have an Indian passport.]

 

A&Z by Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

A&Z by Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

 

Experiences on the road

 

Culture shock:

Interacting with each other’s families and cultures has probably made us more understanding and flexible. This way, I believe we suffer less culture shock these days. We have learnt that people have different habits depending on where in the world they are from. As such, the best rule tends to be “in Rome do like Romans”. Learning how to adapt with each others’ families and in the distinct social context in our countries, Portugal and India, has turned us into adaptable people no matter where we go. It helps us blend in.

 

We like different things, so we see and do more!

Both Ashray and I like different things. Whatever you grew up with won’t normally interest you as your attention as a curious traveler goes towards the unknown. While I care for rural environments, Ashray has seen plenty of that growing up in India. He’d rather roam around the happening neighborhoods of New York City instead of paying big bucks to tour the slums of some developing country. Why would you pay to see something abroad that you can see near you every day for free? Similarly I don’t care for visiting Churches, as I have seen too many in my life already. But as we are together and do things that each other has interests in, we end up covering a greater variety of activities. Often, we end up exploring distinct realities – and we do encounter pleasant surprises along the way!

If we were traveling with someone with the same cultural background as ourselves, chances are we would just skip certain things and never find out what it would have been like.

 

In Sickness & in Health

Growing up in India and Portugal, it’s amazing to observe how Ashray and I both have such different immune systems. I get sick way more often than he does – particularly when it comes to upset stomachs and food related issues. Not only Ashray is more street smart than most when it comes to hygiene in developing countries (particularly regarding street food or shady looking places) he is also more resistant than me and therefore able to stay put when I’m sick. It’s not practical when both people fall sick at the same time in a couple but, luckily for us, that’s never happened until today. That’s why we’ve already decided that our kids shall one day “play in the mud” and eat street food too, so that they develop decent immune systems and are able to travel to places with different foods, weather or standards and, hopefully, go around without having to worry too much.

 

We travel more

No matter where we go in the world, we always go back to our countries. That means that we’ll regularly go to India and Europe (Portugal and Spain, where my family is from). This helps us travel even more, working out as a great excuse for stop-overs, itineraries that include other countries en route and, of course, more extensive travels within our countries of origin too.

Even if worse comes to worse and the day when we don’t get to travel as much as now comes around, we’ll always have at least 2 extremely different parts of the world to look forward to!

 

A&Z in Lima, Peru

A&Z in Lima, Peru

 

How people perceive us

 

Race & money:

I could write an entire essay just on this topic! We have encountered so much kindness and so much prejudice too around the globe. The truth is that most people do have preconceived ideas of inter-racial couples. Those vary depending on the region of the world you’re in, but let’s say these aren’t generally positive notions. For instance, as I am white, people will assume I am the one with money. Situations have happened when Ashray asks for the bill at a restaurant and the waiter comes and hands it to me. I guess the fact that so many white old men are living the sexpat life-style in countries around Southeast Asia doesn’t do any good against preconceived ideas like this.

Still, on the money side of things, I have observed how we tend to be less of a target for touts and street vendors with iron perseverance. While white couples and groups of tourists are harassed several times even when repeatedly replying NO, we’re normally just asked once or twice and saying NO politely once does the trick. I think vendors tend to think that western tourists would be better targets for the local businesses anyway.

 

Variety of native languages help us communicate

Between the both of us we speak 6 languages. As such, we cover a good range of countries where we can easily communicate with people.

Further more, I get to talk with people in India in a way I wouldn’t be able otherwise, and the same happens for Ashray when we are in a Portuguese or Spanish speaking country. This helps tremendously getting the real story behind a place and when you only grasp a basic understanding of the local language its just not the same. I can talk with poorer people in India via Ashray, as they wouldn’t normally know English, only Hindi. Or in Mexico, for instance, I can talk to a given cab driver and learn about the “real life” of Mexico City. And this is one of my absolute favorite things about being in a multicultural and multilingual couple.

 

A&Z in Moledo Beach, Portugal

A&Z in Moledo Beach, Portugal

 

There are many things that make our travels in a multicultural couple a little different than the norm. We’re learning as we go with each other and, above all, we’re getting to see from the first row how individuals around the world perceive other cultures.

Hopefully, as the world mixes more and more and people from all over the place get to travel, prejudice and preconceived ideas that ultimately limit the way people see one another, will slowly disappear. Until then, we are enjoying the ride!


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25 Comments

  • Anita Catita Says

    What a great post! It’s one one the best things about your blog too; you make your readers see things through different perspectives.

    • Zara Says

      Thanks Anita! We try to share the multicultural perspective here on Backpack ME. I know it doesn’t show in every single post we write, of course, but overall, through our stories, I hope we manage to inspire people to travel, independently of where they come from! :)

  • Frank Says

    Great post! You’ve addressed both being interracial and multicultural, interracial as far as how you are perceived by others because of the differences in your skin tones. We go through the same things and its funny and often surprising the results; we’ve been to countries where me the white man gets the attention whereas she’s almost shunned (China), others where she gets the friendly service while I get the unfriendly glares (Brazil). In Thailand I was surprised at how friendly they were with Lissette, I almost feared they would be like in China. But the great thing about being interracial or multicultural is sometimes your ‘in’ with the people – I love the fact that I can travel with Lissette to Cuba or the Dominican Republic and that she can talk like a local. It opens up so many doors. I actually think it makes travel more enriching!

    I also find it very interesting about what you say about our immune systems. I’m no doctor but it makes sense. I often think we coddle kids too much in our society.

    Anyway, interesting topic. Something that could be discussed for hours because we also have a lot of stories..

    Always enjoy your blog :)
    Frank (bbqboy)

    • Zara Says

      Many thanks Frank!
      It feels good to know that there are others out there with similar stories to ours! I’d be curious to know what’s going on now that you are in Czech Republic, actually. I sure know that Ashray attracted a lot of looks around there last year (not in Prague, but in the smaller places). I don’t think they are very used to racial diversity or non European / non white tourists. If you have any interesting stories, please do share! :)

  • One word: yep :)

    For two years (and counting) we also know the feeling. The good, the bad, and the ugly. But wouldn’t change one single thing about it, except more visas on arrival for him.

    • Zara Says

      True! I would also change the visas situation (although I am sure this is something that will probably change throughout our lifetimes..) but, as for everything else, there is a very interesting side to all of it!

  • Thanks for sharing. As one half of a multi-national and multi-cultural (though not multi-racial) couple, I can relate. So helpful to see how other mixed couples experience travel. Fascinating stuff!

    • Zara Says

      Thanks Peter! I bet multinational and multicultural creates a lot of interesting differences and funny stories on the go too!

  • I love this post! As part of a multicultural couple that travels together, I can definitely identify with many of these pointers! I’m particularly looking forward to travelling around India later this year with my partner, as being Indian himself he speaks fluent Hindi, so I’m sure my experience will be vastly different to that of a Westerner travelling alone in the country.

    • Zara Says

      Hi Andrea!
      I can tell you by experience that you’ll be able to experience India in a way not many tourists / travelers do. Many people speak English in India, but not so much in the lower classes or rural areas. The fact that you’ll travel with your partner will make your immersion even deeper. Enjoy India – it’s fascinating as not many other places in this world are (at least for me)! ;)

  • There’s so many things I could relate to in my post. Though my boyfriend and I both come from Ukraine we speak two different languages in everyday life (and between us) – Russian and Ukrainian. Plus, I speak better English when he’s really fluent in French. So, yes – the more languages you know, the more awesome you become for sure! :)

    And I could bitch about visas for ages I guess. Ukrainian passport holders kind of need to go through these visa screening and get countless proofs of their intentions too :( I’ve wrote a post a while ago about what it’s actually like to be a traveler from a 2nd world county (http://www.elenastravelgram.com/2014/06/traveler-from-2nd-world-country-visas.html) with various visa tips that worked out for me. I really wish that the world would become a more open place for Everyone to travel around…

    • Zara Says

      Hi Elena,
      How I wish visit visas weren’t an issue for certain nationalities or certain places too! It feels very unfair how sometimes a person is treated almost like a criminal, when you’re intention is actually to visit a country and going to spend your tourist money there. I guess it’s up to travelers like you (and Ashray in our case) to show others with the same passport that, no matter what, it is possible to travel and still have a good time. Let’s make the best possible out of this hardship and inspire others in the process – well, I’m just trying to look at the bright side! :)

  • You are a beautiful couple, and I love that through your experiences on the road, despite some negatives, you are still able to turn them into positives and see how they have contributed to your lives.

    “most travel content is written by westerners and for westerners.” arggghhhh YES!!! drives me crazy!! Partly the reason why I provide details at the end of each of my travel posts for Pakistanis, Indians AND Australians… half of my website caters for non-Westerners, after all!!

    • Zara Says

      Awww.. thanks so much, Tim!
      Well-done on catering to others rather than only gringos in your blog… keep up the good work! :)

  • Very interesting post, Zara. It takes a lot of character (and love!) to be acceptant and inclusive with other people’s cultures. Interesting post.

  • Pingback: Week in Review: August 17 – 23 | Roaming

  • rika@vm Says

    Great post you guys, I can totally relate!! I also experience the same thing in Southeast Asia when it comes to race and it’s pretty typical down there as you’d said – waitresses will assume he’s the one with money while I am Asian (not South East Asian), am not married, have money and an American accent (I’m raised by upper-class parents). Visas aren’t an issue for us since we are both based in the U.S. but it’s a pain to apply for visas together.

  • Nani Says

    I love this!! You guys described it so well. Even when I asked for the bill, i had to stick out my arm to get it, or she’d hand it to him.

    Another thing about not knowing the local language, i found it very heartwarming when the locals tried to give you direction or told you how to order food in their language. Makes you just want to travel more!! I and my girls experienced that when we travelled to Myanmar =D

    Have fun travelling!!

  • Vin Says

    Way to go guys, the genuine smiles on your faces says it all! Inspiring, made my day! :)

  • Roy Says

    Thank you so much for this. You guys are an inspiration, and I feel such a profound connection and familiarity after reading some of your posts. Please keep this up.
    Zara, are there any other experiences that you could share regarding the race and money topic? I know you said you could write an essay, but it doesn’t have to be :D

    • Zara Says

      Hi Roy! I’m happy to hear that you feel a connection with what you are reading around here! :)
      The race – money association varies depending where in the world we happen to be. In Asia / Middle East, for instance, there have been situations when people assume I am the one with the money. In other cases, and in different parts of the world, to the race-money association you could also add the male-female factor. That has nothing to do with race per se, though. But it’s annoying when the bill is handed directly to the male and not to whoever asked for it. And in some cases, people even feel comfortable passing comments when the female pays “oh, so it is her turn today, hein?” This has happened in Latin America mostly. I wish I knew better what goes on in some people’s minds! ;)

  • shalini Says

    Very refreshing to see a multi-cultural perspective on international travel. My husband is African (from Ghana/Kenya) and I am Indian (grew up in Singapore) and I totally understand when you say the mixed couples you meet when traveling tend to have some “home” in common. Although in my case I should admit traveling with an Indian passport was a breeze compared to my husbands Ghanaian passport. He was stopped and frisked repeatedly especially in many Latin American and South east asian airports.

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