Communication and responsible travel

Keeping in touch with your friends, family and fellow travellers is easier now than ever before. But be cautious, many places still have little or no mobile phone reception, and not all mobile phones will work outside the UK. It is best not to rely on just one form of communication.

 

Regular communication

Family and friends will be glad to hear how you are getting on during your gap experience. Here are a few ways you can keep in touch:

Internet/email

• Make sure your email address is set up on your phone or device you will bring with you. Also, most email addresses can be accessed through an internet browser if you lose your phone/laptop/tablet you are travelling with. Email addresses that you can use all over the   world include Outlook, Yahoo or Gmail.

• You can use internet cafes at a small cost whilst abroad. Yes, internet cafes do still exist! You’ll find them really useful if you haven’t got your phone or if you’ve decided using your mobile is too expensive, or if you fancy a long Zoom chat to see some familiar faces from home - see Cyber Cafe for locations. Some accommodation may also provide free wifi or internet access. 

• You can also use video calling. It is a good idea to set up an account with companies like Skype, Zoom and FaceTime which will let you make free calls to other users and low-cost calls abroad.

Mobile phones

• If you are staying in one country for a long period of time, you might consider buying a local sim card to keep in touch more cheaply (pay as you go data and call packages are easily available, even in developing countries) but don’t forget to make sure your mobile is unblocked so it will take alternative sim cards, e.g. www.worldsim.com.

• If you are with a good cell provider in your home country, you can also see what deals there are for travel and if it is more cost effective to get a travel plan with them or get a sim card. Sim cards are good if you are travelling in a place for a long period of time however lots of UK providers have good deals for travelling in Europe.

• Communication apps such as WhatsApp are a great way of staying connected with family and friends where you can create a group in which you can share your messages and photos without messaging people individually. It is a good alternative to a blog as it is only shared with those you have chosen.

Web journals/blogs

• An interactive online journal which allows you to write a diary, upload photos and voice messages, map your journey, send safety alerts etc can keep you in touch with friends, families and colleagues as you travel the world.  For examples of blog sites, take a look at Blogger or WordPress.

However don’t be too ambitious in your planning - in many places internet speeds can be slow and uploading images may be problematic. 
 

Emergency communication

If travelling independently it is helpful to contact family and friends regularly to let them know your location and next destination. 

Ensure your parent/guardian in the UK and any friends you are travelling with have the contact details for the British embassy in-country for use in an emergency. You should also give your travelling partner(s) the contact details of your family/friends in the UK.

Keep copies of key telephone numbers with you whilst travelling and email them to yourself before departure so that they are accessible even if your phone gets stolen. These should include:

• The British embassy in the countries you are travelling to 

• Family and friends in the UK and in-country

• Nearest hospital/doctor to your accommodation 

• Your bank

• Your airline 

• Your insurance company 

• Your provider(s) (if applicable)

Exploratory questions to ask yourself:

• How will I keep in contact with family and friends during my gap experience? 

• How often will I be able to contact home?

• Do I have any contacts in-country? Will they be contactable at all times?

• Who would I contact in an emergency? How could I contact them?

 

Responsible travel

When planning your travel it is important to consider its potential effects on local communities, the need to respect local customs and cultures and the sustainability and effect on the environment of the projects or activities you may be involved in.

Some countries may require a certain kind of dress (e.g. covering your head or not wearing revealing clothes) and adherence to particular manners, behaviour or customs when going about your daily life. You should read up on these before you go. Information can often be found in guidebooks and on the FCDO individual country profiles at: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. 
 
You should always ask people’s permission if you wish to take their photograph. 
 
For further information on the ethical issues associated with your planned travel, or to find out more about how to travel responsibly and ethically, consult:

• www.tourismconcern.org.uk 

• www.ethicalvolunteering.org

• www.stuffyourrucksack.com

Exploratory questions to ask yourself:

•  What are the ethical issues involved in travelling responsibly in my destination(s)? Consider: the effect on local communities, respecting local customs and cultures, the impact on the environment. 

• What actions will I undertake to ensure I travel responsibly (e.g. using water purification treatment instead of buying lots of bottled water and therefore contributing to waste; not using a precious and perhaps unreliable water supply for long showers so the local people might go without; being responsible when disposing of general waste, sanitary waste and unwanted food).

• Apart from you, will anyone benefit from the activities you undertake whilst travelling? 

• If participating in a project, will it continue after you have left? 

 

Note on culture shock

The first few days or even weeks abroad can be a shock to the system, especially if you have never travelled independently before. Don't think there is something wrong with you! It is quite normal to feel that you want to go home and for things to feel great one moment and possibly awful the next. In a country which might have a very different climate or even local diet to the UK it is also quite common to feel physically unwell as your body takes time to adjust to new temperatures, humidity or food. To deal with these effects try to:

• Accept that your feelings are normal 

• Learn as much about your surroundings as possible  

• Respect the views and attitudes of local people 

• Find out the cultural dos and don'ts - e.g. about dress, hospitality, religion, attitudes to the opposite sex, taking photos 

• Not be critical 

• Share your feelings 

• Create a routine for eating well and exercising

• Set targets, taking each day or week at a time

• Find time for laughter and fun