1. if you can not converse in the local language - it is impossible to "travel like a local"
2. urban and non-urban environments are very different here. In urban environments "locals" and "out-of-towners" mix naturally. In non-urban environments the lanes are separated and one may anticipate some friction in stepping outside their assigned lane (I was recently chastised for not knowing any French at a bar in Mons en Pevele, France. They also charged me 3x price for my beers. This is acceptable)
3. any "locals" experiments should be focused on your own experience, not observing others like you are visiting the zoo
4. out-of-towners - the West Village in NYC is a horrible, terrible, awful place, full of trash and rodents, that should not be visited under any circumstances
1) You will certainly have a different experience and lack some context if you don't speak the language, but language isn't everything. When I lived in Cambodia I could visit new towns and still have the "local experience" even though I didn't have the language but I understood the cultural mores.
2) I agree with the friction. Disagree with ripping people off. That's wrong.
3) Yes and no. You can still want to observe people and not treat them like animals. I love people watching everywhere, even my own town. The line is fuzzy.
4) That horse bolted so long ago the doors have rusted off their hinges.
You knew I would have thoughts on this. A few:
1. if you can not converse in the local language - it is impossible to "travel like a local"
2. urban and non-urban environments are very different here. In urban environments "locals" and "out-of-towners" mix naturally. In non-urban environments the lanes are separated and one may anticipate some friction in stepping outside their assigned lane (I was recently chastised for not knowing any French at a bar in Mons en Pevele, France. They also charged me 3x price for my beers. This is acceptable)
3. any "locals" experiments should be focused on your own experience, not observing others like you are visiting the zoo
4. out-of-towners - the West Village in NYC is a horrible, terrible, awful place, full of trash and rodents, that should not be visited under any circumstances
I don't think I agree.
1) You will certainly have a different experience and lack some context if you don't speak the language, but language isn't everything. When I lived in Cambodia I could visit new towns and still have the "local experience" even though I didn't have the language but I understood the cultural mores.
2) I agree with the friction. Disagree with ripping people off. That's wrong.
3) Yes and no. You can still want to observe people and not treat them like animals. I love people watching everywhere, even my own town. The line is fuzzy.
4) That horse bolted so long ago the doors have rusted off their hinges.