Sharing Your Experience

Their stories might not seem as adventurous as yours, but they are equally important. Through showing a sincere interest in others, you strengthen your relationship with them, and they are more likely to want to hear about your experiences. Meet people lovingly where they are, and gently and positively share what you have learned and experienced.

You will probably want to share more than this time allows, so think strategically. When people ask about your trip, instead of giving long monologues or explaining every picture in a thick album, hook their attention for a couple minutes and let them ask more if they want.

Try to be entertaining and upbeat. You could say something like:

“It was wonderful. There wouldn’t be enough time to tell you everything, but let me just tell you about my host brother. He was my buddy. Every  day, he would come home from school in his bright white uniform, and  we would have coffee and fresh sweetbread together with my host mom. Then, he and I would go to the park and play soccer – man he was quick!  He’s only ten years old, but he could always beat the socks off me in  soccer...”

That way, when people want to see your pictures, you can give them a brief taste of your experience without overwhelming them. If they ask to see more – great! Then show more of your photos. (Unless a person is very interested, don’t sit next to him/her and explain every picture.)