₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGm3a3fYpnY

If you’re planning on traveling to France, you may want to reconsider your itinerary. Most tourists and expats who go to France are shocked to find that traveling there can be a real nightmare! The most common complaints? Expensive public transportation, confusing road signs, lousy customer service, and much more! If you’re curious about the worst thing about France, keep reading to learn what it is, how to avoid it when traveling there, and why it’s such an issue in the first place.

Driving
Paris can be a nightmare of traffic. In fact, some experts have called it one of Europe’s worst cities for driving. That doesn’t mean that you should cancel your trip to Paris, but you should know that traffic in Paris is notoriously bad—and it often makes for slow travel between tourist destinations. For example, if you plan on visiting both Versailles and The Louvre from central Paris, don’t expect to do it all in one day (unless you want to spend most of your time sitting in traffic). Instead, divide up your days so that at least one day is devoted to each destination.

Walking
The worst thing about going to France is walking. Everywhere you go in Paris, people are walking. But unlike other major cities that have wide sidewalks for pedestrians to walk on (and cars for people to drive), Paris has narrow sidewalks and cobblestone streets, which makes it incredibly hard to get around—especially if you’re there with several suitcases or a stroller or both. You can rent baby carriages at most airports, but they’re not permitted in public transportation, which means you’ll have to haul your stroller into an elevator and down some stairs before you’re allowed on a subway or train.

Litter
The Worst Thing About France--Litter: By far, my least favorite thing about traveling to Paris and other parts of France is litter. From cigarette butts on sidewalks to empty beer cans in parks, it’s clear that many of France’s residents are not as concerned with keeping their surroundings clean as Americans. I understand that parts of Europe have different ways of looking at things than we do—in fact, I love that—but littering is just one habit I wish they’d give up so I could appreciate them more. It seems like common sense to me that you don’t leave your trash around where it could easily fall into storm drains or water systems and wind up somewhere even worse than where you dropped it in the first place.

People
The first problem is that they’re completely unable to speak English. I went to one place where I was lucky enough to find someone who could communicate in English with me, and even then they were hard-pressed for words. It seems like it should be easy to just get a translator on your phone, but their phones can’t accept foreign SIM cards and aren’t set up for international calls or texts, which is really frustrating. I wasn’t really able to use Google Translate because of how bad their language skills are, so you might want to bring an interpreter with you if you plan on going anywhere other than touristy spots

Language Barrier
If you're going to be traveling internationally, odds are you'll end up in an unfamiliar country with an unfamiliar language. That can be intimidating and stressful, especially if you don't have any friends or contacts in your destination city. The worst thing about Paris? The language barrier. Although most Parisians speak English, they still tend to speak very quickly, which makes it even more difficult for non-native speakers to understand them. If you’re visiting and hoping to chat up locals, try taking some beginner French classes first—even just one class can make it much easier for you to hold basic conversations with people around town.

Lalasticlala DisGuy justwise mynd44 seun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUwK6ozJFK0

The Dark Side of India: Why Living Here is Not as Glamorous as You May Think

When you think of India, what comes to mind? If you’re like most people, visions of the Taj Mahal, mountains of curry and colorful festivals dance through your head. As one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, India has inspired countless tales of adventure and discovery, drawing tourists from all over the globe to its magnificent palaces and temples with promises of spicy food and picturesque scenery.

1) Cost of living
Being an expat in India comes with a lot of perks. The food is amazing, the nightlife is top-notch and it’s also home to some of the most beautiful women on the planet. But all that glamor doesn’t come without a price. At least, not for those who are trying to live comfortably without breaking the bank (and we’re pretty sure that describes most expats). In fact, many foreigners living in India find it difficult to live here; mainly because they can no longer afford luxuries like first-class airfare or five-star hotels. And don’t even get us started on what renting apartments here costs!

2) Getting stuck
The downside of living in a developing country like India is that life can be unpredictable, unreliable and inconvenient. A perfect example of how things don’t always work the way they are supposed to here: public transportation. Forget punctuality—buses and trains in Mumbai run on their own schedule and sometimes, you’re better off not bothering to wait for one because it might never show up. It’s these little but constant things that make life difficult here; if you want order in your day-to-day life, you need to create it yourself rather than expecting it to come on its own.

3) Lack of opportunities
The job market in India, especially in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Bangalore—the country’s major economic hubs—is nothing short of a nightmare. Although the Indian economy is booming with several thousands new jobs being created every year, the problem lies in the fact that there are millions of people trying to get those same jobs. The result? Insanely high levels of competition and not enough opportunities for everyone. Simply put, there are too many candidates fighting for far too few vacancies.

4) Lack of professional socialization
The first thing most people notice about the Indian work culture is that it can be difficult to build relationships with colleagues. In Western workplaces, people will often bond over lunch or after work at a bar; in most offices in India, however, you’ll go home right after work and your colleagues will head straight to their families. You also won’t develop any sense of camaraderie because there isn’t much division between management and worker bees. Everyone sits together in rows (sometimes, literally on top of each other), and everyone works together—from the manager all the way down to the newest intern. It can make it hard for foreigners who are accustomed to more hierarchical environments and an emphasis on seniority.

5) Loneliness and isolation
Because cities are getting more crowded, many people are forced to move from their hometowns to big cities to find work. They then leave behind their friends and family in order to better themselves financially. This can create a sense of loneliness and isolation for some people. Because technology has made it easier for us to stay connected with our friends and families, there is less need for us to visit or live near each other physically, which means some people in the world will have fewer opportunities to connect with others.

6) Insecurity and pessimism
Like many emerging countries, India has a growing class divide. A higher and higher percentage of the country's wealth falls into the hands of fewer and fewer people every year. The rich grow richer and the poor have difficulty making ends meet. Pessimism reigns when you're on the bottom rung, so prepare yourself for a little insecurity if you're planning to move here. Don't be surprised if Indians seem to only focus on what they don't have instead of what they do—this trend is particularly true among Indians who are struggling financially. Those lucky enough to be better off tend to keep their business private, even though there's no shame in having money and success in India, either.

7) Clashes with traditional mindsets
One of the most notable disadvantages of living in India lies in the clash between traditional Indian mindsets and Western ones. Despite substantial efforts at development and growing openness, there are still plenty of cultural differences that cause problems for newcomers. For example, Indian culture tends to be patriarchal and women are often expected to be subservient. It can be difficult to fully integrate when you don’t agree with these kinds of attitudes.

In Conclusion
There are lots of pros to living in the world’s largest democracy, but there are some pretty serious cons that you need to know about. Because, like everything else in life, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. As Westerners making the move to India, we shouldn’t be blindsided by all the glory and glitz that makes it such a tempting option in the first place; it’s important for us to understand what truly makes up the dark side of India. The idea is not to scare anyone away from moving here; instead, an honest assessment will help prepare you for all that comes with living in one of the most diverse places on Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8KsUHg14hw

5 Reasons Traveling to Egypt is More Trouble Than It's Worth

Egypt has been one of the most visited countries in the world since its discovery in the late 19th century. Its massive monuments and rich history are what first attracts people to it, but once they arrive, tourists often discover that there’s more trouble than there’s worth when traveling to Egypt. Whether you’re planning on going to Egypt yourself or simply want to know what you’re getting into before your friends take off on their Egyptian adventure, here are five reasons why traveling to Egypt isn’t always as good as it seems.

1) There are only two seasons
Summer and winter. If you travel in December or January, you'll find that there are three seasons: summer, winter, and heavy rain/mist. The downside of living in Egypt is that it rains a lot; if you're looking for sunshine all year long, perhaps don't choose to live here. Temperatures range from hot—sometimes around 120 degrees Fahrenheit—to colder than sub-zero during winter months. And while it rains most often in spring and fall, it can also happen at any time of year; come prepared with an umbrella or just get used to walking around in a wet shirt!

2) Pickpockets

The worst part about traveling in Egypt (and Cairo in particular) is that it’s simply not safe. There are a lot of pickpockets who hang out near tourist attractions and will steal your stuff at first opportunity. It happened to me on my third day there: I was sitting at a café eating lunch when a teenager came over and started talking to me in Arabic, asking where I was from, etc., while he picked my pocket. When he left, I discovered that he had stolen my wallet! And that wasn’t even the worst part—it turns out some of my credit cards were damaged by pickpocket-quality heat; so now they can’t be used any more.

3) Tourist scams
The biggest disadvantage of living in Egypt today is all of the tourist scams. As an expat in Cairo, you'll be constantly harassed for money and ignored if you don't have a few dollars to give. If you value your time and wallet, steer clear of downtown Cairo and any other area frequented by tourists. Instead, choose a neighborhood where there are plenty of local businesses and people who won't give you strange looks when you accidentally speak English. Living elsewhere can make life so much easier while still allowing you access to historical sites, museums, and other things worth seeing as a tourist or business person visiting Egypt.

4) Culture shock
Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or new to international travel, adjusting to life in another country can be difficult. Even if you’ve visited another country before, chances are high that you’ll experience something called culture shock upon arriving in Egypt. For example, you might find it difficult understanding how people communicate or how they socialize. Do yourself a favor and prepare for culture shock before it arrives by learning what symptoms to expect and how you can best manage them as they arise.

5) Everyone wants your money

Anyone who has spent time in a developing country will tell you how much more hassle-free it is living in a first-world country. You won’t get pulled over randomly by cops on bikes demanding a bribe; you won’t get ripped off by hotel clerks; and most importantly, you won’t have creepy men trying to sell you their daughters while they handle your hair.

In Conclusion
The downside of living in Egypt isn’t so much that it’s a dangerous place (which it very well may be). Instead, it has a lot more to do with all those things that come along with living abroad: culture shock, homesickness, an inability to feel fully comfortable. When you travel somewhere new and exciting, there are bound to be some surprises—that’s why travelers should always keep their wits about them. In general, it’s just easier when you have your own house and know your way around. Plus, hotels are expensive! That said, there are plenty of good reasons for traveling here too—most notably, because nothing can truly prepare you for life in another country.