My Story on Establishing Local Connection

by Alma Dhiafira (Indonesia)

Making a local connection Thailand

Having a local connection during traveling is always be a good thing as more connection means that you’ll get more information. Nowadays we can find information on the internet. However, what seems on social media isn’t always the truth. On the other hand, we shouldn’t only rely on the locals. Sometimes a traveler knows more things than the local as the traveler has more eagerness to explore compared to the local. With that said, as a smart traveler, we should be able to compile information and do analyze so we can make the best of our trip. There are many ways to make a local connection. The easiest one would be if you already have a relative in that place. If you want to have it instantly, you should try the professional tour guide. For a budget traveler, this might be optional, as many professional guides can be costly. But the benefit is that a professionally guided tour is more practical and you’ll get more precise information during the tour. Also, we can find a local connection through social media. Having a friendship through social media can be challenging as we don’t know who they are in person. There’s also the countless case on how online friendship leads to a dangerous situation. Thus, before you choose to go out with a person that you meet online, especially to somewhere unknown in an extended period, make sure that you have the opportunity to know that person more than just their profile in social media. It might take a longer process, but it’s safer. As a law student who would like to focus on international law, I have to keep up with the current issue. Joining various international programs such as competitions, conferences, and exchange programs lead me to many wonderful good relationships with the locals. Sometimes when you think about competition, it’s about winning or losing. Deep down, joining those programs provide you the opportunity to engage with other global citizens that will help you create a trusted local connection. I remember a story of mine when I joined an international moot court competition in Myanmar in 2018. I was nervous as I was waiting for the announcement on who made it to the next round. At that time, the rest of my team decided to stay in the room, and I became their representative to hear the news in the dining area. I decided to sit randomly and started a conversation with a guy who sat next to me. Surprisingly, he is from Thailand. It’s such a great coincidence because my team was going to visit Thailand for a couple of days before returning to Indonesia. When we were in Thailand, he informed us that he had free time. He offered to us to become our guide in Grand Palace. With no hesitation, we agreed with that idea. He became a fun and thoughtful guide. The way he gave a narrative about the places isn’t just from a historical point of view. He also shared his personal experience with it. His stories made the trip unique. On top of that, we had a visit to his university as he had a meeting with his classmates. As a law student, I’m thrilled because I can see his law faculty. I bet you wouldn’t get into a university if you are with a tour guide. Ever since our meeting, we became a good friend. When I received information that in 2019 the international moot court competition was held in Thailand, I’m over the moon. I finally had another opportunity to meet with my friend again. At this time, we already know each other better. Thus, he allows me to stay in his place. It truly saves me money. During my stay in his place, he couldn’t accompany me the whole time because he had errands. But well, that’s the challenge if you go out with friends. You must be respectful of them. Just because you’re their guest, that doesn’t mean you can consume their time, unlike if you’re with a professional who will stay focused on you. However, I recommend going out with a local who is a friend as it will create a memorable trip that might lead to new opportunities.