Many people travel on a daily basis. Some of them do it for vacations, education, or work. But no matter what the motive is, there’s always this common fear of getting stuck at the airport because your flight got delayed. But that’s not a thing to fear, there are ways to efficiently spend your time and ignore boredom, here are some tips that will turn your airport-wasted-time into something to tell when you get home.
Airports are the best place to meet diverse types of people who are different not only because of culture and background, but also because of various ages and lifestyles.
First, you could read a bit about airport architecture and the importance of that specific space in contemporary culture, or you could just remember Seinfeld’s act on airports, where he speaks about how a tuna sandwich can cost $14 dollars.
But any way you prefer, you can have fun so, here are our nine tips on what to do while wasting time on an airport:
- Enjoy watching people. See how they behave with each other; notice how age and lifestyles play a huge role on how people behave. Make stories in your head about that, and then go find out how close were you.
- Read a book or listen to music. It’s not wasted time if you are able to enjoy new media, learn something, and feed your mind with stuff you don’t allow yourself in “real life” because you think is lost time.
- Take a look at airport stores. See the best sellers and latest gadgets or go to the duty free store and know about the latest perfume by local (and global) brands. That is culture-rich and also extremely fun, remember everything you see there is maybe 3x more expensive than anywhere else outside that place. Ask many things and fool around with the people in charge, they’ll always appreciate a funny tourist just don’t lie about buying.
- Surf the web. If you haven’t heard about The Terminal, dig some of the story behind the movie and you’ll be glad to know you have a final destiny. You can also interact with your friends through social media pages like Facebook, GooglePlus or Twitter…there’s some strange interest in everyone about travel so a simple post like “I’m in _____” can trigger a conversation. Also, don’t forget to check-in on foursquare.
- Go to the airport gym. Some airports have shower, fitness and spa service, such as Changi-Singapore international airport. If not, don’t be afraid of stretching out or move around.
- Buy souvenirs. The type of present you buy obviously depends on the city you are and the person who’s for, but it’s always useful and fun to see some typical tourist stuff. Try guessing what you’ll find, for example: at Paris airport, I’m sure you can buy mini replicas of Eiffel Towers as key chains. Challenge yourself to guess what the typical souvenir will be in every city and if you miss, learn what you’re missing! maybe there’s a great present for someone back home.
- Finally, start a conversation with the person sitting next to you. Enjoy the feeling of talking to a perfect stranger and sharing ideas. I was once traveling around Europe by myself and got on a bus, then I started talking to an elder woman and her teen son. They were nice but so different to me, I was there to see the world while they were searching a wife for the young kid…we ended up sharing a room in Amsterdam and splitting the costs of that first night when none had a place to stay.
- Detect and upload Airport Creeps… and try not to turn into one!
- Play the Emergency Airport Boredom Buster found at the daily cootie catcher
So be open to changes in plans and try to enjoy this unusual experience to the max. Remember T.S.Eliot’s famous quote “The journey, not the arrival matters.” If you liked visiting numerous cities and getting introduced to new cultures, you can join our Multi Country study abroad program, which will not only give you the opportunity to visits new cities and meet new people, but will also give you the chance to take 2 courses, which will be transferred to your college.
Post by Christeena Saadalla