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Caleb Cochran
Tips from Bentley alumna and international education director Natalie Schlegel

Natalie Schlegel, MBA '08

International travel comes with the job for alumna and staff member Natalie Schlegel. Some 7,100 Bentley students have studied abroad under her 12-year watch as director of international education. Her own lifetime totals include 30 countries visited, 225 journal pages filled, 3 passport renewals, and (a remarkable) 0 suitcases lost. Follow her lead to turn any trip abroad — whether for business or pleasure — into a cultural experience.


 

Unpack Your Itinerary

Less is more: This golden rule of packing also applies to travel plans. Moving from country to country — and even city to city — takes up time and requires energy and planning. During a weeklong work stint in Helsinki, I was tempted to visit Russia. Instead, I accompanied a colleague to meetings outside the Finnish capital, where the pace was slower and opportunities to talk with locals, more plentiful.
 

 

Reflect

Keeping a daily journal is well worth the effort. It has been said that we don’t learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience. The more detail you record about sights and feelings, the more your memories will have the capacity to transport you and remain a treasure for years to come. Put pen to paper or try out a journaling app like Day One.
 

 

Make Local Connections

Stay in B&Bs for a more authentic experience with local residents who can share insider knowledge of what to see and do. Taxi drivers can be great resources, too. Be sure to tap your own network. Before a trip to the University of Cape Town, I contacted an uncle who was born and raised in the city and he connected me to family there. Sitting around the dinner table, I got a priceless glimpse of everyday life — not to mention a memorable meal with extended family.
 

 

Cultivate New Tastes

Avoid restaurants with menus in English; locals don’t go to those places. If you seek out food you typically eat at home, it probably won’t be prepared as you expect. Open yourself to trying new cuisines and resist judgment. Local markets are great places to experience the local flavor and strike up conversations about favorite eateries. (I love being in the Netherlands when herring is in season.) You’ll save money, too.
 

 

Get Your Bearings

One tourist staple I recommend, especially for visits to very large cities: Take a city tour early in your stay. Notice popular attractions and less touristy spots like bookstores and cafés. A tour orients you to the area and provides ideas for places to explore on your own. It even works at home. I’ve joined visiting friends on guided tours of Boston — and was surprised by how much I learned.