7 Ways to Unplug on Any Vacation

You just ordered a new suit "At six foot four and 380 pounds, I got used to standing out while in Chongqing, China. People stared, some folks patted my stomach, and a few even walked into street poles while looking me over. One shopkeeper took it a step further. He ran out of his store and motioned for me to stand still, then hurried back inside. He emerged with a tape measure and proceeded to measure my height and girth, each time holding it up to the small crowd that had gathered. I knew enough of the culture not to take offense—I was being paid an honor." Clarence Holbrook, Loveland, Colo. Shaggy goes to China "My friend and I rented bikes and cycled out to the village of Baisha, outside of Lijiang, China. As we were exploring the town, a friendly woman invited us to her home. We walked to her house, where we enjoyed tea and peanuts. Then she pulled out a box of traditional dresses and cheerily motioned for me to try one on. After dressing us up, she paraded us around her courtyard, taking pictures with our cameras. We gradually realized that she expected a modest tip, which we were more than glad to give for such a bizarre experience." Rich Fowler, San Francisco, Calif. Cutting to the chase "While studying abroad in Beijing, I visited the Great Wall—but in a strange twist, I became the tourist attraction. The locals marveled at my long blond hair and asked me to pose for countless photos. One vendor approached me and commented on my 'golden' hair. I smiled and nodded. 'Golden hair,' she said. 'I buy.' I gave her a strange look and declined. She started offering me money. Not wanting to give up my hair, I kept refusing. She got agitated and walked away. I was heading back to the bus when she came chasing after me with a pair of scissors and yelling, 'Golden hair! Golden hair!' I ran faster than I had in a long time." Nicole Andersen, Santa Barbara, Calif. "Easy-egress" is more like it "Moms and grandmas on our Interhostel tour of China were intrigued with the easy-access pants worn by diaperless toddlers. It became our mission to photograph a youngster wearing them, but this proved difficult: As soon as parents would see us eyeing their little one, they'd whisk their child around, assuming we wanted to capture the baby's face. After one Beijing dad presented me with several front view photo ops, I waited until his attention was elsewhere, then snuck up from behind." Nancy Shephard, Stockton, Calif. Like your husband isn't an animal "My mother, my husband, and I noticed that most Chinese people dress formally in China. In fact, it wasn't uncommon to see Chinese tourists in suits and ties. When we got to Guilin, the weather was unseasonably warm, and my husband wore shorts. A Chinese girl soon wrapped herself around my husband's leg. She was fascinated with his hairy legs, petting his knee like he was an animal." Delia Rhodes, Jamestown, N.C. We'd rather eat the stick My husband and I try to fit in by eating the local delicacies. We ate ant eggs in Mexico, and llama and guinea pig in Peru, but while in Hong Kong we finally put a stop to the tradition. Walking toward the Temple Street night market, we found a store that sold sun-dried foods such as mushrooms and shark fins, but what really caught our eye was one local dish we'd never try—lizard on a stick. Macarena Scalia' South Miami, Fla.

Q: When many people think of vacation, they think of sunning themselves on a beach. What prompted your interest in "voluntourism"? A: I've been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America since 2000, and philanthropy has always been a part of my life. But my volunteer experiences have all been in American cities I've called home. I've been curious about volunteering overseas, and since travel is my passion, it only seemed natural. Q: How did you pick a placement organization? A: I searched for volunteer opportunities online, but programs can be quite pricey. I was delighted to stumble upon an agency that had a small placement fee, and after corresponding by e-mail, we were able to arrange an opportunity in Asia. At first, the agency's representatives guided me to make sure I was able to navigate the buses and trains in Singapore and make it to the Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home on my own. And after that, we checked in daily and became fast friends over lunches before I went to volunteer in the afternoon and evening. Q: Please share with us some of the memorable moments from your trip. A: Singapore is one of the most developed nations in Asia, but an undercurrent of extreme hardship exists. Many of the children at this home had experienced terrible heartbreak. Some are orphans. Some have parents who are serving time in prison or are too poor to raise them. And some of the children are developmentally disadvantaged. While a few of the kids had an aura of sadness or frustration, others still had that sweetness all children deserve. Q: Did you bond with any of the children during your week's stay? A: There was a 15-year-old whom I bonded with the most. We started working together on the first day. Due to confidentiality, I'm unable to share his story; however, he has experienced more in his short life than any adult should have to endure. Despite the difficulties, he still possessed the kindest nature. On the very first day, after our daily "tuition," or homework, session, this young boy pulled out a chair for me and invited me to snack time. By the second day, I was greeted with a brilliant smile and a friendly wave to join him and work on math homework. By the end of my assignment, we exchanged email addresses, and he asked when I would be back to visit. It was so difficult not to have an answer. Q: What is your fondest memory? A: I have many positive and important memories that helped color my experience. One of them was a moment in which few words were exchanged. During a regular afternoon downpour before the brilliant sun came out, I was caught darting to the end of a dead-end street to the children's home. A young girl in her school uniform, whom I later learned was 13 and a resident of the home, spotted me and quickly scooped me up under her beige Snoopy umbrella. I tried to carry on a conversation with this teenager while we avoided the raindrops together, but she was too shy. Q: Do you have any advice for others on how to evaluate the best program for them, and the best program for effectiveness locally? A: I think you have to consider the same factors as when you research volunteer programs in your hometown. Do you want to work with kids, adults, animals, or the environment? Do you want to volunteer directly with the people who may benefit or at the administrative level? Ask yourself, "Do I want to teach my skills and share my experiences or work in an area outside my expertise?" Consider if you want to be in a city or a rural environment, and research which immunizations might be required. Once you tackle these topics, you'll find something that suits you. Q: What about cost? A: I did everything with a small budget in mind. Once I was in Singapore, I could have taken cabs, but I relied predominantly on trains and buses so I could cut costs. (In my experience, mass transit is the best way to get the real flavor for a community anyway.) So my biggest expense was the flight. Another suggestion is to check with your employer. Many companies will support employees as they take time to do volunteer work, which was the case with my opportunity. Q: Do you have any practical advice for other travelers? A: I did bring some academic goodies for the kids, which they very much appreciated. They started using everything immediately during homework time. I wrestled with bringing the children candy from the U.S. and opted not to. I thought the counselors might be irritated if I got the kids wired up on sugar! In hindsight, the candies would have been a hit after homework and during playtime. I know the kids would have cherished American candies since they were so curious about my life in the U.S. One more tip: Remember your hosts as well! Whether you bring something from the U.S., purchase something small but thoughtful during your travels, or take them to lunch, it's an appreciated courtesy. Q: Can you offer any suggestions on what to pack? A: I'm glad I had a travel journal to document my observations, hand sanitizer, running shoes for basketball and badminton matches during afternoon recess, and my favorite well-traveled, wide-brimmed straw hat to shield the sun. While in Asia, I was reminded that it's important to carry a small pack of tissues. You may need tissues in the ladies' room, to serve as napkins or even to save a seat! At many Singaporean open-air food stalls, called hawker centers, residents use the tissue packets to reserve seats. Q: What are the chances you'll return to this place? Or if you opted to do voluntourism again, might you choose another location (for the sake of variety, perhaps)? A: I would definitely consider volunteering at this children's home again and visiting the friends I've made through the volunteer agency. In addition to bonding with the children, I enjoyed getting to know other volunteers. One man in particular impressed me: a senior pilot, he was a longtime volunteer and brought the kids goodies from all over the globe. The children obviously looked forward to his visits. But I am also considering a volunteer experience elsewhere, and I've already started casually researching for 2009. Q: Last question: Could you tell us a bit about yourself, for readers who aren't familiar with your background? A: I'm a news anchor for CNN.com Live, CNN's cutting-edge, multi-stream live video service. With CNN.com Live, if you're at the office, at an airport or school, you can still get news from around the globe, via CNN.com! I also serve as a substitute anchor for CNN, CNN International TV, and CNN Headline News. I've always been fascinated by other cultures and my career allows me to learn about the world. Now, international volunteering is a perfect compliment and an adventure I look forward to next year! Related Articles: • You Can Count on Us • Volunteer Vacations • Give Back to the Earth

Ahhh, Paris. The chic Marais and St.-Germain, the romantic stairway streets of Montmartre, the grandeur of the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. Who hasn't fantasized about strolling around the world's most gorgeous city? As locals know, Paris's appeal goes well beyond these classic images—it can also be found in details like a perfectly baked baguette, a repurposed historic landmark, and a little-known museum far from the crowds. Taking our quiz is one way to find out the depth of your knowledge about the City of Light (so named for its early use of street lights, by the way). Each correct answer is worth 1 point. Earn 4 points or less and, sorry, to the guillotine you go! On your way, you might stop at place de la Concorde to contemplate the fate of Marie Antoinette. Scored 5 to 8 points? Keep your head and take it over to a bookstore. At Shakespeare & Company, you can fill your head with all kinds of knowledge about Paris (37 rue de la Bûcherie; shakespeareco.org). If you've ever gotten a Parisian waiter to smile, however, add 4 bonus points and move to the next level. And if you scored 9 to 12 points, upon landing at Charles de Gaulle go directly to chocolatier Jean-Paul Hévin and treat yourself to some of the best bonbons in town (231 rue Saint Honoré; jphevin.com). Christopher Measom writes frequently about travel and is the editor of Paris: Wish You Were Here! More on France • A Warm Welcome: Paris B&Bs • 20 Photos: Paris, My Cut • Downloadable France Menu Decoder (PDF) • Affordable Europe: Paris Coverage

1. Tell your coworkers not to call you unless there's a hostage situation. The more memorable your message, the more likely you'll be left alone. 2. Rent a cell phone that makes it difficult to send e-mail. For domestic trips, Virgin Mobile sells prepaid phones for as little as $15 at Target stores and elsewhere. (Note: Virgin's phones come with mobile Web access. If that bothers you, then you'll have to ask them to turn it off when you call customer service to activate the phone.) 3. Give your hotel's name and number to a only one colleague. If any other co-worker needs to reach you, your point person can decide whether it's warranted to reveal your whereabouts. 4. If you're a solo traveler, you may need to make an extra effort to unplug from Blackberry-based social interaction. You should consider staying at hotels that are known to offer participatory activities. For example, many Kimpton and Omni hotels frequently host wine tastings. 5. Set limits. If colleagues won't let you "unplug," agree on a set time each day when you'll respond to queries. At all other times, screen for four-alarm emergencies but resist the temptation to respond to minor matters, advises NFI Research CEO Chuck Martin 6. Be wary of checklists. Whenever you make a checklist of attractions to see, you risk treating your vacation as if it's work. Consider building "free time" into your planned itinerary for spontaneous strolls and similar adventures. 7. Make an "unpacking" list before you go. In his book Work to Live, Joe Robinson offers the following tip: "Put together a list of the stuff that has no business going with you: work worries, the boss, colleagues, career progress, laptops, pagers, cell phones."