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Tilted Map - sustainable travel and sustainable living blog, with eco-friendly travel tips for Europe and reviews of plastic-free products.
Home / Culture Shock & Cultural Differences

Culture Shock & Cultural Differences

The author, perched on a castle wall in Ischia, with green mountains behind, working on her Italian habit of relaxation. ©KettiWilhelm2022
Italy | Travel Stories

8 Italian Habits You’ll Pick Up After Living in Italy

8 Little Things That Make Me Feel Like A Foreigner at Home
Italy | Travel Stories | USA

8 Little Things That Make Me Feel Like A Foreigner at Home

A plate of spaghetti con vongole (spaghetti with fresh clams) in Naples, Italy. ©KettiWilhelm2020
Food | Italy | Travel Tips & Hacks

How Italians Stay Thin Eating Pizza & Pasta All the Time

A dramatic downtown intersection in Indianapolis: America’s most American city. ©KettiWilhelm2019
Destination Guides | USA

Indianapolis: US Culture via the “Most American” City in the USA

The turquoise Mediterranean Sea of Italy's Cinque Terre – one of the most popular vacation spots for Italy's Ferragosto holiday.
Destination Guides | Italy | Travel Stories

What is Italy’s “Ferragosto” and WHY Am I Not On Vacation?

When you visit France, sit on the dock in the town of Annecy and watch a pink and blue sunset like this one, and contemplate why all the flowery, pink French toilet paper has a matching motif. ©KettiWilhelm2019
France | Travel Stories

What Pink French Toilet Paper Taught Me About Globalization

Instead of stressing over my expat travel blog, I should be relaxing like this older couple on a bench in Siracusa, Italy. ©KettiWilhelm2017
Italy | Travel Stories

Writer’s Block, Too Much Free Time & Living Abroad

"Freedom is dialog," a political sticker in Sofia that I found relevant after experiencing the 2016 US election while traveling there. ©KettiWilhelm2016
Bulgaria | Travel Stories | USA

“Apocalypto:” The 2016 US Election as Seen from Europe

Smog and traffic in Suzhou, China – two big reason I'm ready to stop being an expat in China. ©KettiWilhelm2015
China | Travel Stories

Letter From an Expat: China, This is Why I’m Leaving You

Offline shopping in China – a man delivering good on an overloaded bicycle. ©KettiWilhelm2015
China | Travel Stories

“Singles’ Day” in China: NO MINGLING, I’m Online Shopping.

The hammocks on the beach in Cambodia, where I waited to get on my boat for some adventure travel. ©KettiWilhelm2015
Cambodia | Travel Stories

Ship’s Log: A Cambodian Adventure I Didn’t Mean to Have

Part of college life in China: I asked my Chinese students, "Why do you want to learn English?" My favorite answer was basically, "to talk to a shuai ge." ("I want to learn how to chat an English man.") Some things about college student life are the same everywhere. ©KettiWilhelm2014
China | Travel Stories

What I Learned Teaching About My “Hot Brother” in China

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What else can’t you get on Amazon?? 🤔 If you What else can’t you get on Amazon?? 🤔 If you don’t *actually* need it, it’s not a deal. 👎 And if you have to buy it from a massive corporation that evades taxes and has a terrible records on workers’ rights, then it’s also not a deal. Sure Amazon might be the most “convenient,” but it’s also pretty easy to avoid most of the time! ❤️‍🔥 Instead? Vote with your wallet. Spend your money to support REAL LOCAL PEOPLE who appreciate your business – both for your shopping AND YOUR TRAVEL. 📍 These clips are from our small group e-bike trips in rural Italy!! 🇮🇹 🚴‍♀️ 🍝 We’re running another in September and still have spots left – COMMENT BIKE TRIP and we’ll DM you the details! —— New here? Hi, I’m Ketti! @tiltedmap helps you find more sustainable travel options anywhere AND more sustainable businesses to spend your money with at home. From refillable skincare to more sustainable vacations, we’ve got you covered. ✨ Follow if you’re passionate about sustainability! —— #responsibletraveller #chooseadventure #itravelbecause #sustainabletravel #experiencetheworld #experientialtravel #experiencesoverthings #shopsustainable
Free admission FOR ALL — no matter who you are, Free admission FOR ALL — no matter who you are, no matter where you’re from — to all of Canada’s national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas through September 2. (And camping is 25% off, too. 🎉) What do you think, should other countries do this, too? 📍 This is me walking the ocean floor in Fundy National Park, home of the highest tides in the world! 🌊 (And some epic insects — don’t forget your bug spray!) What’s your favorite national park? ✨ Follow @tiltedmap for more sustainable travel tips! #nationalpark #nationalparks  #travel #outdoors #publiclandsinpublichands #MyPublicLandsStory #sustainabletravel #adventuretravel #protectourparks
If you’re wondering what we’ve been up to late If you’re wondering what we’ve been up to lately… #wiggle #coupletravel #hiking #trailsongs #husbandhumor #dance #hikingbangers #hikingislife
Would you ride here? 🇮🇹 Send this to your tr Would you ride here? 🇮🇹 Send this to your travel buddy TODAY because ‼️the early bird DISCOUNT for our e-bike trips ENDS SUNDAY! 👉 Comment BIKE TRIP for the info on how to join us here this fall! (And make sure you’re following @tiltedmap so you see the DM.) THE DETAILS: We have two e-bike trips in Italy coming up in September! We’ll be traveling in parts of Italy that most visitors NEVER see – rural areas of the Umbria and Marche regions. (Choose an E-bike OR regular gravel bike – it’s up to you!) 🍝 These trips are perfect for anyone who wants an ACTIVE adventure that’s also a 5-star FOODIE experience. 💰 Discount: You’ll save $400 on either of our trips when you book by JUNE 15th! —— 🙋🏼‍♀️ New here? Hi, I’m Ketti! I lived in Italy for 3 years with my Italian husband & video maker, Emanuele. @tiltedmap helps you find realistic sustainable travel options anywhere. ✨ Follow if you’re passionate about sustainability, or just want to join us on an e-bike trip in Italy! —— #smallgrouptours #italianlandscape #slowtravel #visititaly  #experientialtravel #europeantravel #sustainabletravel #italy
Would you ride here? 🇮🇹 Send this to your tr Would you ride here? 🇮🇹 Send this to your travel buddy TODAY because ‼️the early bird DISCOUNT for our e-bike trips ENDS SUNDAY! 👉 Comment BIKE TRIP for the info on how to join us here this fall! (And make sure you’re following @tiltedmap so you see the DM.) THE DETAILS: We have two e-bike trips in Italy coming up in September! We’ll be traveling in parts of Italy that most visitors NEVER see – rural areas of the Umbria and Marche regions. (Choose an E-bike OR regular gravel bike – it’s up to you!) 🍝 These trips are perfect for anyone who wants an ACTIVE adventure that’s also a 5-star FOODIE experience. 💰 Discount: You’ll save $400 on either of our trips when you book by JUNE 15th! —— 🙋🏼‍♀️ New here? Hi, I’m Ketti! I lived in Italy for 3 years with my Italian husband & video maker, Emanuele. @tiltedmap helps you find realistic sustainable travel options anywhere. ✨ Follow if you’re passionate about sustainability, or just want to join us on an e-bike trip in Italy! —— #smallgrouptours #italianlandscape #slowtravel #visititaly  #experientialtravel #europeantravel #sustainabletravel #italy
Would you ride here? Send this to your travel budd Would you ride here? Send this to your travel buddy TODAY because ‼️the early bird discount for our e-bike trips ENDS SUNDAY! 👉 Comment BIKE TRIP for the info on how to join us here this fall! (And make sure you’re following @tiltedmap so you see the DM.) THE DETAILS: We have two e-bike trips in Italy 🇮🇹 coming up in September! We’ll be traveling in parts of Italy that most visitors NEVER see – rural areas of the Umbria and Marche regions. (Choose an E-bike OR regular gravel bike – it’s up to you!) 🍝 These trips are perfect for anyone who wants an ACTIVE adventure that’s also a 5-star FOODIE experience. 💰 Discount: You’ll save $400 on either of our trips when you book by JUNE 15th! —— 🙋🏼‍♀️ New here? Hi, I’m Ketti! I lived in Italy for 3 years with my Italian husband & video maker, Emanuele. @tiltedmap helps you find realistic sustainable travel options anywhere. ✨ Follow if you’re passionate about sustainability, or just want to join us on an e-bike trip in Italy! —— #smallgrouptours #italianlandscape #slowtravel #visititaly  #experientialtravel #europeantravel #sustainabletravel #italy
Want to know how farm land gets converted to organ Want to know how farm land gets converted to organic? ↓ This is one great example.  [Comment CHINA for 3 bonuses – our travel guide, product review + video!] —— New here? Hi, I’m Ketti! @tiltedmap helps you find more sustainable travel options anywhere. Follow if you’re passionate about sustainability! —— 📍Organic rice fields owned by the Red Yao tribe, in Longsheng, Guangxi, China.  🌾 We traveled here with @vioribeauty [sponsored] , the small company that helped the Red Yao tribe convert this land to organic farming. Viori paid for the entire process and guaranteed the farmers would have a buyer for their newly organic rice.   ↳ The buyer = you and me! When we order their shampoo & conditioner bars, we’re supporting organic farming and this indigenous community!  💸 And you’ll save 10% on your order with the code TILTEDMAP (psst… it also works for $300 off this trip!) 👉 Comment CHINA for all the links! ➡ Our China guide from this trip + China travel vlog + Viori shampoo bar review  ➡ Make sure you’re following @tiltedmap first, so the DM gets to you! 😊 #culturaltravel #asiatravels #guangxi #chinadestinations #riceterraces #chinatravel #sustainabletourism #organicfarming
Traveling in rural China is full of opportunities Traveling in rural China is full of opportunities for big rewards… especially if you’re willing to get a little bit out of the Western comfort zone! For example: 🤯 This lovely room with that stunning view goes for about ¥150 Chinese yuan ($21 USD) in the off season (when we were there) and maybe ¥300 yuan in the high season. Would YOU stay in this hotel? 😯 —— New here? Hi, I’m Ketti! @tiltedmap helps you find more sustainable travel options anywhere. Follow if you’re passionate about sustainability! —— TRAVEL & LOCATION DETAILS: 📍 “Longji Bieyuan” — a local guest house owned by a family of the Red Yao tribe – Longsheng, Guangxi, China.  🇨🇳 We traveled here with a small company called Viori that’s helping the Red Yao tribe convert farm land to organic farming, among other projects chosen by the tribe. 🫧 Viori uses the organic rice to make shampoo bars, and hosts trips for people to meet the tribe on their homeland in Southern China. 👉 Comment CHINA for the l!nks: 🔗 Our guide with details on this trip + 🔗 China travel vlog + 🔗 Viori shampoo bar review ➡ Make sure you’re FOLLOWING @tiltedmap first, so the DM gets to you! PS: Save 10% off their shampoo bars and $300 OFF THE TRIP with the code TILTEDMAP #culturaltravel #asiatravels #guangxi #chinadestinations #riceterraces #explorechina #travelchina #sustainabletourism
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