Culture Vultures

More than Art

If you don’t live in DC and London, the museums in your city require an entrance fee. One trick we learned from a fellow student was to take the “pay what you can” policy seriously. “Recommended” admission fees are just that, recommended but not required. If the entrance fee is $5 (that can be your lunch!), you can get away with paying for less. The first time Titchie, did this she thought the person in charge was going to scold her for being such a cheapskate but the cashier just accepted the quarter and gave the requisite MET pin. Or if you prefer modern art, the MoMA (Both the MET and the MoMA are in New York) offers free entrance one evening a week. Most museums practice having a free admission day, or at the very least require you to pay what you can.

If your city is known for its art community, your school will probably have a museum you can check out or if not, walk around the art galleries, it’s free! Also, we don’t advice eating at the museum cafeteria. The food is lackluster and cost more than the usual price. Some museums also hold cultural events. The National Gallery of Art in DC holds free concerts every Sunday. If you want a good seat, you just have to line up an hour earlier.

If the thought of going to the museum makes your eyes glaze over, please be reminded there are different kinds of museums out there: Science and Technology, Natural History, Crafts, Journalism, Aquariums, Botanical Gardens and Zoos are museums of a different type. Going to museums have become an increasingly interactive activity with exhibits requiring you to touch or talk into an exhibit. Vienna’s “House of Music” is a highly interactive museum showing the various elements of sound, as well as rooms paying tribute to various musical masters), while the Freedom Forum’s Newseum contains exhibitions that require the individual to help decide a newspaper’s line-up for the day, edit or be a newscaster or weatherperson on TV.

Try to visit a museum at least once. Most times, the building is as interesting as the priceless objects they hold. The dreary museums of yesteryear have vastly improved with restorations, interactive exhibits, and more attention to the whole sensory experience.

If you are tired of going to museums, there are other venues of art such as local galleries and embassies/consulates, and art societies.

Music and Theater

Student discounts are usually available to many cultural performances except if it’s a new Broadway show, a concert of a contemporary artist (Madonna, Paul McCartney, etc.), or a Gala performance. You can line up for tickets at discounted prices on dates mentioned by the ticketmaster (be prepared to wake up early and wait for at least an hour). If you are keen on watching an opera/ballet/orchestra performance, see if you can avail of standing room only tickets. You get an orchestra view for a ridiculously low price, and if you’re lucky, some nice people give you their seats after intermission (as was the case with Titchie and her husband).

Aside from student price tickets, you can also go to a show at the last minute and there might be cheap tickets available. Going online is the easiest way to get tickets, but if you are watching your money there’s always that additional service charge. Try matinees which are cheaper and avoid Friday/Saturday showings because these are usually the most expensive.

Sports

The cheapest way to get some exercise is to jog or run or walk or avail of your university’s gym. If you prefer team sports, you can always go to the park and play basketball, badminton, volleyball, tennis, etc. for free. Ask your gym administrators about leagues/ teams you can join. Approach people playing in the park. Some park facilities may need to be reserved so check with the park’s management to make sure.

Group sports could be a way to minimize expenses. If you want to go on a ski trip, the whole group can divide transportation costs, but there are other expenses to consider: equipment rental (skis), trainer, and locker fees. If you don’t have a ski outfit in your closet, you might have to invest in one or borrow from friends who do own one.

If actually find yourself stuck in a place with absolutely nothing to do, there’s a big probability that it has a bowling alley. It might seem dorky but if you and your friends are playing, it can’t be that bad. Oh, and make sure you wear socks when you go since you’ll be renting shoes.

Food Tripping

Everybody likes to eat and it’s an activity you cannot do without. In our city guides, there are more detailed places where you can go if you happen to live in a certain area. Eating alone isn’t much fun unless you’re in a hurry, reading a book or in a plain old grumpy mood. Meeting for brunch on weekends is one of the popular pastimes because it’s practically two meals in one, people like to sleep late after several all-nighters in a row, and it’s cheaper than dinner. Dimsum is favorite brunch fare since it’s filling and affordable.

If you are lucky enough to live in a city where there are lots of Filipinos, a Filipino restaurant should be just around the corner. It may seem a little strange at first to go to a restaurant to eat food that you normally take for granted back home, but once you’ve eaten your first mouthful, you’ll realize just what you’ve been missing. If you live in the West Coast, there are Filipino communities there with a Max’s, Goldilocks, and even a Jollibee!

In the United States, tipping is a serious business. Servers expect you to pay them 15 to 20% of the bill before taxes. However, if you are not happy with the service you receive (and believe us, you will encounter bad service), feel free to not leave a tip. Friends have advised not to complain before your food is served because servers have been known to do “horrible” things to your food when you do. If you are going to be a big group, the restaurant automatically includes a service charge in the bill.

The case is entirely different in Europe and in Japan where the bill already includes a service charge. If you are especially pleased with the service, you can still leave a tip. It’s also customary to round off the bill. But be warned, some cities don’t separate smoking and non-smoking sections so be prepared to smell like an ashtray after a meal. One great thing about European cafes, they allow you to stay as long as you like even if all you consumed is a cup of coffee (a practice copied by Starbucks and company).

Shopping

There is sayings that if you want to see a Filipino, go to a mall or an outlet. In the US, shopping is a favorite activity. Sales occur weekly and one learns to wait before buying anything because everything goes on sale anyway.

Playing Tourist at Home

Most natives take their home for granted. In our case, when was the last time you actually walked around Rizal Park? Don’t let the same thing happen to you in your “new” country. We find it amazing how visitors manage to squeeze in all the interesting sights in three days while after being there for several months you still haven’t seen a single thing. We’ve put together some recommendations. (See Terette Andaya's Top Ten List)