[nabs-l] A Couple More Travel Questions...

[Arielle Silverman]

Hi Kerri,

I've frequently experienced both the situations you describe. The
first often happens to me if I get distracted while trying to map a
route. This is especially likely at the end of the route like when I'm
about to sit down at the table at a restaurant or in my seat in a
classroom. Unfortunately, if you forget the last step in the route
that step is usually the first step for the return trip, so this can
make mapping out the return route particularly difficult. I've tried
to make a more conscious effort

On 12/9/13, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Everyone:
>
> First, I want to thank everyone for responding to my last post a
> couple of weeks ago. You have no idea how much your responses helped
> me. It truly made me feel better and encouraged me to know I am not
> alone and others struggle as well. Your responses also made me think
> about a lot of things, and made me realize how I could push myself
> more.
> I have a couple more questions. One thing I worked hahrd on in
> training but still majorly struggle with is mental mapping. For me,
> mental mapping is thinking about and really paying attention to where
> I am going and the turns I make.
> What often happens though is that if I am in a restaurant or somewhere
> I will do well mental mapping part of where I need to go but will
> forget one little detail. Then, because of that one little detail I
> forget I will often get lost.
> For example, if I am in a restaurant and I follow the hostess to my
> seat I will often forget a turn or something and will get lost when
> trying to find the door once it is time to leave.
> Another example is if I am somewhere and I try to find the bathroom
> often I will find the bathroom and then mess up getting back and find
> myself lost unable to find my seat.
> Or, I will go somewhere with someone and when we arive they will give
> me good directions and I'll again remember most of it but then when it
> is time to leave I will forget one little turn or thing and I'll go
> the wrong way.
> This makes me feel very embarrassed and awkward. I wish I had better
> mental mapping skills and these types of things didn't happen. I
> realize travel is not perfect, but I think in my mind I still feel
> awkward and embarrassed when I get lost or don't know where to go.
> Do others struggle with this mental mapping thing? Is it common to
> forget one little thing when you aren't familiar with somewhere and
> get lost?
> What do you do in these situations and how do you keep from feeling
> negative about them?
> When I was in training if this happened the next day I would have
> another travel class and would do something else and so would easily
> move on and make up for whatever mistake I made the day before.
> However, now that I don't get nearly as much practice and
> oppportunities, when I don't do well mental mapping I feel negative.
> Do you just have to tell yourself you will try harder next time and
> laugh it off?
> Another thing I struggle with is when I go to say a basketball game or
> the mall or somewhere by myself sometimes I want/need someone to show
> me where something is and or walk me to my seat and other times if
> something is nearby I just want to get directions and try to
> explore/find it on my own. I notice when I try to ask people to give
> me directions though they often insist I walk with them or they take
> me to where I am trying to go. This is sometimes fine, but I think it
> would help my confidence a lot if sometimes I could just get
> directions and try to go on my own.
> When I was in training if i asked directions and the person wanted to
> take me I would say"I am sorry but I am in training. I'm supposed to
> just get directions."
> However, now that I am not in training anymore when I try to ask for
> directions and the person insists on taking me or walking with me I
> don't know what to say. I'm not in training anymore so...
> How do you handle this? Should I say something like "Actually, thank
> you but I am trying to work on some skills I learned. Please just give
> me directions."
> What do you say to people so you can just get directions?
> Thanks,
> Kerri
>
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