A human connection - whether it’s brief and in passing, or deeper and more lasting, is a wonderful side product of travelling in another country. Those connections help us learn so much more than a guidebook or top ten list can ever tell us, and are often the most memorable parts of a trip. Sometimes a language barrier prevents this connection and so in Episode 277 we talk about the ways knowing a local language, whether just a few words or fluently, can make a huge difference to the quality of your experience.
As well as fabulous anecdotes shared by members Anuj, Justin and Carolanna, members of the Thoughtful Travellers community, I also speak with three guests. Eliza Raymond summarises perfectly how a common language is so connecting, and then James Patterson gives a great example of learning some words of local language during his stays on Orkney. Finally, Kayra Martinez, who’s spent a lot of time studying many languages, discusses the value of language learning not just amongst travellers but amongst refugees as well, in the context of a northern Greece refugee camp where she’s spent a lot of time working. Throughout the episode I also make mention of some of the academic research on the topic, carried out by Portuguese researchers.
Links:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
197 Getting Engaged While Travelling
Book Club 05: A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby
196 When Your Passport Goes Missing
195 Encounters with Locals in Central Asia
Book Club 04: Around the World in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajeshi
194 Trans-Siberian Train Journeys
193 Travel Firsts and Transformations
192 Travel in Dangerous Places
191 Travellers with a Disability
190 Covid-19 Thoughts from Western Australia
Book Club 03: On the Plain of Snakes by Paul Theroux
189 Unusual Ways to Meet the Locals
188 Getting Sick on Your Travels
187 Historical Connections and Travel
186 Travel Mishaps
185 Slow Travel Benefits
Book Club 02: The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell
184 Antarctic Travels
183 Justifying Travel in the Climate Change Era
182 Travel and Personal Development
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