Mango Languages

Travel Tuesday: Covering All of Your Bases

When planning a trip, it’s easy to get caught up in all of the excitement. Thoughts of what sights to see, what clothes to bring, where to stay, and (in my case) where to eat, flood your mind, and suddenly the “minute” details such as passports, visas, and currency fall by the wayside. Before you find yourself without money or stuck in a foreign country with no way home (I would say without speaking the language, but I know you would be wise enough to prepare yourself with Mango Languages before you go), be sure to follow these tips for traveling abroad from the U.S. Department of State:

Travel Tuesday: A European Love Affair

Most college-aged girls getting ready to study abroad indulge themselves in fantasies of a whirlwind romance with a local, leading to a “happily ever after” in a foreign land. Well, my time abroad did, indeed, yield a whirlwind romance, however it was not with a local and did not require me to stay thousands of miles from my home (much to my mother’s delight). No, this was a romance of a different kind. My European love is actually an American: Rick Steves. Many of you may know of this travel expert from his famous European guide books, or maybe from his PBS television series Rick Steves’ Europe. Before I started traveling, I thought travel books were a waste of money and that I could easily discover a city by simply chatting with the locals. While some of this may be true, it is not always that easy to simply “chat with the locals,” due to many different factors. What I like about Rick Steves’ books is the fact that he takes travelers off the beaten path. He knows the importance of visiting historical sites, yet is able to retain an authenticity to your travels.

Though I studied in France, we used Rick Steves’ travel books in Italy, Spain, and France, at the very least. My favorite part of his books is, by far, the walking tours. Traveling throughout Europe is expensive, and he is cognizant of this. Steves gives step by step directions on totally free walking tours throughout most of the cities in his books, allowing you to see all that there is to see without breaking the bank. One of the most memorable is the “Night Walk” in Rome. Though probably intended as a romantic night stroll, I participated in this guided tour with a group of about 6 travel companions. And let me tell you, the magic was not lost. The tour takes you through Rome at night, glowing under the streetlights. Notable stops include the Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, Trevi Fountain, and a dramatic finish on the Spanish Steps. What I find most fascinating about Steves’ tours is the way in which he gives directions. Rather than instructing with street names, he gives direction by landmarks. For instance, instead of telling you to follow a specific road for 40 meters, he will tell you to follow the road you are on until you see the man on the corner selling roses. Then, turn right. And sure enough, after walking a few paces, you will see the man on the corner selling roses and know that you have reached your destination. It is clear that he is well traveled in these areas and it instills a sense of trust in all those who use his books.

On our last day as students in Aix-en-Provence, France, my friends and I decided to take a look at the Rick Steves book detailing the south of France. Sure enough, we found a walking tour of our beloved city and decided to spoil ourselves with the sights and sounds one last time before returning home to the good ole U S of A. Imagine our shock and awe when we discovered that Rick Steves (affectionately dubbed Rick James by this point, due to his all-around awesome-ness) recounted our daily walk to class. If that didn’t put the past 6 months into perspective, nothing could.

While I do appreciate the value of discovering things on your own (mostly by accident) and utilizing the expertise of locals to create a well-balanced vacation, a little help from time to time can’t hurt. To anyone looking for a nudge in the right direction, I highly recommend one of Rick Steves’ travel guides. So here’s to you, Rick! Thanks for the tips! And if you ever need an apprentice that loves language, culture, and travel, I’m your girl.

What are your favorite travel books? Have you ever had a great guided experience abroad? Tell us about it!

Learn Italian

Italy is officially called the Republic of Italy, and is located in southern Europe. The current population is estimated at 58.2 million. Italy has much to offer its citizens and its many visitors. Surrounded by the four seas of the Mediterranean, Italy is famous for its coastline activities. Italy also has a mountain range with elevations over 13,500 feet for the skiing and hiking enthusiast. Interestingly, Italy has no official religion, though the majority of Italy’s citizens are Roman Catholic.

The Italian language is one of the romance languages (Spanish, French and Portuguese) and is derived from Latin. Many consider Italian to be one of the oldest, most romantic languages in the world. More than 60 million people around the world speak Italian. which is the third most spoken language in the United States due to a large immigration after World War II.

The Italian language is one of ancient and historic roots and was standardized for the most part in 1860, when Italy became unified as a Kingdom. The language is comprised of several dialects spoken throughout the country. Today, Italian is the official language of several nations, including Italy, Slovenia, and Vatican City. It is actually spoken by about 60 million people in Italy and Southern Switzerland, and by the little Italian community around the world (Argentina and the US being the largest).

Italy’s culture is very rich and the Italian language is only one small part. Italy is a top vacation spot and offers many cultural activities including wonderful food, art, wine, opera, fashion and people. The Italian language has a reputation for wonderful poetry. Culturally speaking, Italians much prefer keen observation to voluntary self disclosure and would never say the phrase “time is money.”

Many people today, want to learn Italian for traveling or to better understand their ethnic heritage. Are you interested in learning Italian? Why?

Please share your comments on Italian language learning, the culture and travel tips!