Traveling is the best way to learn more about foreign cultures and traditions. Whether you go to Portugal or India, Morocco or Japan – only those who have actually been to a country can claim to have got to know it!

In order to understand a country and its people – including its history, tradition and way of thinking – one thing is essential: language. Because conversations with the inhabitants of a country reveal and instruct much more than old buildings, more detailed and accurate than all travel guides and blog articles in the world could ever do.

“To speak a language means to adopt a world, a culture.” This beautiful sentence comes from Frantz Fanon. The psychiatrist, writer and politician lived in the 20th century and is considered one of the most important pioneers of decolonization. Decolonization – also known as decolonization – is the transition from colonial rule to state independence. However, this decolonization does not only happen at the political level, at the state level. Decolonization must also be done mentally. The best way to do this is not to look at and judge other countries and cultures from the outside. Instead, a perspective is to be taken that is, so to speak, inside the culture itself.

However, this is only possible if you speak the local language. If we now look at Frantz Fanon’s theorem from this point of view, a whole new meaning opens up: it not only finds the translation of words from one language into another, no, one also adopts their meaning, one translates them into something of one’s own, something familiar. In this way, you familiarize yourself with a culture that would otherwise only remain something unknown, but at best a curiosity.

Travel to learn

“You have to travel to learn,” said Mark Twain, one of the greatest writers of the 19th century. This is certainly true. But the opposite is also true in a certain sense: you have to learn to really travel! Because this is the only way to immerse yourself deeply in the culture, in the identity of a country and its people. Therefore, it makes sense to learn the language of the destination beforehand. Not only that you can talk to the locals later on, have the opportunity to ask them questions. Even before the trip, you can immediately start learning what Mark Twain mentioned! For example: translating literature yourself, watching films in the original language or with translated subtitles, or translating posts in Internet forums and even writing them yourself. There is probably no better preparation for a trip than translating! So you start right away with what is so important during a trip: the transfer of foreign impressions into your own world of thoughts.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” Another sentence that is often quoted when it comes to travel. It comes from Augustine of Hippo, who lived around 1600 years ago. So a lot of time has passed – but the meaning of this statement is still as true today as it was in late antiquity! But now one can also say: Whoever does not translate the Book of the World will not understand even one page! In other words, traveling only makes sense if you also understand what you see, read and hear. After all, reading is only useful if you understand the meaning behind the words. Otherwise, the most beautiful volume of poetry remains nothing but black ink on white paper.

Travel and translation are inseparable. So the motto is: Translate and translate – from one language to another and from one shore, one culture.

Language serves understanding. In our everyday lives, we usually don’t have to worry about whether someone understands us or not. But when we travel to other countries, there is usually no longer smooth communication. However, by learning foreign languages, you can communicate with the locals, which can be enormously helpful. For example, you will learn about important information and insider tips. Learning foreign languages can be challenging, and we want to help you overcome it with this post.

Tip 1: A good reason

If we want to learn a language, we need a motivation to do so, a reason, something that keeps us going. Think about why you want to master the foreign language. Do you have a dream of traveling to a certain country and therefore want to learn the language? Your new partner or parts of your family speak a different mother tongue than you?

Tip 2: Combine language learning with everyday life

Learning doesn’t mean sitting down at your desk and cramming. For example, if you regularly sit on the train, turn on a podcast in the language. This will also give you a feel for the language and learn the pronunciation. Even if the weekly house cleaning is due, you will listen to an audio book in the language.

Another option is to download an app such as Babbel, which can be used to learn languages. Whether iOS or Android, you can practice foreign languages online with both operating systems. Apps are certainly more practical than index cards, because we always have our smartphone with us.

It is also important to use the language when you are alone. Tell yourself things. Do you like to write a diary? Try it in another language.
The more often the language surrounds us, the faster we master it.

Tip 3: No monotony when learning

It is most effective when we learn with more than one sense. We all know flashcards from school, but how about having pictures on them instead of words? Another help is mnemonics. Learning vocabulary can suck, make connections that help you remember words better. Search for similar words in your language.

Tip 4: The alphabet

The alphabet is fundamental to any language. We are taught all the letters directly in the first grade, because our language is based on them. Especially in languages that use a different alphabet than ours, it is necessary to master the letters. Regular practice and application is important, and here too you can work with pictures.

Tip 5: Learn with media

You can also learn through books and films. There are many reasons to read books and it is equally beneficial to read a book in the original. You can simply set the film to the desired language, where you can even add subtitles. Another idea is to listen to music in the respective language, if you feel like it, you can even sing along.

Tip 6: Look for a tandem partner

What better way to learn than from someone who has the language you want to learn as their first language? The practical thing about a tandem partner is that you benefit from each other. If you have any questions, you can simply contact him. Meetings are not always necessary, and talking to the person on the phone or video calls also helps to get to know the language and culture. The prerequisite is that you get along well and enjoy talking to each other.

Tip 7: Mistakes are human

Everyone starts small. Especially in the beginning, mistakes often creep in, but the more you practice, the better you get. You should start speaking the language as early as possible. Keep at it!

Learning a foreign language is not a piece of cake, but with effort and regularity anyone can do it. Don’t give up because it’s going to be difficult! At some point, you look back on your process and realize how much you have actually achieved.

A film by leavinghomefunktion and Daniel by Rüdiger

The leaving-home function is a term used in the automotive industry. The flashing of the headlights is intended to ensure that the driver can safely route from the front door to his own car in the dark. Or that’s us five artists on four rusty motorcycles – ready to finally get going! What counts today is safety: Don’t take any incalculable risks! For us, however, “leaving-home function” means the exact opposite: leaving the safe environment, going out, without a multi-secured emergency plan, letting the realization follow chance and developing trust in the unknown.

At some point, all roads stopped and helmets were exchanged for life jackets. After a long period of tinkering, the motorcycles were converted and were able to swim 1600 km on the Kolyma River in the far east of Russia to the Arctic Ocean. The rickety sidecar motorcycles, manufactured in the former Soviet Union, set the pace of our journey. The constant mishaps initially made the project seem hopeless. The challenge was to accept failure as an almost inevitable result of one’s own action. Nevertheless, day after day, I set off again to discover with amazement that it was precisely the breakdowns that served as the key to establishing contact and allowed countless insights into kitchens, living rooms, but above all into the workshops of the local population. Only thanks to the help of all the people we met on the way, we were able to reach our destination after 43 000 kilometers on 10.01.2017 at 15:04. New York City.

Director: Daniel von Rüdiger
110 minutes (German, English, Russian with German subtitles)
Theatrical release: September 3, 2020

Whether it’s a short trip, a city trip or a two-week holiday in Mallorca, the right piece of luggage is important. But before you even start the journey, there are many questions about luggage. It must be neither too big, nor too small and not too heavy. If you also travel by plane, you have to comply with certain standards. In the following sections you will find important information about luggage. Furthermore, we present different types of luggage so that you too can find the right travel companion.

Trolley, suitcase or backpacker backpack – Which is best?

Basically, this question depends on your travel style. If you travel through Asia for weeks, you definitely don’t want to carry a suitcase with you. If you change hostels every other day and travel in uncomfortable trains and buses, you should definitely grab a backpacker’s backpack. Globetrotters want to see the craziest places and always have their equipment with them. A backpacker backpack offers hip fins and chest straps for the perfect fit. At the same time, they remain flexible at all times. Depending on their size, they can even be carried as hand luggage on air travel. Otherwise, you just have to check them in.

A trolley is best suited for city trips and weekend trips. If you only want to travel through Europe’s capitals for a few days, you will be happy about the suitcase with integrated wheels. Whether hard or soft shell, your luggage is always close to you. Thanks to its compact dimensions, the faithful companion can almost always be taken into the aircraft cabin. With the help of the extendable pole, a trolley can be pulled comfortably. However, it can get a bit complicated in cities with a lot of cobblestones, such as Rome. Then you have to carry the travel trolley by means of a handle.

Travel suitcases are suitable for longer holiday trips. A week or two in the Dominican Republic? No problem with the right rolling suitcase. Like trolleys, suitcases usually have two or four wheels. Despite the contents, they can be transported so easily. Especially on long distances at airports or train stations, they show all their skills. Depending on the intended use, you can choose between a smaller or larger capacity. If you travel by plane, you can often give up 20 or 23 kilograms.

How do you pack a suitcase quickly and in a space-saving way?

It should be clear that you pack a suitcase differently than a backpacker backpack. In this section, we refer to packing a classic wheeled suitcase or trolley. If you pack with a little brains, you will save yourself a lot of trouble later.

Before you start packing, you should first answer the following questions:

• How long is my stay?
• What is the weather like at your destination?
• What clothing is suitable?

In order to make the best use of the volume of the suitcase, some clothes should be rolled tightly. T-shirts, trousers, skirts or dresses take up less space. However, be careful not to stuff the suitcase to the brim. Firstly, they could suffer damage and secondly, you often want to bring a souvenir from your holiday destination. Anyone who arrives at the airport overweight is often punished. Many airlines know no mercy and charge horrendous fees for every kilogram.

Furthermore, we recommend that you pack heavier items such as shoes and pants downwards in the suitcase. Light things such as shirts, dresses and blouses are packed at the end. If they are at the top, they will also wrinkle less. To make better use of the storage space, you can also hide socks and smaller items in shoes. Cosmetics and hygiene products must be packed securely before they are spilled. Cling film is best suited for this. If you wrap the cap tightly with foil, you won’t have any problems with leaking shampoos later.

If you want to travel with technical devices, you should carry them with you as hand luggage. There you can keep an eye on them at all times. In addition, task cases are often lost. Important documents, documents, passports and medication also belong in your hand luggage.

How do you secure your luggage?

Suitcases from renowned manufacturers usually have a security lock integrated. As a rule, these are three- or four-digit combination locks that can be individually programmed. Trolleys or smaller suitcases are usually made without a lock. Then it is worth buying an additional suitcase lock.

Every year, when it’s time for a holiday, the same questions are asked: Where do you want to go? How do I get there? Many then book a trip with fixed times for departure, arrival, pick-up and so on. In the end, the vacation will be a trip planned in advance down to the smallest detail, with some stress and obligations. Actually, many people just want to go to the sea, but all the planning takes the fun away from them. One way to keep the freedom to travel is to rent a car. With a car, you can make much more spontaneous decisions on the spot. Anything is possible. We present our road trip to the sea.

The sea

As soon as possible to the sea – that is our motto. From anywhere in Germany you can get to the North Sea relatively quickly. In Lower Saxony , there is enough water from Cuxhaven to Emden to go swimming for the first time. The sea is still too cold for us here. We have enough time to travel not only to the German North Sea coast. Accordingly, we drive west and cross the first border.

Netherlands

In the region around Groningen we overtake the first caravans with Dutch license plates on the motorway. We look for the roads that keep us as close to the sea as possible. The path leads us along the North Frisian Islands to Amsterdam. We’re going on a city trip. Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam impress with lots of water, culture and breathtaking port facilities.

English Channel

We follow the road south. After a short stopover in Bruges, we leave Belgium and reach France. At Dunkirk and Calais, the sky clears up. We think we can see the British mainland on the other side of the English Channel. We consider returning the car and taking the ferry. That is definitely possible. According to Goautos.ch , with most car rental companies, the pick-up location does not have to be the drop-off location. This gives travelers the freedom they want. Instead of crossing over to England, we decide to drive further south.

Brittany

In Brittany, we get lost in the streets through the steep cliffs. One lonely beach after the next appears in front of us. We left the North Sea and finally arrived at the Atlantic. In La Torche we rent surfboards. The waves here are good for beginners. After three days we have learned the basics and a first tan on our face and hands.

Bordeaux

In Bordeaux we spend a few days in civilization again. After the nights in the car, we take a room in the hotel. We explore the medieval streets. Soon it drifts back to the water. We cross the National Park de Gascone and reach Hossegor and Biaritz. The Surf World Cup takes place here once a year. We test our skills at La Torche and have to realize that we still have a lot to learn.

Bilbao

Finally we reach Spain. Contrary to expectations, it is only raining here. In constant rainfall we reach San Sebastian and a few hours later in Bilbao it is still raining. We decide to seek shelter and visit the Museum of Basque History. Similar to Catalonia, the Basque Country has wanted to be independent of the Spanish motherland for centuries. The museum takes us through the grueling history of the region. Afterwards we feel like something simple. We decide to watch a football match of the local club Athletic Bilbao. The special thing about this team is that it has always only included players in its ranks who have learned to play football in the Basque Country.

Lisbon

To escape the rain, we follow the coast to the west. Only when we reach Galicia does the sky clear up again. In Santiago de Compostela we find out about the world-famous hiking trail. Again we could leave our rental car and continue on foot. But we have gotten used to our car and continue to Portugal. In Lisbon we take another break. Here, temperatures do not fall below 17 degrees all year round. We move again and spend a few days exploring the city’s seven hills. Then we get back in the car and become thoughtful. In the past, a trip of this kind took months and perhaps years. At that time, carriages and horses were used to follow simple paths. We feel connected to the simple travelers and continue to the end of the continent.

Sagres

In Sagres we come across the southwestern tip of the European mainland. Go West – you can’t go any further west. One last time we borrow surfboards. The Algarve is Europe’s surfing stronghold. On our way west, we passed Nazaré. This is where the biggest waves in the world break in winter. We are not ready for that yet. Accordingly, we spend days in the Algarve looking for lonely beaches with light waves.

The way back part 1

At some point we think about home again. You can’t go further south without crossing over to Africa. It is time to turn back. We don’t want to go back the same way we came. So we drive east for the first time on our journey. Our way back takes us back to Spain near Cádiz . After a long time on the water, we now decide on a different landscape. From Seville to Barcelona we drive for ten hours through the Spanish continent. As varied as the coasts are, the interior is similar. Desert, ghost towns and a church on the road is all we encounter. Otherwise, there is only the road. Time to reflect on our journey. With the red sunset over the flat landscape, we feel more mobile and flexible in the rental car than we have for a long time.

Return Part 2

During the night we pass Barcelona. We are back at the water. The Mediterranean Sea shines in the evening light. In the Pyrenees near Andorra, it gets very cold in the car. We warm up and for breakfast we are in a suburb of Paris. Here we make a stop and have breakfast croissant, coffee and baguette. We are back the same evening. The rental car is taken over by the car rental company with a full tank of fuel and without any problems. The way back drained us. We have a long journey behind us. The only question that remains: Which road will we follow next time?