What Scientists Know About Learning Languages that You Probably Don’t
I’ve compiled dozens of strategies from scientific studies on language learning from multiple resources over the years, and I may as well make them public for you here, dear language voyagers. This includes hacks for learning more quickly and efficiently, as well as for retaining what you learn over the long term. As we’ll see, …
Minimalist Packing List: How to Travel the Globe for Decades with Only a Carry-On
After years of wandering from country to country with just a carry-on, I’ve learned to minimize. That’s not surprising; travelling light becomes an art for any experienced traveller. Each time I go, the load gets a little lighter as I realize what I don’t actually need. So what I’m left with for this list is …
The Best & Cheapest Ways to Travel Between Paris and Barcelona: Train, Bus, and — If You Must — Plane
I’ve long lived in the lovely, romantic French capital Paris and the lively, sexy Catalan capital Barcelona — these are absolutely my favorite two cities in the world. But how to travel between them? There are lots of websites that promise to sell you tickets between the two cities. A lot of them are terrible, …
Important Phrases for Boinking Your Lover(s) in Mexican Spanish
Mexican Spanish is unique, and this is especially true when you’re making love — you’re likely to hear phrases that differ those heard in your love piles in other Spanish-speaking countries. As in many cultures, sex is considered a bit “naughty” in Mexico, but with consternation and intrigue comes linguistic creativity. There’s a rich range …
The Best Multi-Duty Head/Body Hair Trimmer I’ve Found for Travel
I’ve tried out various hair clippers over the years, and they all put up with abuse on the road. I’m happy to finally have found one that I can write about and recommend here for you minimalists, who want the few things you take to work well, and serve multiple purposes. Contents What We Look …
The Danger of Public USB Charge Points — and How to Charge Your Devices in Public Safely
I am not a super spy, with secrets to keep. But I also don’t really want to get my devices all gunked up with the viruses that governments are using to go after each other. I recently dove into the research on the perils of using public USB charge points in airports, trains, buses, libraries, …
The Best Gift Ideas for Language Learning: Spanish, French, Chinese, and Anything Else
Got a special someone in your life who wants to take on a new language? Here’s a look at how to give the gift of learning a foreign language — what works best, what is the most fun, and what will be the most motivating as the receiver sets out on their journey. Why take …
Brazilian vs. European Portuguese: Key Differences to Learn in Grammar and Vocabulary
I’ve been speaking Brazilian Portuguese regularly for more than a decade, but have recently been spending more time in Lisbon and so I’ve had to make some adaptations for the European version of the language. So this will be my thorough guide to the differences to note between the two varieties; it’s especially intended for …
Backpacking & Hostels Make for Awful, Boring Travel — And Aren’t Always Cheapest Either
I’ve been constantly roaming Europe for a decade, and seen plenty of backpackers sweating under their loads as they struggle to find their hostels in some hidden outskirt. They’ll set the loads down for a day or two, rush to get photos of whatever sights as-seen-on-instagram, then heft their packs back on their backs and …
On the Snobbish, Obtuse Evil of Travelling with Portable Coffee Gear
Let’s talk about what you’re missing when you travel with your , you self-righteous, jittery vagabond. “Enjoying” a cup of local coffee in Belgrade, because I’m a trooper and didn’t bring my own gear. Or the other famous road espresso gear: your , , , and so on. The solutions for pulling a reasonably good …