Which country is on the edge of your comfort zone to visit in the motorhome?

[Hirsch]

Anywhere north of the Humber. My Lincolnshire Yellowbelly map states "Beware as here be dragons".

Stay safe

 

[jongood]

I find it amazing that

And we wonder why the rest of the world hate us so much!!

I agree with the first part of your post but find the idea that the rest of the world hate britain quite parrochial

Ive been to more countries than most. I find a lot of respect for our country. Younger men tend to want to talk about football before professing their undying support for one of our premier league teams, or they want to talk about the royal family, London etc etc, although Im not a particular fan of any I go along with it.

When it comes to our part in their countries history its also predominantly positive. The reason so many people speak english and want to speak it is that in quite a lot of the world its seen as the world language and especially the language of business.

And besides all that, many parts of the world are sadly too busy hating each other to worry about 2% of the worlds population clinging to a rock in the North Atlantic.

 

[VXman]

and then would only do so if the entire world spoke to them in English.

It is difficult with English speaking people. English is so widely spoken that we become lazy without feeling the need to learn a language. Also, if you are a big traveller where do you start? Spanish is useful as it is quite international but French/German are pretty limited to those countries.

Then you'll need Chinese, Japanese, Norwegian, Thai, Swedish, Icelandic, Jamaican etc -

I am just happy that I'm English speaking and appreciate the freedom it gives me. I also don't expect everyone to speak English and sign language/google translate is always available.

 

[Birdy67]

It is difficult with English speaking people. English is so widely spoken that we become lazy without feeling the need to learn a language. Also, if you are a big traveller where do you start? Spanish is useful as it is quite international but French/German are pretty limited to those countries.

Then you'll need Chinese, Japanese, Norwegian, Thai, Swedish, Icelandic, Jamaican etc -

I am just happy that I'm English speaking and appreciate the freedom it gives me. I also don't expect everyone to speak English and sign language/google translate is always available.

Since our first France trip in our motorhome I decided that my school level French from 40 years ago wasn't good enough and started using Duolingo. It's a completely free fun app and all you have to do is around 3 minutes per day to keep your streak going. I'm far from able to hold a complex conversation with a local but will at least give it a try as the last time we were there the appreciation of my effort was noticeable. I'm definitely able to read French easier than speak it but both have improved immeasurably over the last 6 months. I'd recommend Duolingo to anyone thinking about trying to pick up some basic language of the country you're visiting, and there is literally every country you can drive to on there.

 

[L' Hobo]

It is difficult with English speaking people. English is so widely spoken that we become lazy without feeling the need to learn a language. Also, if you are a big traveller where do you start? Spanish is useful as it is quite international but French/German are pretty limited to those countries.

Then you'll need Chinese, Japanese, Norwegian, Thai, Swedish, Icelandic, Jamaican etc -

I am just happy that I'm English speaking and appreciate the freedom it gives me. I also don't expect everyone to speak English and sign language/google translate is always available.

IMO, English is such an International language because it is, in many ways, just that.
Throughout history, it has incorporated word from the Vikings, Jutes, Romans Indians, French etc.

In the early days, it was because Britain was colonised by people from other countries, later it was because the Brits colonised other countries.

I have travelled and lived in other countries around the world and always try to speak a little of their language and to do this, I always try to find a connection between their language and English and it's often there.

I sometimes have a 'Grande problem' in France or I'm thirsty and need Aqua in Rome plus Toilet or Lavatory anywhere and, although these are spelt and sound slightly different, we all, roughly, know what we are talking about.

In my mind though, it's more to do with one's attitude in this and another country.

IF you try ANYTHING with a shrug and a smile TOGETHER, instead of mistrust and 'attitude' it often works.

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[VXman]

We had a waiter recently in Chile and it appeared couldn't speak/understand a word of English. He spoke into his phone (Google translate) but then, instead of letting us read it...... he read it out - in almost perfect English!

 

[L' Hobo]

We had a waiter recently in Chile and it appeared couldn't speak/understand a word of English. He spoke into his phone (Google translate) but then, instead of letting us read it...... he read it out - in almost perfect English!

We have all been reluctant to to say something in another language that we are unsure of.
Better to get a prompt from a reliable source than to say, perfectly, a wrong phrase, it can be embarrassing. Don't ask me how I know.
It's often confusing when one is speaking in a number of languages at the same venue.

PS. I presume you didn't speak the waiters language?

 

[VXman]

We have all been reluctant to to say something in another language that we are unsure of.
Better to get a prompt from a reliable source than to say, perfectly, a wrong phrase, it can be embarrassing. Don't ask me how I know.
It's often confusing when one is speaking in a number of languages at the same venue.

PS. I presume you didn't speak the waiters language?

I can do Hola, la cuenta por favor, Gracias. That's about it. (Assuming he spoke Spanish )

 

[DandJ]

And besides all that, many parts of the world are sadly too busy hating each other to worry about 2% of the worlds population clinging to a rock in the North Atlantic.

We don't even make 1% of the planets populace......(we really need to stop calling ourselves Great Britain....)

Since our first France trip in our motorhome I decided that my school level French from 40 years ago wasn't good enough and started using Duolingo. It's a completely free fun app and all you have to do is around 3 minutes per day to keep your streak going. I'm far from able to hold a complex conversation with a local but will at least give it a try as the last time we were there the appreciation of my effort was noticeable. I'm definitely able to read French easier than speak it but both have improved immeasurably over the last 6 months. I'd recommend Duolingo to anyone thinking about trying to pick up some basic language of the country you're visiting, and there is literally every country you can drive to on there.

I agree to a point.....the problem arises if you're doing a European tour (or even further afield).....I'm an Englishman living in France and despite lessons, duolingo, time and effort AND living here, I find the language tough. We have just got back from a short spell in Spain and Portugal...I was answering stuff in Spain with my Franglais, then in Portugal with a bit of Spanglais and Franglais...and now back 'home',..... my head if frazzled. As long as I try a few words and apologise and be humble in approach, I find I don't have any issues......
(Imagine my fear at a trip that involves France, UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark........thankfully, English is the default)

 

[Puddleduck]

I always try to master please and thank you as a minimum. The most difficult language I have come across is Greenlandic......

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[bobnick]

Other than the capital of Iceland i could not pronouce any of the places we stayed in or drove to.
Now speak Icelandic, erm.

 

[Birdy67]

We don't even make 1% of the planets populace......(we really need to stop calling ourselves Great Britain....)

I agree to a point.....the problem arises if you're doing a European tour (or even further afield).....I'm an Englishman living in France and despite lessons, duolingo, time and effort AND living here, I find the language tough. We have just got back from a short spell in Spain and Portugal...I was answering stuff in Spain with my Franglais, then in Portugal with a bit of Spanglais and Franglais...and now back 'home',..... my head if frazzled. As long as I try a few words and apologise and be humble in approach, I find I don't have any issues......
(Imagine my fear at a trip that involves France, UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark........thankfully, English is the default)

I think making the effort is mostly appreciated. And it feels brilliant to enter a shop, ask for something, pay for it successfully and leave without one word of English being spoken throughout the transaction. I'm never going to be able to debate world politics with a Frenchman in the town square, but I won't shy away from at least attempting to speak the language. My proudest moment on my last trip was stopping on a canal tow path on the Sommes to ask some fisherman that were spaced out along the bank what they were fishing for. They spoke no English but I discovered that they were having a 2 day carp fishing match and the result would be announced at 2pm on the Sunday afternoon. My Wife found it hysterical that I needed to know this but it was more about being able to interact with them, and they seemed mildly amused that I understood or appreciated what they were saying.

 

[Sparkie44]

I speak reasonable German, but I often find if I ask for something in a shop or restaurant, they will answer in English.

 

[jongood]

I speak reasonable German, but I often find if I ask for something in a shop or restaurant, they will answer in English.

I get a lot of this with french kids, Ive had to go through the crazy situation where its almost like a contest where I'm speaking my doubtless heavily accented French but they're coming back with really bad English, I tend to win more these days but what a palaver

We ve mixed with a lot of non-english speaking French in Morocco this time and it constantly amuses me that we can have a reasonable conversation totally in French and then at the end they will feel the need to come up with some random English word.

 

[L' Hobo]

I speak reasonable German, but I often find if I ask for something in a shop or restaurant, they will answer in English.

I had the same problem in Sweden, although I lived there for a while and a certificate that states I can speak Swedish (it's needed before one is allowed to work there) my Swedish is very poor except for the basics.

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[Ejaydee]

I think making the effort is mostly appreciated. And it feels brilliant to enter a shop, ask for something, pay for it successfully and leave without one word of English being spoken throughout the transaction.

I completely agree with you.

At 75 years age (76 next month), I am actively learning Spanish for two reasons. The first is that I want to go to Galicia next year in August for the total eclipse that will occur in that area and I have friends (English and Spanish) that live there, but the other reason is that apparently learning a language (or a musical instrument) when getting older is said to be a great way to keep the little grey cells active.

I perhaps have a bit of a "starter for 10" in learning (or relearning) Spanish, because about 35 years ago I worked in Galicia for three years and managed to get a working vocabulary whereby I was able to be understood, but in the intervening years I have never been back, nor have I used the language much, so I am having to go back to basics!

Another thing with getting older is that one does not 'absorb' as easily as we did when we were children, however, I am quite pleased with my progress over the last month and a half. I have fifteen months to learn the language again before I head over there, so hopefully I should be at least as competent as I was three and half decades ago.

 

[carolyn]

I find it amazing that on a forum dedicated to an element of travel, including foreign travel for many, that some people refuse to go anywhere outside of their comfort zone, and then would only do so if the entire world spoke to them in English.

And we wonder why the rest of the world hate us so much!!

I go to places in a plane I wouldn’t go to in our van so there is a bit of a difference. We’ve been to Egypt twice but wouldn’t feel safe going to the Middle East in the van. There are bits of Columbia I’ll visit by plane but I wouldn’t tour any of it in a van! You have to use a bit of common sense.

I thought the OP was asking about the limits of our Comfort zone in our vans. For me they’re very different. Maybe not for everyone of course.

I will always follow the FCDO advice.

 

[L' Hobo]

I completely agree with you.

At 75 years age (76 next month), I am actively learning Spanish for two reasons. The first is that I want to go to Galicia next year in August for the total eclipse that will occur in that area and I have friends (English and Spanish) that live there, but the other reason is that apparently learning a language (or a musical instrument) when getting older is said to be a great way to keep the little grey cells active.

I perhaps have a bit of a "starter for 10" in learning (or relearning) Spanish, because about 35 years ago I worked in Galicia for three years and managed to get a working vocabulary whereby I was able to be understood, but in the intervening years I have never been back, nor have I used the language much, so I am having to go back to basics!

Another thing with getting older is that one does not 'absorb' as easily as we did when we were children, however, I am quite pleased with my progress over the last month and a half. I have fifteen months to learn the language again before I head over there, so hopefully I should be at least as competent as I was three and half decades ago.

Might be of interest too you, the skies tonight (I believe) contain ALL the planets, something that will not happen again until 2040.

 

[Peavy]

I completely agree with you.

At 75 years age (76 next month), I am actively learning Spanish for two reasons. The first is that I want to go to Galicia next year in August for the total eclipse that will occur in that area and I have friends (English and Spanish) that live there, but the other reason is that apparently learning a language (or a musical instrument) when getting older is said to be a great way to keep the little grey cells active.

I perhaps have a bit of a "starter for 10" in learning (or relearning) Spanish, because about 35 years ago I worked in Galicia for three years and managed to get a working vocabulary whereby I was able to be understood, but in the intervening years I have never been back, nor have I used the language much, so I am having to go back to basics!

Another thing with getting older is that one does not 'absorb' as easily as we did when we were children, however, I am quite pleased with my progress over the last month and a half. I have fifteen months to learn the language again before I head over there, so hopefully I should be at least as competent as I was three and half decades ago.

Tiene mucho mérito estudiar un idioma que no es el tuyo y con 75 años, aún más. Me quito el sombrero. ¡Mucho ánimo!

There is a lot of merit in studying a language that is not your own, and at 75 years old, even more so. I take my hat off to you. Good luck!

 

[Ejaydee]

Tiene mucho mérito estudiar un idioma que no es el tuyo y con 75 años, aún más. Me quito el sombrero. ¡Mucho ánimo!

Muchas gracias señor

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[Brains]

Might be of interest too you, the skies tonight (I believe) contain ALL the planets, something that will not happen again until 2040.

2040 ! That is only in 20 minutes time!

 

[L' Hobo]

2040 ! That is only in 20 minutes time!

Get out there NOW!

 

[DandJ]

The alligment is there for the next 2 to 3 days. (I use an app called 'Startracker' that identifies celestial objects and works well)

 

[Roby2008]

I speak reasonable German, but I often find if I ask for something in a shop or restaurant, they will answer in English.

It is quite normal for them to do that, as soon as they pick up the English in your accent, it's nice but annoying at the same time

 

[DandJ]

It is quite normal for them to do that, as soon as they pick up the English in your accent, it's nice but annoying at the same time

Many 'foreigners' seem to be able to merely glance at me and without a word being uttered...suss that I'm from blighty. I can sort a half coherent sentence in my head, ramble thru it verbally and they'll just reply in English "OK my friend" or something similar...

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[L' Hobo]

It is quite normal for them to do that, as soon as they pick up the English in your accent, it's nice but annoying at the same time

Yes, I'm used to that BUT around 2017, I was returning from a few months in Sweden and, just to be different, I decided to return via Poland and travel onto Wolfburg (I was in my VW camper) and Berlin.
My German is reasonable and I have never had problems BUT for the first few days in Germany, I was having problems getting myself understood and no-one spoke English which I thought was odd.

It wasn't until I got into Berlin that it dawned on me that I had been travelling in the former EAST Germany and, unlike Western Germany, their second language for many years, had probably been Russian, not American.

It taught me, in future, NOT to assume that ALL of Germany understands and can speak, English.

 

[L' Hobo]

Get out there NOW!

I looked out at 04.00hrs this morning and the cloud cover was clear and the star display, SUPERB!

With all those stars up there, how can we be alone?

 

[Charente16]

Many 'foreigners' seem to be able to merely glance at me and without a word being uttered...suss that I'm from blighty. I can sort a half coherent sentence in my head, ramble thru it verbally and they'll just reply in English "OK my friend" or something similar...

Similarly, I bet you can spot the 'Brits' in your supermarket during the summer. Most Nationalities seem to have something distinctive about them which makes them easily reconizable to others, With the French it's either the Ladies haircut/colour, or they
ook older then they are. They also have a grumpy demeanour!

 

[L' Hobo]

Similarly, I bet you can spot the 'Brits' in your supermarket during the summer. Most Nationalities seem to have something distinctive about them which makes them easily reconizable to others, With the French it's either the Ladies haircut/colour, or they
ook older then they are. They also have a grumpy demeanour!

Not the ones I knew!

 

[DandJ]

Similarly, I bet you can spot the 'Brits' in your supermarket during the summer. Most Nationalities seem to have something distinctive about them which makes them easily reconizable to others, With the French it's either the Ladies haircut/colour, or they
ook older then they are. They also have a grumpy demeanour!

Often in the frozen "frogs legs/snails" aisle...curling their top lip up....like I do....

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