Journeys and Adventures

As the dismal news about the economy continues to overwhelm the media, we all want to do everything we can to save our money and protect ourselves for the future.  For many, this means no vacation this year.

   But, the economy’s bad news and the idea of keeping to a budget doesn’t mean you have to give up your vacation.  In fact, this stressful time might be the best time for a vacation—time with family, time away from the usual stresses of home and work, and time in another culture or new environment can help ease tension, improve moods, and make people more productive.

   Trust me, I know it’s tough to make travel a priority, but with the help of some travel tips that will save you money and knowledge of which travel websites are the best for finding good deals, you can have your vacation and stick to your budget.

   The Single Frugalton follows “the life and times of a single gal trying to live below her means” and often shares tips on budgeting, money planning, and saving money.  She recently shared info about one of her favorite vacation spots, Fredericksburg, Texas with us here at Journeys and Adventures, and I returned the favor by creating a list of some of my favorite money-saving travel websites.  Discount travel websites can be the best way to find travel deals and I use the ones suggested in that post every time I travel.  Check them out and start planning!

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Yesterday, I shared some advice on using your travel experiences to advance your career.  One of those tips was to learn a foreign language: “Samir Prakash Sahoo [a graduate student] believes languages are the ultimate key to international success.”
   Learning languages is tough for many people, though.  There are a lot of words, new grammar structures, idioms, and in some cases different alphabets to learn and adults often don’t have the time or the patience it takes to truly apply themselves and learn a new language.  It’s tough work!
   German is the language that I’ve been learning on and off my whole life.  I haven’t been as successful (or as dedicated) as I should have been, but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one that’s struggled with the German language.
   Mark Twain, a master of words, also struggled with German—in fact, he called devoted a whole section to “The Awful German Language” in his book A Tramp Abroad.
   Can anyone else identify with this feeling about German (or any other foreign language)?
“Surely there is not another language that is so slipshod and systemless, and so slippery and elusive to the grasp. One is washed about in it, hither and thither, in the most helpless way; and when at last he thinks he has captured a rule which offers firm ground to take a rest on amid the general rage and turmoil of the ten parts of speech, he turns over the page and reads, “Let the pupil make careful note of the following EXCEPTIONS.”
   Know that you’re not the only one struggling! There are plenty of tips out there for learning a foreign language quickly, but some that I’ve heard and agree with include:

• Learn with someone else.  Language is about talking, after all.
• Start with childrens’ books.
• Watch familiar movies and TV shows in the foreign language.

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A recent article on MSN Encarta about The New Global Skill Set caught my attention.  In it, several college programs in the United States at both the undergraduate and graduate level reveal that they recognize the importance of working in a global market in today’s society and are reminding students that exposure to other cultures is extremely important.

   With a struggling economy, workers need every advantage they can get and the ability to work with others from other countries has become a big benefit for companies attempting to succeed on a global scale.

   How do you get the skills companies are looking for?  The article suggests you consider:

•  a minimum of two years study in a foreign language (English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Arabic, and Japanese are specifically mentioned as desired languages)

• study abroad program for a full semester (showing that you have spent significant time in a different culture)

• internship abroad (proving that you can work in a foreign culture).

   You don’t have to be a college student to gain the global experience companies are currently looking for.  Take a foreign language class at your local community college or teach yourself through the library, mention the time you spent in France at your interview, put the classes you taught while on your volunteer vacation on your resume.  If you can afford it, sign up for an internship abroad.

   I know that travel can have a great positive impact on your personal life, but now it can also help you in your professional life.  Follow this job advice and you may give yourself the edge you need.

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