Language Nerds Do Earth

This week, we interviewed two very unique guests whose stories are as different from one another as they are from anyone else’s. However, they are similar to each other in one key aspect: they are created from a mixing of cultures. These guests are what are called “Third Culture Kids,” or TCKs, which is a … Continue reading Episode 13: Third Culture Kids

In this episode, we really let our inner language nerds shine as we talk about mistranslations! After sharing some personal encounters with bad translations on the metro, in restaurants, and in stores, we go on to talk about why good translation is so difficult to achieve. We even find out that poor translation has actually … Continue reading Episode 12: Translation Fails

This topic is long overdue. We’re not really sure why it took 11 whole episodes to get there, alas here we are. In this episode we share some of our favorite mouth-watering dishes we’ve tried in our travels around the world. From pho in Vietnam to burek in the Balkans, come along for this virtual … Continue reading Episode 11: The Joys of Eating and Traveling

What is Ramadan? This week Patrice and Rachel interviewed two of our Muslim friends, Abdullah from Saudi Arabia and Kareemah from Louisiana. We picked their brains, and they told us all about the surprisingly fun time they have while they eat and drink very little for 27 days straight! They take us inside the holiday … Continue reading Episode 10: Going Inside Ramadan

Caught the love bug for an exotic foreigner? You’re not alone! The number of cross-cultural relationships has been rising as the world grows more and more connected. This week Rachel and Patrice talk cross-cultural love and romance. We explore areas where there can be problems (like visa issues and language barriers) as well as tips … Continue reading Episode 9: Cross-Cultural Romance

We’ve all been on a trip where things just did not go the way we had hoped. Rachel and Patrice turn to some special guests for some great schadenfreude material — adventures of travel mishaps! Oh yeah, and the guests are our moms. They share some fantastic stories of missed planes, stolen bags, lost luggage, … Continue reading Episode 8: Travel Mishaps and Dealing With Them

Rachel and Patrice asked some friends to give a first-hand account of what it’s like to grow up in a city where more than one language is spoken. We take a tour of four different cities around the world, and listen to what they have to say. From Miami in the USA, Marla talks about … Continue reading Episode 7: Bilingual Cities

In this episode, Rachel and Patrice explore various ways in which body language differs from one culture to another, and talk about ways in which we can easily miscommunicate. Also tune in for hand gestures that can get you into trouble and where not to use them! Some hand gestures that may seem positive to … Continue reading Episode 6: Body Language Across Different Cultures

Happy Earth Day, everyone! In this episode, we give you some tips and hacks for traveling and living green! We discuss what ecotourism is, as well as how to be more environmentally minded while planning a trip, traveling, and what to do to offset your carbon footprint when you’re back at home. With actionable tips … Continue reading Episode 5: Eco-Friendly Travel

Patrice and Rachel compare the verbal expressions of emotion and onomatopoeia from eleven different languages! It turns out that while there is a wide spectrum of variation, we seem to have an underlying core reaction when we experience different emotions. For sounds to express things we do, like eating, kissing, or crying, we have some noticeable … Continue reading Episode 4: The Sounds of Emotions Around the World