Travelling Through Conversation

Australia, the land down under, where the beer flows and men chunder. I’ve never been, and before my hostel days, I can’t recall ever having a conversation with an Australian. My knowledge was limited to kangaroos, Australian-themed bars in the UK like Walkabout, and a certain iconic song that seems to be passed down through generations. Now that I’ve got an Aussie on the podcast, I can finally ask the big questions, like, "Do you actually drink Fosters, mate?"

Two cups of bubble tea. One for me and one for a Taiwan Scuba Diver. I’m about to be initiated into the Taiwanese culture but don’t be fooled, despite the name, there are actual balls in the drink! Now, I'm curious, if you live in Taiwan, are you from China?

Mexico. I’ve been there before - twice, actually. Both trips were unplanned but turned into real adventures. You can never predict what might happen. On my first visit, I ended up with a nosebleed after eating an insanely spicy taco. The second time, I got stuck - they wouldn’t let me leave the country! Now, as I gear up for my next journey, I’m joined by a Mexican Entrepreneur who graciously answers questions like, "Will I die if I go to Mexico?"

I didn’t expect anything to come out of my first afternoon-tea experience other than a ham sandwich and a scone, but the man who served me had an accent mixed between Brummie and something else, I had to ask what it was, and that conversation took me to the Czech Republic.

I haven’t spoken a word of French since school. Now in 2019, I’m with a French artist stuffing my face with ham and egg crêpes. It’s also given me the opportunity to test out my knowledge of the French alphabet, which my teacher used to make me sing. I wonder what else I can remember.

Joey, Johnny (Peel), and Jimmy were the three lads I lived with at University. Our time there was quite eventful: someone stole Jimmy's cheesecake, broke the freezer, caused the roof to collapse, and, to top it all off, Jimmy lost the house keys. As a result, we barely got any of our deposit back. Despite the chaos, we had a blast with a sports podcast called Four Up Top, with Jimmy as the Music Producer. So, I asked him to work his magic once more for this podcast.

Madness. An Egyptian Engineer has taken me to a British pub for a mocktail. Buy one, get one free on Bubble Gum Berry. Before I record any country, we always meet somewhere first, to help break the ice and get to know each other. Not only is this my first non-alcoholic cocktail, but I’ve just discovered it’ll also be my first time hitting the record button in the dark!

At the front door of this house, I’m welcomed by a Greek Minimalist, while the melodic strains of a bouzouki and a Geordie accent blend together, reverberating down the street. Is this a slice of Greece or a corner of Newcastle? I’m left delightfully confused.

I’m back in Sunderland, England. I’ve been invited over by a Portuguese Rock Climber who has a moustache I wish I could pull off. As he grapples with the moka pot, I prepare to start the journey to Portugal. I hope the coffees good.

It’s the middle of winter. I’m sat in a back garden in Sunderland, England, with a Bulgarian Adventurer. Both of us fueled by chai and homemade vodka (not one shot, but two.) We only met online two hours ago. Now, I’m at her house.