Andy

Andy is a localization specialist and travel enthusiast. Experience driving international growth to multinational tech companies. Blogging topics include cultural lessons, language learning and acquisition, l10n, insider travel tips and hacks, international relations, and entrepreneurship. For more information, he can be contacted at backpackingdiplomacy@gmail.com.

6 Things to do in Brighton Beach

Things to do in Brighton Beach (Little Odessa) Бра́йтон-Бич (Маленькая Одесса) Brighton Beach, New York is one of those places that really embodies the idea of America being an emigrant nation.  The area is located in the lower part of Brooklyn next to Coney Island. Travelers would be surprised to find that the signage is written in Russian. The region became …

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5 Great Breakfasts in the USA

Breakfast Foods in America We Americans take our breakfast quite seriously.  From the staple eggs, biscuits, and bacon to the loftier and more intricate pancakes, potatoes, steak and eggs, and endless combinations that we have come up with; we love them all. Recently, I decided to make a list of 5 of the more memorable breakfast places that I have …

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Why You Should Visit Louisiana

My 5 Reasons to visit Louisiana Traveling through the states is always a fun time.  The states are an interesting mixture of people, to say the least.  Usually, people will stop in the major landmarks to see things like the Grand Canyon, or New York city, but often skip the other interesting things that the states have to offer.  Truthfully, those …

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5 Things That You Need To Be Doing Before Traveling

 5 Ways to Ensure that you get the most out of your Upcoming Trip Whether you have traveled extensively in the past or are a first timer, there are some things that you need to consider at least a few weeks before jumping on a plane to the ends of the earth.  Surely, by now you are thinking, “Well, I …

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What are your most important belongings when traveling?

The Possessions You Need to Safeguard Most When Traveling It seems as we travel that we value different possessions to varying degrees.  I have found though that regardless of any personal belongings people travel with on trips there are several things you really cannot travel without.  Obviously, if you are ranking things using emotions, an object with sentimental value might …

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Taxi Survival 101

A Quick How To Guide To Getting a Taxi and Not Getting Ripped Off Photo courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net   Taxis are everywhere.  Depending on where you live in the world, it is quite possible that you have taken a taxi (cab) at least once before.  If not, you will likely in the future.  Handling taxis at home is one thing.  …

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3 Things You Don’t Want to Tell a Customs Official… ever

Customs: What you should not say Passing customs, and its degree of intensity, depends on many factors.  For example, where you come from, your travel history, finances, age, appearance, and intentions will all come into play at some point during an official checkpoint. Customs officers are highly trained officials that are taught to effectively screen all people coming into their country.  …

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How to find Cheap Flights

Finding Cheap Flights When one decides that they are going to take a trip somewhere, one of the first things that they usually consider, is the flight.  Typically, this is one of the more grandiose expenses travelers incur; however, it does not have to be.  In fact, finding cheap flights is easier than you might think.  You just need to …

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My Travel Tips

My Common Travel Tips These travel tips here are just common travel tips to anyone. Travel light – Do not bring too many things.  Too many times have I seen people who leave with half of their closets and personal belongings only to realize that not only do they not need the things, but also that they are exhausted from carrying …

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Keeping busy on long flights

How To Stay Entertained When Flying After you have read the safety manual and sky mall booklets multiple times, you might be thinking how am I going to burn the time?  After all, what are you going to do with the Skymall magazine full of things that you find useful, but yet cannot quite pinpoint when you would use it?  Some people, …

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My First Hitchhiking Experience

Hitchhiking in Morocco Hitchhiking has always been an intriguing travel option to me.  Mainly for two reasons I think: One because it is an economic and practical way to get around, but also because in so many places it carries with it a stigma or is considered somewhat taboo. Well, after a long time of actually wanting to  do it, I finally …

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Hostel Conversations

Why we travel… Recently, when staying in a hostel in Dublin, I took part in some of the more interesting conversations that I have had in my life.  Perhaps, it was just the people or the timing, or both.  Or maybe, it was that we were all seeking the same thing: answers and knowledge. We were all fixated on getting …

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Socializing as a Single Traveler

The other day my friend asked me how a single traveler meets people.  “Isn’t it difficult”, he asked. In my experience, it is actually easier to meet people when you are traveling by yourself than with a group.  The reason is when you travel with a group you tend to alienate yourselves and stick together.  Whether you realize it or not …

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Dealing with Culture Shock

This article is basically dedicated to the new traveler, or any traveler unfamiliar with what to expect when traveling abroad.  In effect, this article is a compilation of the kinds of things that people are usually not ready for when traveling.  By saying this I mean, that these are the challenges and ‘cultural differences’ that can lead to cultural shock.  Culture shock is no phenomenon.  …

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Is Spirit Airlines making a stand for Cheap Flights in the Americas?

$9 Cheap Flights in America, Impossible?  I think not, read on. A few years ago Ryanair busted the European cheap flight market by offering extremely reduced fares for flexible people.  Their business model pushes non-luxurious A-to-B flights.  This model has been so successful in Europe that many have tried to make similarly structured plans.  Some similar companies exist, but Ryanair …

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How to Secure Your Belongings In a Hostel

Maintaining Security in the Hostel Life Keeping safe on the road is a constant concern to most travelers.  In this light, maintaining security of ones personal goods is no exception to this rule.  After all, when you are traveling your bag is both your lifeline and your house, if you think about it.  Below are a few tips that I …

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Hostel Etiquette

Are there rules to staying in a hostel? Hostel Etiquette 101: How to be a good guest and roommate The other day when I was staying in a hostel with a friend, I was asked if there are rules to staying in a hostel.  After contemplating the question for a little while, I realized that there are not always exact rules, but there are a …

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3 Principles You Should Never Forget When Traveling

When you are traveling, there are some unwritten laws that I believe should be followed.  They are more moralistic than real laws, but still nevertheless I feel that they are relevant to all travelers. Manners It’s all about the experience How fortunate you are These may seem like a somewhat different list, but it is what I feel works.  People should …

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A lesson from the Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon 2012 I was so inspired by the performance of the Boston marathon that I chose to write about it.  Perhaps, it was the weather, which was absolutely perfect.  Or was it the mass amount of people? The food? The determination that I saw in the runners?  To me, it could have been some culmination of the above.  The marathon housed …

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The worst place I’ve been?

So, last night at a dinner someone asked me what the worst place that I have experienced was. Their reasoning for the question was because everyone always asks about the best, so they wanted to know the worst. Fair question I thought, but I realized that it was not such an easy one to answer. Realistically, it would be easy …

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Travel Quotes

10 Timeless Travel Quotes Here is a list of my favorite quotes about traveling. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  Lao Tzu It is better to travel well than to arrive.  Buddha No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old familiar pillow.  Lin Yutang …

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Thinking in a Different Currency

Backpacking is at times challenging enough.  When you throw in different aspects such as languages or currencies, things can become even more complex.  The reason is you have set standards in your head that you are accustomed to back home.  Let us face it, 1 means 1 at home.  Traveling does not always yield the same.  I think that there are a …

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3 Big Hostel Myths

Common Hostel Myths I think that the biggest hostel myths that I have encountered among people backpacking are here below. Only for Youth There are many people out there that still have this idea that hostels are for young people.  To be honest, there is some truth to this myth as there usually is.  The fact is in the olden …

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Debunking Travel Myths

Debunking Travel Myths We have all heard the constant thoughts about traveling abroad.  Even mentioning the words traveling to others brings with it a certain connotation.  Here I have compiled my short list of a few common travel myths. #1 Travel is Expensive Probably the most common travel myth, is that traveling abroad is expensive.  The truth is that traveling …

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Travel Songs

      12 Travel Songs You Should Have 99 Luft ballons – Nena Paradise – Coldplay Hotel California – The Eagles Desert Rose – Sting Peace Train – Cat Stevens One – U2 Tunak Tunak Tun – Daler Mehndi Redemption Song – Bob Marley Porcelain – Moby Last of the Mohicans Theme – Dougie Maclean Viva La Vida – Coldplay Vamos a la playa – Miranda Stereo Love – …

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5 Great European Destinations for the Summer

In some places spring is here, and that means Summer 2012 is fast approaching.  You are planning your trip and trying to decide on some fun places for the summer.   Here you will find 5 possible destinations to go to this summer. 5. Rimini, Italy Italy, in general, is a usual destination for people. If you are looking for …

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