Learning English Stories Our Stories: Coincidences and culture shock
Oct 24, 2025
Beth shares surprising coincidences from her travels, including running into schoolmates in remote locations like Thailand and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Phil recounts his year in Paraguay, detailing his struggle with intense winter heat and adapting to local life. The duo reflects on the oddities of encountering familiar faces in the most unexpected places and how travel can create life-changing experiences. They invite listeners to share their own unique travel stories, making it a journey of connection and discovery.
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Choose Journeys That Fit Your Enjoyment
- If you prefer destinations over transit, focus on the arrival and planning activities rather than time spent in stations and airports.
- Choose road trips when you want the journey itself to be enjoyable.
Year In Paraguay Changed Daily Life
- Phil spent a year working in Paraguay and struggled initially with extreme heat and humidity compared to England.
- He adapted to local rhythms and later found returning to the UK felt unusually cold after his year away.
Seasons Mean Different Things Abroad
- Seasonal labels mean different things across hemispheres; 'winter' in Paraguay felt very warm to Phil.
- Moving and living abroad can reframe basic assumptions like what's considered 'cold' or 'hot.'